First time home owner in Chicago - looking to get a bathroom renovation (8x7’). Want to replace bathtub with walk in shower, new vanity, repaint, new fixtures, tile floor.
Quotes have come in starting from $25k. This was significantly over expectations - looking to see if others thought this was crazy high too?
Subject Expert
That sounds like “I’m too busy to take your measly bathroom renovation” money. I’d guess that type of renovation would cost $10k to $15k depending on finishes, $20k if you really wanted to push the quality.
Have you priced out materials yourself? You may want to see if you can buy the tile / tub / vanity / fixtures yourself. Many contractors will mark these up by 50% to 100%, and your labor costs should be much easier to compare.
Mentor
I was quoted 26k in 2021 just to replace a bathtub. This sounds right to me...
Subject Expert
That number seems insane
Your whole bathroom is 8’x7’? That’s 56sqft or $446/sqft
If you’re not already, please get at least three quotes all separated between material and labor. You can also research the material prices yourself online.
Unless your bathroom is 24k gold, $446/sqft is crazy
Fairly new to the US and homeownership so glad your reaction was the same as mine. We had two quotes and trying to find someone for a third. Appreciate the input.
That sounds a touch higher than I expected but it’s not wildly off. I’d wait until winter if you can, renovations slow down around then so contractors give you more reasonable quotes and if there is further economic pullback that could also incentive contractors to give you a more reasonable price instead of gouging you.
Average bathroom should cost about $125 per square foot, high end $200 per square foot. So that ends up being $5000-$10000 for most bathrooms.
Those quotes sound like “I don’t really want to do a bathroom so I’m gonna throw a super high number out there.”
I find my contractors through referrals & next door. I’ve found the people I get off paces like Angie’s list always overcharge.
Mentor
Yeah that’s way more than I’d expect…although prices are way higher than last year
15k with average materials is your max
Similar situation, will prob do myself. Shower conversion excluding tiles $5-10k, rest $3-6k so $8-16k total. PM1 is right most guys are so busy they throw out ridiculous numbers and sees what sticks due to demand. Many hacks out there today (correct waterproofing is huge during tub to walk in conversion especially a tile base. Recommend they use and know how to install schluter systems or equivalent for the shower membrane.
That’s way too much. I did the same for 5000 in labor
Coach
That is around what I paid for my bathroom. But my walls are literally Italian marble (over $25/sq ft).
Are you moving any plumbing around besides the bath to shower conversion? This actually seems in line with the quotes I got but it included making changes to the layout that required high plumbing costs.