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View Full Version : How much to renovate a bathroom


jon123
Aug 6, 2010, 07:43 PM
Can anyone here direct me site links where I can get a n approxiate cost for bathroom renovation work? I understand each job is different but looking for a rough estimates for complete labor without materials.. and I understand bathrooms on average take two to three weeks for complete remodeling. TIA ,jon

KBC
Aug 7, 2010, 06:25 AM
Time can be much less than that, even alone,I have done entire bathrooms(Shower/tub,toilet,sink base and top,floor,lighting) in a week.

Costs, generally a rule of thumb is $5,000 for the basics(material and labor)Additional for upgrades.This is a very conservative number in today's market it is my ' friend's ' pricing.

Expect to pay at least $2-3,000 for labor only.. again this is a conservative estimate.

speedball1
Aug 7, 2010, 06:43 AM
I understand bathrooms on average take two to three weeks for complete remodeling.
Hey Jon,

KBC gave you a ballpark figure.
He's a lot braver then I would be.
Too many variables for me to estimate.
Ya got me curious. You've just spent all that $ to remove the fixtures and cap off the pipes.
You're left with a room with a hole in the floor where the toilet used to be, a wall that's open where the tub used to be and pipes coming out of the wall where the vanity used to be.
WHAT NOW?
Have you factored in the cost of rebuilding the room you just tore up? Carpenter work, painting, etc?
Let us know what you have planned.
Good luck, Tom

Milo Dolezal
Aug 7, 2010, 06:51 AM
Your question is too broad to answer. There are too many variables to quote you exact number.

To complete your bathroom, you may need several different trades to participate: demo man, carpenter, drywall man, painter, tile man, electrician, plumber... It may be better for you to hire a General Contractor who will bring his own subs and coordinate the entire project for a fee.

However, price you will pay depends on quality of work you desire. Handyman will work for $20.00 an hour but will not deliver high quality of work. Here you are also taking a risk since he may not be licensed, bonded and insured. Skilled tradesman with professional tools, years of experience, with active license, bond and insurance may charge you $100.00 an hour but will deliver top notch quality of work.

Moreover, contractors will charge differently for working with different types of materials - let's say - 4"x 4" ceramic tile over green-board versus 16"x 16" travertine over floated walls - or formica counter top versus granite top with "O.G." edge and undermount sinks.

I would suggest that you call several contractors from Yellow Pages and ask them for free estimates. Then, select the one you like the best.

Let us know how you did... Milo

KBC
Aug 7, 2010, 07:15 AM
However, price you will pay depends on quality of work you desire. Handyman will work for $20.00 an hour but will not deliver high quality of work. Here you are also taking a risk since he may not be licensed, bonded and insured. Skilled tradesman with professional tools, years of experience, with active license, bond and insurance may charge you $100.00 an hour but will deliver top notch quality of work.

I have to differ with this opinion.

I am one of those handymen.30 years in the trades(yes,I began learning at 14 years old)My quality is more than up to standards.I pass all inspections,codes,and expectations.

My customers are at no risk from my work,quality or safety.I have the tools,the skill and the follow through anyone else can offer a homeowner.(without the high priced hourly rates)

Fear not the better prices.

jon123
Aug 8, 2010, 07:10 AM
okay gentlemen, I done a few intricate remodeling bathrooms in the past but was just curious so I want to ask. I am not a licensed plumber or eletrician, I am a licensed general contractor. One more day for me finishing a full remodeled renovation I designed and I did everything but the plumbing tub shower head valve fixture(plumber changed a lot in my opinion, over 400.00 dollars labor plus their 180.00 for their recommended brand shower tub faucet kit !) Aside that, I wired two additional electrical outlets to ceiling shower and above cabinet vanity and installed fixtures.. before that, I removed an existing dropceiling and boxed out a new vent light fan giving her the bathroom cathedral for a new light vent and boxed a drop for the tub shower alcove for light fixture and the duct for ventfan.. I had a licensed eletrician hook up the four gang outlet (150.00) I spackled three coats painted to perfection all my finished work... I tiled a half wall 4'x4',entire tub 60x32" alcove/ceiling, tiled floor 4x5' installed new vanity sink faucet and toilet bowl all new water feeds. Monday I will grout my work, hang some towel racks handycap bars in shower ,trim case door and do a saddle. I doubt many out here with twenty plus yrs experience can perform or speed such workmanship less the time I have spent, unless all the materials were supplied on the work site.. this is why I asked this because I do this myself and it sure is a lot of work, I mean I do a lot of running around for a lot of different materials and we do know bathrooms and kitchens take time and planning and are the most expensive rooms in home renovations.. I know enough to charge for my extra experience for design and planning too! But I don't charge like these plumbers an hr! I do know I am worth at least 400.00 a day for bathroom remodeling and renovating!! This one will be10 day project start to finish , so so far I spent a 1000.00 for materials. I think I have a good idea now seeing this project is bewtween 5 to 6k complete including that expensive plumbers work. Thanks for sharing good people!

speedball1
Aug 8, 2010, 07:32 AM
OK Jon!
Now you got me real curious. You sound like you know what you're doing. You're a general contractor and seem to know your way around the trades.
Soooo, why are you here asking questions of us? Seems to me you oughtta be in here answering questions instead asking them.
Just my two cents worth, Tom

KBC
Aug 8, 2010, 07:37 AM
okay gentlemen, I done a few intricate remodeling bathrooms in the past but was just curious so i want to ask. I am not a licensed plumber or eletrician, I am a licensed general contractor. One more day for me finishing a full remodeled renovation I designed and I did everything but the plumbing tub shower head valve fixture(plumber changed alot imho, over 400.00 dollars labor plus their 180.00 for their recommended brand shower tub faucet kit !) Aside that, I wired two additional electrical outlets to ceiling shower and above cabinet vanity and installed fixtures.. before that, I removed an existing dropceiling and boxed out a new vent light fan giving her the bathroom cathedral for a new light vent and boxed a drop for the tub shower alcove for light fixture and the duct for ventfan.. I had a licensed eletrician hook up the four gang outlet (150.00) I spackled three coats painted to perfection all my finished work... I tiled a half wall 4'x4',entire tub 60x32" alcove/ceiling, tiled floor 4x5' installed new vanity sink faucet and toilet bowl all new water feeds. monday i will grout my work, hang some towel racks handycap bars in shower ,trim case door and do a saddle. I doubt many out here with twenty plus yrs experience can perform or speed such workmanship less the time I have spent, unless all the materials were supplied on the work site.. this is why I asked this because I do this myself and it sure is alot of work, I mean I do alot of running around for alot of different materials and we do know bathrooms and kitchens take time and planning and are the most expensive rooms in home renovations.. I know enough to charge for my extra experience for design and planning too! but I don't charge like these plumbers an hr! I do know I am worth at least 400.00 a day for bathroom remodeling and renovating !!! This one will be10 day project start to finish , so so far I spent a 1000.00 for materials. I think I have a good idea now seeing this project is bewtween 5 to 6k complete including that expensive plumbers work. thanks for sharing good people!
Right, that's how I see things too.Good estimate(if that's what you did to get the job)

massplumber2008
Aug 8, 2010, 02:52 PM
Hi jon123...

Are you saying you installed a shower light?

If so, how exactly did you wire the shower light? Pretty important stuff here that most general contractor's or handymen will miss if they haven't studied electrical or gone to school for such stuff. Let us know... OK?

This could be a real safety issue...

And KBC... not to butt in here, but if you are a handyman and not a licensed general contractor, a licensed plumber or a licensed electrician exactly what inspections have you passed? I mean, how can you pull a permit and stand for inspections if you aren't licensed in anything? Back to you...

KBC
Aug 8, 2010, 03:45 PM
And KBC...not to butt in here, but if you are a handyman and not a licensed general contractor, a licensed plumber or a licensed electrician exactly what inspections have you passed? I mean, how can you pull a permit and stand for inspections if you aren't licensed in anything? Back to you...

Every job I have had a permit for has passed,fences,walls,foundations,building supports,moving whole houses/buildings,Roofs,siding,gutters,drain lines from fields,all the plumbing in my home is accepted,all the wiring is accepted,I didn't install the furnace,but I did the hot water tank,I didn't the septic,or the well digging,but I do all other additions etc.

All unlicensed.And all with permits(where applicable)

ma0641
Aug 8, 2010, 04:43 PM
Hey MP2008. I agree with KBC. I pull permits in Georgia and unless the local jurisdiction requires it, you do not need to be licensed. The inspectors that come through, at least in counties where I have worked, have been very thorough and yes, they find things. I just built a 2800 sq. ft. log home, wired and plumbed it myself, subbed the DWV, and the rough in inspection made me move a smoke detector and lengthen the "s" trap connection. I had to go through the floor and the turns were too close. Not too bad for an unlicensed retired 69 year old handyman guy.

mygirlsdad77
Aug 8, 2010, 05:19 PM
Yes, any homeowner can pull plumbing and electrical permits, do the work themselves(on their own home), get inspected and be just fine. I think what Mark was asking, is if work was done on a job that required plumbing or electrical, that wasn't done by the homeowner, than the job would not pass if a non licensed person did the work for electrical and plumbing. Long story short, other than working on your own property, you MUST be licensed in your trade to do work for a profit. At least that's how it goes in my area, and I'm sure most. Ive seen a few times where an electrician pulls a permit, then the plumbing inspector happens to be buddys with the electrical inspector, and finds out about a new house being built, gos to the jobsite asking to see license of installing plumber, only to find that its not the homeowner, but an unlicensed handyman doing the plumbing. Shuts a job down pretty quick. Im just saying.

massplumber2008
Aug 9, 2010, 07:43 AM
Hi guys...

Yeah, not trying to turn this into a handyman VS plumber issue...

My main concern was the fact that bathrooms cost different amounts in every state and I was trying to understand how KBC came up with the numbers he did.

In fact, KBC, you just demonstrated why, as a general rule, we don't try to give prices regarding bathroom remodeling on this site because each state just has so many differences in labor, insurances, licensing, permits, etc. that it just doesn't make sense. See, in my area we get between $10,000 and $15,000 for an average bathroom remodel... so you can see why your "conservative number" of $5000.00 kind of threw me... huh?

Running a legitimate business involves a lot of stuff that I won't go into as I figure most of us understand the stuff involved. What I do think most people miss in pricing these jobs is the cost of advertising, liability insurance, health insurance, telephones/beepers, vacation pay, holiday pay, workers' compensation, FICA, state and federal taxes as well as licensing fees, continuing education costs, sick days, vehicle and tool replacement over the years, stolen or lost tool replacement costs and the fact that in there somewhere we need to save for any kind of retirement, etc. I could include even more if I wanted,too...

Milo had the right idea here by telling Jon123 to get 3 estimates. Even better now that we know he is a general contactor I would even go further and instruct him to call his local building inspector and sit down and chat with him about pricing.

Milo wasn't taking a jab at handymen guys... he was stating something we see all the time in our businesses. That is that most of the time handymen aren't charging enough and that is usually a result of them not having insurances or licenses or enough experience... and I know you know what I mean, guys... I'm sure you've met plenty as well.

Finally, there are plenty of hack plumbers and other tradespeople out there, but that is not what this thread is supposed to be about. I just wanted to understand how the numbers came about as they did is all.

Bottom line is that if Jon wants to be in business years from now he needs to know the number that covers his business....he shouldn't be guessing on it!

Thanks for listening...

Mark

jon123
Aug 9, 2010, 01:10 PM
Good man Mark! I read you and the others and appreciate your thoughts on this matter.