The most expensive room in the house to remodel is always the kitchen. Following the kitchen, the main bathroom or master bathroom in the house is the second most expensive, although significantly less costly than the kitchen. If this is the year you have decided to revamp your master bath, you probably want some idea of what it will cost so you can budget ahead.
The Tub
Whether your tub area is separate from your shower or it is a combined shower and tub area, it is probably the biggest expense in the whole bathroom. To rip out and demolish the tub you have and the walls surrounding it involves a few hours of labor costs. Ask your contractor what the charge is for hourly labor and calculate about six hours in your head. It may be less time or it may be more, depending on what the contractor finds behind and under the tub and walls.
Then if you have selected a new tub and tub surround, you may also need fixtures. A plumber has to come in and connect everything after the contractor has carefully rebuilt this area and installed the tub and tub surround (or tiles, if you have opted for tile walls). If you are installing a no-frills tub and basic fixtures and have opted for a fiberglass tub surround, you’re probably looking at about $10,000. If you want more bells and whistles, such as a spa jet tub that retails for $5,000-$8,000, and you want tile walls, the price almost doubles.
Tile walls take longer to install because the walls have to be built up and waterproofed. Then the layer of waterproof tile putty or cement goes on those walls, followed by careful placement of every tile. Tiles often have to be cut to fit at the edges too, which requires more time and more materials.
The Sink and Vanity Area
Some people opt for a pedestal sink with no vanity. That may work for you, and it may cost hundreds less to install. However, most people want storage space for personal care items, and that requires a vanity. Depending on the amount of room you have for a vanity and the style of vanity you want, the price starts in the mid-$100’s but can go as high as $4,000-$5,000. That is especially true if you ask for granite or marble countertops around the sink(s), since those are considered premium materials.
The sinks and fixtures themselves don’t cost as much, unless you select very expensive and custom-made sinks or fixtures. Price out what you like best and take pictures to share with your contractor so he or she knows what you want.
The Toilet
Toilets can be basic in both appearance and price. However, you may want to install a bidet/toilet combo item, or both a bidet and a toilet. Count on a few hundred dollars apiece, unless you splurge for gold-covered bathroom thrones!
The Floor
A lot of homeowners opt to redo a bathroom once they discover that the floor under their feet is rotten or damaged. Tile, carpet, or wood all have to rest on more wood underneath. Repeatedly soaking through to the wood underfloor causes massive damage. Replacing the entire floor is almost on par with the cost of replacing the tub/shower, but it’s worth it to know that the floor will hold up for several more years.
Depending on the dimensions of your bathroom and the materials you want to install, your new bathroom floor can cost about $6,000-$10,000. This includes ripping out and disposing the old flooring along with everything in the bathroom that sits on top of that flooring.
Other Master Bath Remodel Ideas
The above just covers the basics. It doesn’t cover built-in cabinetry for towels and linens, or lighting fixtures. It doesn’t cover repainting the walls and/or ceiling, nor does it cover replacing the bathroom door(s) and hardware. Every little extra accessory you can think of adds a little more to the cost. Yet, the finished project should look amazing.
Overall, you should expect a master bath remodel to cost around $20,000, give or take a few thousand depending on the size of your bathroom and what you have done. If the cost isn’t quite in your budget, there are ways to finance it. Talk it all over with Homestead Remodeling and Consulting LLC to see how you can start and complete this project today.
