How Your Bathroom Reconstruction Costs Break Down

Remodeling a bathroom is always a good idea for any home. Unlike other rooms, years of use in a bathroom can result in moisture-based wear and tear, so while a ten-year-old bedroom will only show its age by the furnishing, a ten-year-old bathroom is much easier to spot. But if you’re undergoing a bathroom reconstruction, where is your money going to go? While it’s not as expensive as a kitchen remodel, bathroom reconstruction can still cost many thousands of dollars, depending on your choices. Here’s how people usually spend their money.

Lighting

This is typically the cheapest expense, normally running only a few—or several—hundred dollars, depending on the choices made. Lighting is essential for bathrooms, not just so that people can see at night, but in some cases, for presentation purposes.

Many people will trim hair, shave, or apply makeup in the bathroom, so sometimes excellent and clear lighting is necessary to ensure proper application.

The Sink

The next expense is a new sink unless you’re happy with your current configuration. Sinks, of course, are necessary for washing, shaving, and other activities. Depending on your choices, sometimes the cost of labor may be more than the sink itself.

However, if you decided on a double sink to simultaneously accommodate two people, expect your costs to go up.

Toilet

One of the most important appliances in a bathroom and, at the same time, often the most ignored once it’s installed. Toilets can be very cheap or if you want one with the latest features, very expensive. From a cleanliness and environmental perspective, newer toilets that include bidet functions, for example, can be an excellent investment but expect the cost of your toilet to go up appropriately.

Flooring

There’s a lot of leeway for the costs of flooring. It can be cheap, or, if you want a heated floor, so there’s no discomfort on cold mornings, it can be costly. However, flooring is vital as the bathroom gets exposed to more water than any other room. You want to make sure your floor is water-resistant and has good traction even when wet. A slip and fall here could be severe.

Shower

If you want an individual shower stall, this will quickly run up costs. On the other hand, if a shower stall is a replacement for a bathtub or addition for another spare bathroom, this can add some value to your home. The more family members you have, the more there may be arguments about bathing access at the same times of the day. Shower stalls help alleviate this.

Bathtub

Unsurprisingly, the bathtub is often the most expensive investment in bathroom reconstruction. These take up the most “real estate” in a bathroom and, if you’re willing to spend, can offer a premium experience. For example, for therapeutic purposes, a bathtub with whirlpool jets can be an essential part of some people’s health regimen.
How your bathroom reconstruction plays out will depend on your needs, your budget, and what you can work out with a contractor. Make sure to work with one early to get a better idea of your plans.