A homeowner calls inquiring about a bathroom remodel. It is a relatively small space compared to the rest of their home. They aren’t asking for a lot of change – they just need it updated and to know it is done well. Sounds relatievly straight forward and simple. So this poses the question..

It’s one room. Why does it cost as much as a car?

What homeowner’s do not see is what is behind the walls and what it takes to make a bathroom beautiful and waterproof for the next 20+ years.

A remodel costs more than a new build because we must go backwards before we can go forwards, yet it requires almost all trades that a full new build would need.

We are going to review what goes into a bathroom remodel and what Orlando bathroom remodels cost.

Bathrooms are small but technically complex.

They often require the most plumbing than any other space in the home. There are additional steps for electrical in wet areas. A high standard of waterproofing materials and installation technique is required. Efficient ventilation needs to be planned and installed, sometimes calling for a roof penetration. These are just some of the elements that go into a bathroom remodel.

The Real Cost Breakdown

What clients don’t see:

• Water damage
• Improper previous installs
• Mold
• Structural Issues
• Outdated plumbing
• Code non-compliance

Plumbing Relocation and Rough-In

If all plumbing is staying in the same location, at minimum, the valves and shut-offs need to be changed for new. Changing from a tub to a walk-in shower requires a new type of drain system which we must trench into the foundation or joists. Anytime a foundation is opened and dirt revealed, a termit spray is required before the trench is closed. This protects you as a homeowner and we have seen time and time again this done wrong by unlicensed work.

A shower should always be fully demoed. There is no situation where the shower should be partially demoed due to a breaking in the waterproofing. When a shower is demoed, you will see the studs, all in-wall plumbing and the shower pan. We rebuild the shower pan, often times adjusting pitch or changing to a curbless shower. The expertise of an experienced plumber will give you trust that your shower plumbing will stand the test of time. Your rough-in inspection should pass before you can move to the next step.

Waterproofing Systems

After rough-in of your plumbing, we begin building out and prepping for finish work. In a shower, the next step will be waterproofing. We use a KBRS waterproofing system. Another well known system is Schluter. Both are a multi-step process, giving a full one piece waterproofed membrane before tile installation begins. Shower pans and tubs are tested and inspected for proper draining.

Electrical and Ventilation

One of the biggest complaints from homeowners with their existing bathroom is poor ventilation which often presents with mold. Depending on the age of the home here in Florida, bathrooms may have no ventilation fan or a fan that is installed but not properly connected in the attic.

In larger bathrooms, consider a minimum of two ventilation fans, depending on the layout. A roof penetration may be added by a licensed roofing contractor and connected in the attic by an HVAC team to provide the correct ventilation. The electrician will rough-in for the fans and the designer/contractor will plan where the switches for the fans will be located. Ventilation fans come with lighting and even bluetooth speakers. The proper planning of GFCI outlets, dedicated circuits and layered lighting is needed, even for a small bathroom.

Tile and Labor

A skilled tile installation will take time first to confirm they have the correct amount of material, review material quality and begin layout planning. Once they are ready for installation, they will need a space for their wet saw, buckets and a hose. They will begin with thin set, and install the tile, working out from a determined starting point. Detailing such as around windows, niches, knee walls and where the tile stops and drywall begins should be planned out with mitered edge tile, bullnose, pencil or schluter sticks.

Tiles that can increase the cost of installation are mosaics, marble, large format tiles, handmade or special layout instructions that call for more cuts or planning. Tile installation is labor intensive and could take two days to over a week, depending on the size of project and material.

Cabinetry and Millwork

Cabinetry on the market ranges from an all-in-one vanity with pre-fabricated top to fully custom furniture style vanities. Items that drive up the cost of cabinetry are drawers, organizing systems and custom details such as arched toe kick or plumbing chases. Nowadays, vanity cabinetry is suggested to be 34 1/2″ tall which is the same as standard kitchen base cabinets.

The final finish look of your cabinetry will depend on the experience of your installer as well as the cabinetry manufacturer. Small details like an extended style onto a cabinet rather than a separate filler will most certainly give you an elevated finished look. Your installer’s experience and approach to trimming out the cabinetry will either enhance or disrupt the final look of your cabinetry.

Shower glass and solid surface

Your shower glass and solid surface such as sills or countertop, will not be able to go into production until the tile installation is complete or the cabinetry is set. Either you as the homeowner or your contractor should call for template of the shower glass and countertop ahead of time, planning when the space will be template ready and getting on the fabricator’s schedule, so your down time is less. As a homeowner, be prepared that this is a point of your project that feels slower due to finish work that is waiting until the glass is installed or the countertops are in. If you have a solid surface sill that is going in before the glass, the solid surface template would be first and the glass template scheduled after the soldi surface is installed and complete.

Project Management and Insurance for bathrooms in Orlando

A bathroom remodel is a managed process that takes communication and coordination to efficiently complete. If a homeowner is acting as their own contractor, it is their responsibility to pull permits, schedule inspections, coordinate scheduling between all the trades and act as the main hub of communication.

Working with a general contractor or design build contractor will give your time back as a homeowner. Not only will all coordination and communication be done by the contractor but warranty and insurance clearly lies with contract rather than many trades to follow up with. If you either work with a designer or choose a design build to work with, you will not find yourself holding a piece of tile in your demoed bathroom and the tile installer asking you how it should be installed. A designer or design build firm is going to have the plans completed ahead of time and get all of the questions out of the way so your bathroom remodel can run smoothly.

Skilled trades that may be involved in a bathroom remodel:

• Demolition, including trenching
• Plumbing
• Electrical
• Waterproofing
• Tile
• Cabinetry
• Countertop/solid surface
• Shower glass
• HVAC
• Roofing conractor for ventilation penetration
• Framing
• Doors & windows

Why it is worth doing a bathroom right the first time.

As a design build firm in Orlando, we get many calls from homeowners looking to remodel their bathroom and want it done right the first time. We have seen what happens when bathrooms are done wrong and homeowners are investing more than they planned to correct a remodel gone bad.

Most bathrooms:

• Are used several times a day
• Are the largest moisture risk in the house
• Can be a source of flooding the whole home
• Provide substantial ROI for resale
• Give a source of resotration and relaxation

What does a bathroom remodel cost in Orlando?

In the Orlando area, a professionally completed bathroom with all material and permits included typically ranges:

• Guest or hall bathroom $55,000 – $75,000
• Primary bathroom, limited layout adjustments $95,000 – $120,000
• Primary bathroom, major layout adjustments $120,000 – $250,000

How to avoid spending more than you plan on a bathroom

• Finalize selections upfront, before contract
• Hire design assistance before you purchase materials and construction begins
• Invest in qualified trades
• Research waterproofing, know what you are getting and how to spot when installation is wrong
• Confirm permits are being pulled, this protects your insurance, resell value and termite bond
• Review plans and renderings before signing contract, this way everyone is on the same page for the resulted outcome of your bathroom remodel
• Confirm a process of communication through your project. It could be as simple as a text group or a project portal provided by your contractor

If you would like to speak with one of our team members about partnering with Park & Patina Design Build for your upcoming bathroom remodel in Orlando, click here and either enter your information or directly schedule a complimentary consultation.