Why a Small Bathroom Doesn’t Necessarily Cost Less to Renovate
Project: Salt Lake City to Philly
Photo: Kate Raines
There’s a common misconception that because a bathroom is small it’s going to cost significantly less to renovate. My clients are often surprised that that’s usually not the case and there are a few reasons for this.
Let’s take a typical full bathroom for example. The average would have the following components:
(1) vanity
(1) tub/shower combo
(1) toilet
Coordinating fixtures
Tile
A typical “small” bathroom would also have the following:
(1) vanity
(1) tub/shower combo
(1) toilet
Coordinating fixtures
Tile
All the major components for each are exactly the same. And the labor required to install all these items is roughly the same whether it’s a small or large bathroom. As a result, the cost difference between a small bathroom and average bathroom aren’t too different.
I find that bathroom costs differentiate most in regards to materials and finishes. For example, a bathroom with imported marble tile is generally going to cost much more than a porcelain tile.
That being said, all other things being equal, there is a threshold.
I’ve worked on high-end master bathrooms with the following:
A double vanity
Separate makeup vanity
Toilet room
Steam shower with multiple shower heads and controls
Separate freestanding tub
Coordinating fixtures
Tile
This master bathroom is going to cost significantly more, because there are more components.
More plumbing needs to be installed because their are more fixtures = more labor costs
The cost of the fixtures themselves add up. You need multiple fixtures for the vanity, shower and a tub filler
The room will be larger to fit all these items which means more tile = more labor and material costs
A client for a higher end bathroom is typically going to demand a higher quality of work. High-end contractors are usually more expensive.
Consider the number of components and labor involved. These are the factors that ultimately influence the overall cost of your bathroom.