Keeping up with the Joneses: How Much Does it Cost to Update a Bathroom?

Ever wondered what it would cost to update your bathroom?  Basic raw materials can range from $30 to…very high. Jenn and I decided to spend a little bit more on some beautiful, high quality floor tile and go middle-of-the-road with our fixtures (not IKEA but not Crate & Barrel). The most cost savings will be found in labor — we are doing all of the demo and install work ourselves once the professionals are finished with the behind-the-walls plumbing.

We love that our home was built in the 1940s and wanted to keep with the classic aesthetic of the house when choosing fixtures. 

Here's our spend-to-date on the basic materials for our bathroom remodel:

• Hexagon Carrara marble floor tile: $638
• Grout (2 gallons): $110
• Shower tiles, white subway: $181
• Toilet: $168
• Sink basin: $129
• Pedestal sink base: $115
• Bathroom light fixture: $100
• Medicine cabinet with mirror: $108
• Sink faucet: $32
• Shower head, faucet and knob: $109

SUB-TOTAL: $1,690

We're hoping to keep our bathroom reno below $2,500 so I think we're on track! The return on investment for updating a bathroom is between $10,000-15,000 on average so not only will this suit our style better, it will also increase the resale value of our home.  But of course, remodeling a bathroom takes more than just tile and a new sink. And you never know what unexpected cost you'll run into as you're taking down drywall and old tile.

What's not on this list:

• Bead board for the walls
• Backerboard for behind the tile
• Tile adhesive
• Tile seal
• any paint or paint supplies
• any tools
• any labor… my dad and I are paying for that with blood, sweat and tears!

Onward and upward…

Tyler Davis Jones is a Windermere Real Estate agent in Seattle who, with his wife Jenn, recently traded in their in-city condo for a 1940s fixer-upper. Tyler and Jenn, along with the help of some very generous friends and family members, are taking on all the renovations themselves. You can follow the transformation process on the Windermere Blog or on Tyler’s website and Instagram. 

Next week on the blog: how much does it cost to update a bathroom? (Part 2)