What Factors Affect Costs In A Bathroom Remodel?

What Factors Affect Costs In A Bathroom Remodel?

As with any project, there are both obvious and not so obvious elements that can affect the cost of your bathroom remodel. From individual material costs, to install costs, to your choice of contractor, a lot of factors can tip your budget in the wrong direction if you aren’t careful. In this article we will discuss some of the facotrs to look out for so you can make smart deisions during your bathroom remodel!

How Much Does A Bathroom Remodel REALLY Cost?

As you might assume, the cost of a bathroom remodel can be drastically different depending on size, type of contractor, materials used, etc. The first thing to know before you remodel is that the range of budgets for a bathroom remodel is massive. If you want to see how drastically the budgets for bathroom remodels can differ, check out the recent projects section of the McManus Kitchen and Bath website! From $20,000 hall bath updates to $200,000 master baths, there are a lot of options and price points. So what ARE the important cost affecting factors to look at?

Individual Taste

Click the image to see this homeowner’s full bathroom remodel

It is easy to lust after the best and brightest trends when starting your new bathroom, but be warned that you get what you pay for. If you want an ultra-modern bathroom with all the latest bells and whistles, expect to pay substaintially more than if you were aiming for a middle of the road bathroom that is still beautiful, but may not have every feature that you want.

Flooring

Click the image to see this homeowner’s full bathroom remodel

Flooring is a big cost mover for any bathroom remodel. For example, a bathroom floor tile like the one we have linked can will cost you over $3.49 per sq. ft., while the luxury vinyl plank (Also waterproof) that we have in our showroom will cost you $0.67 per sq. ft. Factoring in the amount of square footage in your bathroom, this number will add up quick. Further, you need to think about the cost of the shower floor and wile tile. Adding all of these numbers together, the material cost for flooring & tiling can skyrocket if you don’t make smart decisions. A final thing to note is that if you are looking to increase resale value of the home, the flooring should continue underneath your cabinets, which will further increase your budget.

Cabinetry

Click the image to see this homowner’s full bathroom remodel

Cabinets are another major cost mover in bathroom remodeling. The range of prices for cabinets is very large and while they can be very expensive, the limited amount of cabinets in a bathroom (Especially compared to rooms like the kitchen) means that this cost doesn’t have to be huge.

That being said, if you want luxurious cabinets with lots of customization options, it will still quickly increase your overall budget. So options like half inch sizes, large drawer bases, and lift up cabinets can quickly empty your wallet. If you would like to explore quality cabinets at different price points, check out the lines that we carry in the list below. Each line will have a different cost that will fit into our “Good-Better-Best” approach to budgets, with each category increasing in price. The main difference between the categories isn’t the quality you get, but rather, the customization options available in each cabinet line.

Good:

• JSI: These cabinets offer quality selections at a great price. an additional benefit (As of 2022 when this is being written) is that the lead time for cabinet delivery is about 1/4 of many other leading cabinet brands.

Better:

• Luxor: These cabinets are manufactured in Canada and do a wonderful job at balancing luxury with cost.
• Decor: Also made in Canada, these wooden cabinets are all sourced from sustainable forestry programs.
• Dura Supreme: These American-made cabinets offer excellent quality and styles.

Best:

• CWP: These cabinets are where you will find all the bells and whistles. Custom sizes, infinite finishes and styles, and extremely high quality materials. Here, the world is your oyster, but you will pay for the privilege.

Countertops

Click the image to see this homeowner’s full bathroom remodel

Counters can be as expensive or as cheap as you like, but that doesn’t have to affect the function and quality of your bathroom remodel. You could have a less expensive solid surface countertop or rather pricey quartz countertop and either way create a lovely design in your new space. Keep in mind however, that countertops are priced by the square foot, so increasing size will rapidly increase the cost. Once again, this is a matter of matching your tatse with your budget. Check out some examples:

• Solid Surface: Wilsonart
• Quartz: Silestone

Plumbing

Click the image to see this homeowner’s full bathroom remodel

Plumbing fixtures can be a surprise cost to many remodelers. Going with a simple shower trim system won’t break the bank but if you want something more complicated the numbers will start to rise. That is not to mention the costs of sinks, faucets, toilets, drains, and bathtubs. Depending on the size of your bathroom and what you want to put in it, these costs will fluctuate wildly. If you want to browse a wide variety of plumbing fixtures, we reccomend looking at Build.com to see a wide range of plumbing fixtures for your next bathroom remodel.

Labor

Click the image to see this homeowner’s full bathroom remodel

Labor costs are an often overlooked factor when it comes to the cost of remodeling. People often find the prices for materials they like and create a budget in their head without considering the cost of installation. Often, the cost of labor in a bathroom remodel is more than the cost of materials. This sounds shocking to many would-be remodelers, but it is an unavoidable truth. Another thing to note is that because labor costs for bathroom remodels are so high, the size of the bathroom is less important to the overall cost of the remodel. Obvoisly the ratio of these costs will slightly differ depending on your projects size and material selections but long story short… DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE LABOR COSTS.

Location

The location of your bathroom remodel is a huge factor in the cost of your remodel. For instance, a bathroom remodel in Tallahassee, FL, where McManus Kitchen and Bath is located, would be cheaper than a bathroom remodel in a place like downtown Chicago or Manhattan. Big cities tend to have higher costs of materials and higher wages, meaning that your budget could go up across the board soley based on your location.

Your Choice of Contractor

Your choice of contractor can be a huge factor in determining your budget. As with everything in the remodeling process, you get what you pay for, and that continues to hold true with your choice of contractor. On the whole, a more experienced and trusted contractor will probably charge more, but there are many other factors to look at when determining what contractor is best for you and your ideal cost.

A traditional contractor will have you sort out your material selections and designs separately from them and then you will have the responsibility of coordinating these components. Conversely, a design-build remodeler will have your general contractor, sub-contractors, designers, project manager, and warehouse all in one location. This means that a lot of stress is taken off of the backs of the homeowners, but will also cost more money for the service. Everyone has different needs, but check out our article about why we think you should work with a design-build remodeler.

Let Us Help You With Your Next Bathroom Remodel!

Remodeling costs can vary based on a number of factors. For your bathroom remodel, it’s best to work with a quality contractor who communicates their process from start to finish.

That’s McManus Kitchen and Bath! We’ll work with you every step of the way to make your dream a reality. Get in touch with us today to schedule a consult.