Planning a bathroom remodel is one of the most popular and rewarding home improvement or facelifting projects, but it’s important to understand what goes into the price tag. The average cost of a bathroom remodel varies depending on size, materials, project scope, and the quality of finishes you choose. Whether you’re making a few upgrades or doing a full renovation, knowing the factors that influence cost can help you make smart design decisions.
In this post, I’ll cover what you need to know about bathroom remodeling costs. I’ll provide some ballpark figures about typical prices in the Ithaca area, discuss whether a remodel is worth the price, and offer tips for avoiding unexpected costs.
What Does the Average Bathroom Remodel Cost in the Ithaca Area?
In the Ithaca area, a bathroom remodel tends to cost between $35,000 and $100,000. As we outline in detail in our guide to bathroom remodel costs, there are three main levels of bathroom remodels.
- Level 1 ($45k to $55k): For level 1, the remodel involves removing old fixtures and finishes and installing a new sink, toilet, countertop, and tub or shower. This type of remodel doesn’t involve relocating plumbing lines or significantly changing the layout.
- Level 2 ($55k to $85k): For level 2, we start getting into custom layout arrangements along with other upgrades throughout the space, including those in level 1.
- Level 3 ($75k to $100k): in a level 3 remodel, we build out a luxury, spa-like bathroom space. This involves high-end materials and custom designs for things like bathroom cabinets. A level 3 remodel may also include a wet room concept with curbless shower access.
For each level, you see a sizable range, and this is largely related to the size of the bathroom that will be remodeled and some of the specific design choices you make.
What Factors Influence Bathroom Remodel Costs?
The total cost for any bathroom remodel includes both material and labor costs. Although we’ve provided some general figures for what a bathroom remodel costs, the budget for any given project will vary significantly based on factors including the bathroom’s size, the materials you choose, and the project scope.
Bathroom Size
Bathroom costs are typically tied to square footage. Renovating larger master bathrooms necessarily involves more work and more materials. More space also means more plumbing, lighting, and flooring in a primary bathroom remodel.
In contrast, small guest bathrooms, half baths, and powder rooms typically require fewer materials and labor, making them more budget-friendly to remodel.
Materials
Material costs are a major driver of the total cost of a bathroom remodel. As anyone would expect, high-end materials come with a higher price tag. Examples can include:
- Countertop materials like natural stone or quartz
- Custom vanity materials including custom cabinets
- Designer fixtures
- Cast iron tubs
- In-floor radiant heat
While those materials can be a core driver of the budget, other necessary components also add up and affect the project cost.
- Wall and flooring materials, including for the inside of a walk-in shower
- A new toilet and sink, which can vary in price based on the brand and quality
- Smaller hardware including light fixtures, shower heads, faucets, towel racks, and towel bars
Keep in mind that with many materials, it’s not simply about the price but also the installation cost. For example, custom tiling is going to cost more to put in than snap-down floor tiles. Similarly, prefabricated fixtures and items like a prefab shower-tub combo will cost less to install. For any materials, don’t just consider the base price but the installed price (or installed price per square foot).
Project Scope
The project scope determines the extent of the remodeling work that needs to be done, which naturally affects what a bathroom remodel costs. A partial remodel costs less than a full bathroom remodel.
A cosmetic approach might just involve painting, replacing light fixtures, putting in a new toilet, and upgrading a few other existing fixtures. On the other end of the spectrum, full remodels frequently involve changes to the bathroom layout, and that means more costly steps like moving or opening up bathroom walls, relocating plumbing fixtures, and doing electrical work to make sure everything is compliant with local building codes.
Is a Bathroom Remodeling Project Worth the Cost?
Before accepting a bathroom remodeling budget, many homeowners want to know whether a bathroom renovation is worth it financially. The Journal of Light Construction publishes an annual Cost vs. Value Report for different types of remodeling projects in regions across the U.S. According to their findings, bath remodels in upstate New York are among the top values, especially for midrange and luxury projects. These tend to enhance resale value if you decide to put your home on the market.
Additionally, you should consider the harder-to-quantify benefits of a bathroom remodel. For example, you use your primary bathroom every day. That means that you’ll constantly be able to notice and take advantage of an upgrade to the space. In this way, it’s not just about resale value but also about what a bathroom remodel can deliver in terms of your quality of life and enjoyment of your home.
Read More: Planning to Add a Bathroom to Your Basement
How Can You Avoid Unexpected Expenses in the Bathroom Renovation Process?
In a bathroom remodel, the true project cost isn’t always what you see in the initial estimate or proposal. In fact, many homeowners spend quite a bit more than anticipated because of unforeseen costs that arise as the project unfolds.
While there’s no sure-fire way to avoid all unexpected costs, a few practical tips can help minimize them.
- Start with a realistic budget: Don’t let wishful thinking guide your budgeting. If a bid comes in with a price that seems too good to be true, it probably is, and you may end up with a much higher bill than originally estimated. Being realistic at the outset can help avoid this.
- Hire a true professional: Some homeowners try to find potential cost savings by treating a full remodel or luxury bathroom remodel as a DIY project or a weekend job for a handyman. This often backfires, leading to dissatisfied homeowners who have to hire a professional to redo the job. Starting out with a top-notch professional who knows how to do custom work may cost more upfront, but you will get a better result and save money by getting it done right the first time.
- Seek out a fixed-price contract: With many contractors, a bid doesn’t show the final cost, only an estimated price based on the itemized costs for labor and materials. In some cases, the actual work costs upwards of 20% more than the homeowner initially planned because of change orders that require extra work hours or materials. To avoid this, you can hire a firm that offers a fixed-price contract, which means the remodeler bears the risk of cost overruns.
- Avoid late modifications to the bathroom’s design: If you decide late in the game that you want to modify the design or project scope, it can cause the total price to rise considerably. To save money, we suggest doing everything you can to make the important decisions at the outset and then stick to those choices as much as possible.
The Right Firm for Your Bath Remodel
Upscale Remodeling is a custom remodeling firm with deep roots in the Ithaca area. Our family put down roots here more than a century ago, and we’re proud to serve this community today.
We know that a bathroom remodel is a significant investment, and that’s why we approach every client’s remodel as if it were a project for our own home. Whether it’s a full overhaul or a smaller upgrade, our team is dedicated to ensuring that you’re satisfied with the result.
You can see examples of our remodeling work in our portfolio, and if you’re ready to schedule a consultation about your bathroom project, contact us today.
