Actual Cost of Kitchen/Bath Renovations

[TwiceHorn 31471]

So, finally, we have an accepted offer on a new to us home.  It appears to be really solid, pending inspection.

But it's going to need some renovation.  Kitchen will need countertops sink, appliances (at least eventually), and a hole knocked in the wall between it and the family room, and maybe new cabinet facings.  It's gas and pier and beam, so no plumbing worries I don't think.  The hole could be just over the sink or could go to the end of the wall and would only eliminate one cabinet.

The bathrooms may be a bigger deal, as they are pretty old school.

I know some of yall are doing this kind of thing or recently have, what are thoughts on cost, PITA factor, etc.

 

[justhookit 4191]

I mean I can renovate a bathroom for 5 grand to 50 grand or more. A kitchen for 10 to 100 or more. As long as you aren’t moving walls it’s not a huge PITA. One thing I will say from experience - try to do it before you move in. It’s no fun living in a house with a kitchen being remodeled.

But congrats on the new pending home.

[Brew 3049]

24 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

So, finally, we have an accepted offer on a new to us home.  It appears to be really solid, pending inspection.

But it's going to need some renovation.  Kitchen will need countertops sink, appliances (at least eventually), and a hole knocked in the wall between it and the family room, and maybe new cabinet facings.  It's gas and pier and beam, so no plumbing worries I don't think.  The hole could be just over the sink or could go to the end of the wall and would only eliminate one cabinet.

The bathrooms may be a bigger deal, as they are pretty old school.

I know some of yall are doing this kind of thing or recently have, what are thoughts on cost, PITA factor, etc.

 

The sky is the limit. The kitchen is next on our contractor’s list and we’re $80k in with just the cabinetry and appliances. Hardwood and counters will be another chunk on top of that. My wife has a real knack for going with the absolute most expensive option she can find without even knowing what the prices are.

[Chewbacca 7777]

The sky is the limit. The kitchen is next on our contractor’s list and we’re $80k in with just the cabinetry and appliances. Hardwood and counters will be another chunk on top of that. My wife has a real knack for going with the absolute most expensive option she can find without even knowing what the prices are.

This. We are at 50-60k in appliances for our remodel that is coming. And our kitchen isn't that big. You can spend as much as you want on a kitchen.

[justhookit 4191]

3 minutes ago, Chewbacca said:

21 minutes ago, Brew said:

The sky is the limit. The kitchen is next on our contractor’s list and we’re $80k in with just the cabinetry and appliances. Hardwood and counters will be another chunk on top of that. My wife has a real knack for going with the absolute most expensive option she can find without even knowing what the prices are.

This. We are at 50-60k in appliances for our remodel that is coming. And our kitchen isn't that big. You can spend as much as you want on a kitchen.

And then your wife realizes all she really needed was a large ninja air fryer or 2,  good fridge/freezer, and a dishwasher and you realize you just blew 50,000.

[Chewbacca 7777]

And then your wife realizes all she really needed was a large ninja air fryer or 2,  good fridge/freezer, and a dishwasher and you realize you just blew 50,000.

At least we cook every night, so it will get used. But holy shit this stuff is expensive.

[Brew 3049]

24 minutes ago, justhookit said:

And then your wife realizes all she really needed was a large ninja air fryer or 2,  good fridge/freezer, and a dishwasher and you realize you just blew 50,000.

The next time my wife uses an air fryer much less the gas stove and various other appliances will be pretty close to the first. This is one of the many questions I didn’t know to ask when I got married at 20. Luckily for us my mother raised me properly and passed along some kitchen skills.

[Bevo 13577]

For new construction, I am getting quotes for cabinetry (uninstalled) in the $30K range. Appliances will be $10K. Sinks and faucets will be $1K. Flooring will be about 200sqft x $10/sqft. or about $2K. Lighting will be $1K. Countertops will be 2x30x$80/sqft or $2400. So you are looking at about $47K in materials assuming mid-grade and not Sub-Zero. Expect to pay about $35K for contractor services and I bet you will come in at around $80K. I think that is too much, but I bet that is around what you will hear this year. You will have to find a contractor but you should be able to work a pretty good deal with Factory Builder Store in Dallas.

[justhookit 4191]

27 minutes ago, Chewbacca said:

39 minutes ago, justhookit said:

And then your wife realizes all she really needed was a large ninja air fryer or 2,  good fridge/freezer, and a dishwasher and you realize you just blew 50,000.

At least we cook every night, so it will get used. But holy shit this stuff is expensive.

it’s just the 2 of us. We have the giant ass gas stove. Could easily do without except for when lots of people are over. Cook every day (I grill she does everything else) and trust me when I say the everything else happens in the Ninja 9 in 1 machine 99% of the time. The thing does a lot of stuff really well, and fast. Honestly a nice sink, fridge, dishwasher and big counter space would be more than enough. I think the only thing I ever use the gas cooktop for is to char my tortillas. Sounds like y’all will get more use out of the other stuff than we do. Besides, it still looks good.

12 minutes ago, Brew said:

The next time my wife uses an air fryer much less the gas stove and various other appliances will be pretty close to the first. This is one of the many questions I didn’t know to ask when I got married at 20. Luckily for us my mother raised me properly and passed along some kitchen skills.

[DalTxHornFan 3101]

We just told our kitchen/bathroom contractor to push us back about 6 months.  Don't know what prices will be then, but probably not higher.  

[TwiceHorn 31471]

I may not have the patience or desire to do these renos.  Fuck.

And, it's not so much the money, as the inevitable hike in appraised value that turns into property taxes.

Maybe the inspection will turn up some shit so I don't feel so bad exercising the option.

[TwiceHorn 31471]

1 hour ago, DalTxHornFan said:

We just told our kitchen/bathroom contractor to push us back about 6 months.  Don't know what prices will be then, but probably not higher.  

Yeah, we're probably not in a big hurry.

One thing, I expect appraisals to go down a bit over the next few years, along with tax rates just a hair.  So we might have our basic appraisal "nut" go down a bit, then drive it back up somewhat gradually with the renos.

[CoTex 1160]

Kitchen Reno changed our lifestyle.  Now we hang out in kitchen 90% of the time. Expensive but when finished - worth every penny.

We got a large induction cooktop placed in our island and it is the cat’s pajamas.  

Also have door that opens out into a little garden area so we can go outside and relax during the 25 day period each fall when Texas isn't a fucking blast furnace.

[luke duke 6413]

Everything is really high. I’ve been getting quotes for $30-40K for a small bathroom. It involves some framing and moving all of the plumbing, but it’s pier and beam.

[TwiceHorn 31471]

2 hours ago, CoTex said:

Kitchen Reno changed our lifestyle.  Now we hang out in kitchen 90% of the time. Expensive but when finished - worth every penny.

We got a large induction cooktop placed in our island and it is the cat’s pajamas.  

Also have door that opens out into a little garden area so we can go outside and relax during the 25 day period each fall when Texas isn't a fucking blast furnace.

That's our major problem.  We're currently in a custom home with our kitchen "just so," along with the master bath and walk-in closets.

We don't expect to duplicate it, quite, but we're not used to mid-60s.  Annoying thing is that the appliances there are decent and probably not more than 10 years old, but they're white.  Completely functional, but geezus.

[Guest]

Subscribed. Have a master bath in a 1980s build. Been renovated once, but not our style.

Would love to tear out tile, countertops, and tub. Go with new tile, new paint, new counter, and walk-in shower.

[CoTex 1160]

1 hour ago, TwiceHorn said:

That's our major problem.  We're currently in a custom home with our kitchen "just so," along with the master bath and walk-in closets.

We don't expect to duplicate it, quite, but we're not used to mid-60s.  Annoying thing is that the appliances there are decent and probably not more than 10 years old, but they're white.  Completely functional, but geezus.

Our home was built in 30’s.  We built new kitchen in what was a “formal dining.”  Then killed old kitchen and made smaller dining.

This allowed us to stay in home diring Reno.

[CoTex 1160]

1 hour ago, TwiceHorn said:

That's our major problem.  We're currently in a custom home with our kitchen "just so," along with the master bath and walk-in closets.

We don't expect to duplicate it, quite, but we're not used to mid-60s.  Annoying thing is that the appliances there are decent and probably not more than 10 years old, but they're white.  Completely functional, but geezus.

Our home was built in 30’s.  We built new kitchen in what was a “formal dining.”  Then killed old kitchen and made smaller dining.

This allowed us to stay in home diring Reno.

[4th&Five 41552]

Ours was $40k in February. New everything but didn’t have to move any plumbing. We probably went a little cheaper on lighting than I wish we did but we can change that later. 

[dcbc 14484]

It's been a minute or a decade, but we did a minor renovation on our kitchen (countertops, sink, faucet, dishwasher, vent hood, cooktop, and backsplash).  $5K.  Since then, we've added a new refrigerator and wall mount oven out of necessity (another $5K).  But we didn't replace or reface cabinets or knock out any walls.  I'd like to re-tile the floor with something nicer and get the cabinets painted.  But that's still probably chump change compared to what I'm seeing here. 

[ChickenSandwich 9836]

Did two bathrooms in January. To the studs but didn’t move plumbing. 
 

$35k total. $18 of which was labor. 

[fattyflattie 4639]

I knew it was high but gotdamn.  Of course appliances can swing the whole thing 35k or more so ymmv. 

[MonkeyDoughnut 10235]

Only thing I've learned

 

[El Tri 412]

On 9/20/2022 at 11:52 PM, TwiceHorn said:

I may not have the patience or desire to do these renos.  Fuck.

And, it's not so much the money, as the inevitable hike in appraised value that turns into property taxes.

Maybe the inspection will turn up some shit so I don't feel so bad exercising the option.

don't pull permits and problem solved

[UTGrad98 2273]

We are in the middle of a master bath remodel. Takes 2 weeks.  Was quoted 10k for labor. We buy all the materials ourselves. 1k for each 60 inch vanity x2, stand alone tub $ 600, tub faucet $200, floor and shower tile $1k, toilet $280, frameless shower glass and door $2k (this was a sub contractor so it includes both parts and labor). Lights and mirrors $1k . Vanity faucets and shower heads $500, Misc paint grout etc $500. All together looking at 18k. 

[fattyflattie 4639]

Not too bad.  What city? 

[UTGrad98 2273]

Flower mound. 

[Brew 3049]

On 9/20/2022 at 10:05 PM, Brew said:

The sky is the limit. The kitchen is next on our contractor’s list and we’re $80k in with just the cabinetry and appliances. Hardwood and counters will be another chunk on top of that. My wife has a real knack for going with the absolute most expensive option she can find without even knowing what the prices are.

Finally got contract settled to go ahead and start as well as the last of the appliances, so we’re moving forward. Kitchen renovation is going to cost more than the 2nd house we moved into in the mid 2000’s. Just in time for the kids to be leaving for college too, so it will get a lot of use in the future.

[Chewbacca 7777]

Finally got contract settled to go ahead and start as well as the last of the appliances, so we’re moving forward. Kitchen renovation is going to cost more than the 2nd house we moved into in the mid 2000’s. Just in time for the kids to be leaving for college too, so it will get a lot of use in the future.

Stated our remodel 2 months ago. I feel this.

[gsoda3 3261]

We are in the middle of a master bath remodel. Takes 2 weeks.  Was quoted 10k for labor. We buy all the materials ourselves. 1k for each 60 inch vanity x2, stand alone tub $ 600, tub faucet $200, floor and shower tile $1k, toilet $280, frameless shower glass and door $2k (this was a sub contractor so it includes both parts and labor). Lights and mirrors $1k . Vanity faucets and shower heads $500, Misc paint grout etc $500. All together looking at 18k. 

That is really good

[wackawacka 179]

agree with UTgrad98. just keeping find contractors that will do parts and buy all your own supplies. it was be a PITA to manage but all the quotes for $50k+ are just GCs price gouging people.

the reason they can do it is because you need so many specialist. find a tile and plumber and buy the supplies then have them bill you hourly. bet you can do it for $10k

[deadshank 24653]

3 hours ago, wackawacka said:

agree with UTgrad98. just keeping find contractors that will do parts and buy all your own supplies. it was be a PITA to manage but all the quotes for $50k+ are just GCs price gouging people.

the reason they can do it is because you need so many specialist. find a tile and plumber and buy the supplies then have them bill you hourly. bet you can do it for $10k

What could possibly go wrong?

[MonkeyDoughnut 10235]

5 hours ago, wackawacka said:

agree with UTgrad98. just keeping find contractors that will do parts and buy all your own supplies. it was be a PITA to manage but all the quotes for $50k+ are just GCs price gouging people.

the reason they can do it is because you need so many specialist. find a tile and plumber and buy the supplies then have them bill you hourly. bet you can do it for $10k

If you're going a "refresh" - new paint, flooring, tile I might consider, but if remodeling... there is so much upside to using a GC and so much downside to not. Shop around if don't like the quotes, but bathroom includes so many trades, I'd just assume have the best crews who want to please a GC so he can keep feeding them jobs rather than a homeowner who likely won't need to hire them again. Not to mention the extra weeks/months the project will likely take if trying to coordinate crew schedules on your own.

[Goofyboy 3293]

We had our bathroom remodeled last year. $30k (roughly). Custom cabinets, new floors, double shower, additional lights, Toto bidet toilet. The tile in the shower is 24x48 porcelain.

[Goofyboy 3293]

Another pic:

[Baboontyme 2812]

The actual cost is my sanity

[ztejas 43448]

On 10/13/2023 at 9:53 PM, Goofyboy said:

$30k (roughly).

That's not bad and looks like you got some really nice tile for the floor and shower.

Cabinets are expensive as fuck. 

[Snake Diggity 4624]

I live in SW Austin.  Remodeled our master bathroom in March of 2022.  Took everything down to the studs.  Moved plumbing.  Chose moderate materials; didn’t cheap out on anything but everything we chose can be bought at a big box home improvement store and the cabinets were all wood but nothing fancy.  Used a solo contractor recommended by a friend.  He did a very good job.  $40,000.  Worth it.  Highly highly recommend an oversized shower that has 2 shower heads.  Highly recommend fancy bidet.  My shower in my bathroom is my favorite place on earth.

Remodeled our kitchen (and updated the paint and flooring in the rest of our home; also updated the guest bath) last summer.  Turned the formal dining into a butler pantry; highly recommend.  Chose the best appliances you can get at Home Depot.  Used the same contractor.  Pretty sure it was the biggest job he’d ever done.  In the end he went over timeline and over budget without telling us and so I paid him $10,000 more than I had to, which I regret.  He still did a pretty good job, but we’re not as happy as we were with the master bath job.  Total price for all that was $80,000.

Between the interior remodel and replacing the exterior siding, I’ve put over $130,000 into my 1800 sf house in the last 3 years.  And our garage, enclosed patio, landscaping, detached workshop, driveway, and pool all still could use updating.  And our AC is 20+ years old.  That shit is such a beating.  If I had it to do over again I would have just bought a new build, but they don’t make new homes on the kind of lot/location I’m on.  Oh well fuck me I guess.

Edited October 18, 2023 by Snake Diggity

[fattyflattie 4639]

3 hours ago, Snake Diggity said:

Took everything down to the studs.  Moved plumbing.  Chose moderate materials; didn’t cheap out on anything but everything we chose can be bought at a big box home improvement store and the cabinets were all wood but nothing fancy.  Used a solo contractor recommended by a friend.  He did a very good job.  $40,000.  Worth it.  Highly highly recommend an oversized shower that has 2 shower heads.  Highly recommend fancy bidet.  My shower in my bathroom is my favorite place on earth.

Not too bad. I did just the shower when we had an issue, and I think I was in for 9k.  But about 6.5 of that was materials (we have 2 main heads and 4 jets in a large single arrangement, it’s marble, and fucking glass was crazy $$$) 

[UTGrad98 2273]

Need some advice, Im starting to get some anxiety. Our GC and his team measured the lip (walk in) of our shower incorrectly by about 1/2 an inch and my wife just noticed it yesterday after they had tiled. Its like 26 inches on the right side and 25.5 in on the left from wall to lip. Now that I see it, its noticeably crooked but they have basically finished the shower. The other major issue is they have now had to restart the plumbing for the bath 2x. My wife was concerned about 10 days ago about how the bath tub plumbing would work. She wanted to show the GC a video of our specific bath faucet and how to install and I told her it would be an insult to the GC (my mistake). She ended up just asking him about it that day any way and he ended up redoing the plumbing. She was still concerned a few days ago (after the first redo) and made him look at our tub and now they are in the middle of redoing it again. They had to dig up the new tile that was already completed and are moving the plumbing again. Mind you this is not my wife asking him to redo anything. She just asked him TWICE how the plumbing would work and both times he ended up changing what he had done. And she is STILL concerned and now I am as well.

So, what do I need to do? I am a laid back guy and am not a plumber but now I am not only concerned but Im getting more and more pissed off. I did not go behind these guys every fucking step of the way and make sure they were doing it correctly. I didnt want to be that home owner. And now I feel like their laziness/ineptitude has cost me some sanity. We have been displaced for 3 weeks now as one of their guys got covid last week and we were out of town the week before. 

I want to have them redo the shower lip on their own dime. I want to show this guy that video of the install of our bath faucet and have him verbally tell me EXACTLY how he plans to do it. I want to hire another contractor and have this guy babysit the GC I have now and have our current GC foot the bill or else Im not paying him the remaining 70% of the remodel.

Which of these next steps is warranted and which is just me being too pissed off to think right now. We cant even use our master bedroom because of the dust for the past 3 weeks. And her parents are coming in on Tuesday and when we started 4 weeks ago our GC assured me they would be done well before then.

[Goofyboy 3293]

It’s your money. I’d make them fix it.

[UTGrad98 2273]

Yea I talked to my brother. He does this kind of stuff and he said for sure fix the curb. Thats what it is called. And to show him the video of the tub faucet install, but in a nice way. He told me not to get to anxious or upset. The only thing I am losing is time. If he has to redo the tub intall 50 times, then thats what he will have to do.

[drt 638]

I always just ask the question. If you phrase it “Hey, this is a weird valve compared to most we looked at. Did you know they have a short video on their website for install?” it usually lands the right way. Ditto for measuring and such. Everyone makes mistakes, more eyes helps. 

[deadshank 24653]

On 10/22/2023 at 1:18 PM, UTGrad98 said:

Need some advice, Im starting to get some anxiety. Our GC and his team measured the lip (walk in) of our shower incorrectly by about 1/2 an inch and my wife just noticed it yesterday after they had tiled. Its like 26 inches on the right side and 25.5 in on the left from wall to lip. Now that I see it, its noticeably crooked but they have basically finished the shower. The other major issue is they have now had to restart the plumbing for the bath 2x. My wife was concerned about 10 days ago about how the bath tub plumbing would work. She wanted to show the GC a video of our specific bath faucet and how to install and I told her it would be an insult to the GC (my mistake). She ended up just asking him about it that day any way and he ended up redoing the plumbing. She was still concerned a few days ago (after the first redo) and made him look at our tub and now they are in the middle of redoing it again. They had to dig up the new tile that was already completed and are moving the plumbing again. Mind you this is not my wife asking him to redo anything. She just asked him TWICE how the plumbing would work and both times he ended up changing what he had done. And she is STILL concerned and now I am as well.

So, what do I need to do? I am a laid back guy and am not a plumber but now I am not only concerned but Im getting more and more pissed off. I did not go behind these guys every fucking step of the way and make sure they were doing it correctly. I didnt want to be that home owner. And now I feel like their laziness/ineptitude has cost me some sanity. We have been displaced for 3 weeks now as one of their guys got covid last week and we were out of town the week before. 

I want to have them redo the shower lip on their own dime. I want to show this guy that video of the install of our bath faucet and have him verbally tell me EXACTLY how he plans to do it. I want to hire another contractor and have this guy babysit the GC I have now and have our current GC foot the bill or else Im not paying him the remaining 70% of the remodel.

Which of these next steps is warranted and which is just me being too pissed off to think right now. We cant even use our master bedroom because of the dust for the past 3 weeks. And her parents are coming in on Tuesday and when we started 4 weeks ago our GC assured me they would be done well before then.

What does the contract say?  Set the emotions aside and read your answer book.   

[Baboontyme 2812]

I think the part about hiring a GC to oversee their GC is a bridge too far. In many ways you're at each other's mercy and it benefits you both to play nice. I am sure you're sick of being the nice guy - I fucking know I am. And I would definitely watch what they do more closely to see if additional oversight is warranted. I hope for your sake it isn't. 

[UTGrad98 2273]

Yea all good. He fixed it and of course there was no charge. The tub looks good and they hope to finish tomorrow and clean up some of Thursday. Thanks for the input