Find out your bathroom remodel cost

Why should you estimate the cost of your bathroom remodeling project?

Kitchen and bath remodeling are the most popular types of home renovation projects. With their countless moving parts, the complete process to redo bathrooms can indeed be tricky. However, with proper research and planning, you can not only save several dollars but also arrive at your dream showering space with ease and speed. You can then use this area for relaxing after a tedious day or for reselling it to potential buyers after implementing some extraordinary creative bathroom remodel ideas.

A renovation project can increase the value of your master bathroom manifold in the real estate industry. If you have the right tools and knowledge, do the appropriate research, and invest the required time and amount, your home holds a great prospect in the house resale market. The ROI on your home sale is approximately up to 70% of your total investment.Hence, knowing about the cost estimate is necessary to calculate the affordable amount that you can spend. In addition, hiring a remodeling expert is also necessary. A professional will ensure that all permits and inspections are up to date. He will also redo your bathing space and make it appealing -- both visually and functionally. Bathrooms form an important aspect when home buyers decide to own a property. Therefore, displaying a professional finish goes a long way in helping you get the best price.

What is the expected cost of bathroom remodel?

A common question among homeowners planning for a bathroom renovation is -- how much does a complete bathroom remodel typically cost? The estimated cost as well as budget ranges from $11,000 to $38,000. According to the market, you are recommended to spend 5% to 10% of the total current value of your home on redoing the bathing area. If you stick to these numbers, your resale value won’t be negatively affected.

Bathroom remodel cost estimator

For proper planning, the first step you need to take is to get an accurate estimate of your budget and your affordability. Kukun’s bathroom remodel cost estimator will help you through this process by calculating the total cost after entering inputs according to your requirements. The entire process is quite simple and takes only a couple of minutes. It is even free!

The cost of a bathroom renovation includes the total square feet of your space and finishing details. You simply need to enter the inputs and our cost calculator does the rest.

The first page of the form will ask you to enter the type of remodeling task:

Addition: Adding new square footage to the house. This requires a new foundation Renovation: Remodeling the bathroom without any change to the walls Expansion: Expanding the existing area by moving walls within or outside the perimeter of the house

It also gives you options to enter the size of your bathroom

Small: 5' x 8' Medium: 5' x 14' Large: 10' x 12' Custom: Measurements according to your specifications
The next page will ask you to enter your zip code and year of built of the property. You can also enter the complete address to calculate your return on investment (ROI). The ROI is based on the real estate scenario and activity around the vicinity. Permit data and home sales history are required to calculate the equity built. This is applicable only for an entire room with 'Down to the Studs' project finish level. We will come to that in the next section.

After this, you need to choose your scope of renovation:

Ready to Sell: A 'Ready to Sell' full bathroom renovation offers the best return on your investment without needing a permit.Items may include: flooring, counter tops, faucets, a toilet, light fixtures, paint, and hardware. No new plumbing or electrical, cabinets, etc. are included.

Typical Renovation: A 'Typical Renovation' level full bathroom renovation involves mostly new work and materials, from the drywall to the fixtures. Items include: new electrical, plumbing, some HVAC, insulation, drywall, texture, paint, cabinets, counter tops, flooring, a bathtub, trim work, ceramic tile work, new fixtures, and hardware.Permit is required.

Down to the Studs: A 'Down to the Studs' level full bathroom renovation includes everything from the 'Typical Renovation' level, plus some interior structural rearrangement, new doors and windows, custom materials, longer lead times, and stretched job timelines. Bubble bath is not included.Permit is required.

The next page will ask you to enter the categories of tasks you would like to include in your bathroom remodel, such as:

Framing, roofing, and windows
Plumbing and plumbing fixtures
Lighting, HVAC and electrical fixtures
Insulation and drywall
Painting
Flooring
Hardware
Trim work
This is the last step. After entering each detail, you will get the exact figure for your bathroom remodel project. The final estimate will be inclusive of all the above factors taken into account. You can play around with your features to arrive at a figure that best meets your budget.

Once you agree with this budget, you can choose to either apply for a loan, analyse your finance options, or simply hire a general contractor. We offer you options for hiring a contractor who has worked in your neighbourhood. Explore the contractor's profile for their online reviews, all their previous permits and ask around your vicinity if you should hire this firm.

Ways to cut down on bathroom renovation costs

A cheap bathroom remodel can be accomplished when you make a proper plan before handing over the project to a contractor.

Consider the size. Can you simply make the bathroom more spacious by moving the walls rather than adding an extra square foot? The former is a more feasible option if your budget is a bit small. Small bathroom renovations are light on your budget, comparatively. By small, we mean an approximate size of 5’ x 8’. The simple reason is that they have lesser area in terms of square feet. If you add some additional area, your costs would be higher. According to estimates, it costs $95 to add an additional square foot to your bathroom. A lesser area means reduced charges on materials and labor. The timeline will also be less and this is a good option for those on a tight schedule. However, if you do need to reinstall electrical and HVAC features or require to change your plumbing, the costs will again surge.

What about the fixtures? These can include components such as faucets, a master bath, new showers, flooring, counter tops and cabinets, lighting, or HVAC fixtures. Compare the various fixtures according to their pricing and finalize on components that resonate with your budget. Unless you are rebuilding the entire bathroom from scratch, you do not need to change every aspect of your space. For example, you can simply add some finishing touches to the small bathroom cabinets if they are fully functional.

An easy way to cut down on costs further is to refinish some of the appliances or buy the materials yourself. Even plumbing and electricity issues can add to your dollars. You can consider taking recommendations from other professionals just to be sure.

Before finalizing the project, take some time out to decide on what is the purpose of remodeling your bathroom. Do you just wish to upgrade the current functionality of your bathroom? Do you wish to give it a some other appearance, color, and style? Do you want to use the bathroom or do you want to make it for your kids? What theme goes with the rest of the house? Vintage, modern, or trendy? What features are essential? Do you really want a heated floor, tile floor, or a shower door? If you have time for a long, relaxing bath, you can go for a lavish tub. Else, a shower might prove sufficient. Each of these decisions will affect the final average price and your taste.

Browse the Internet and go though remodeling magazines for before-after pictures of bathroom remodels from different contractors. Go through Kukun recommendations for licensed and reputed contractors in your area. The more research you do, the more you can plan and carry out your bathroom remodeling project seamlessly.

In a nutshell - how to remodel a bathroom? Always plan ahead

Get a written contract from your contractor. The document should detail the complete schedule along with deadlines for milestones. This will help you to keep track and calculate the actual timeline of the project. Also discuss and mutually agree with the firm on the payment schedule. This needs to be documented in the contract as well.

Keep note that your contractor holds expertise in all the areas of bathroom remodel -- construction, plumbing, electrical, and lighting installations. Be clear on expectations about sudden expenses and keep an additional 10% handy, above the estimate for such situations. And finally, after completion, do not miss out on ensuring a warranty or guarantee from the contractor.