What are the costs associated with bathroom renovation?

Hardly any other room in the house gnaws away at the ravages of time as quickly as the bathroom. The few square meters are regularly used intensively and the humidity is often high. Especially when moving into a used property, the bathroom is therefore regularly subjected to a complete renovation.

The work is varied

. A complete renovation usually means that a variety of craftsmen are involved in the work in the bathroom. This includes not only the plumber and the tiler, but also an electrician and a painter. In this respect, it is important to deal with the costs incurred for the renovation before planning the new bathroom. Numerous factors play a role in the exact quantification. These range from the size of the bathroom and its cut to the choice of sinks, faucets, bathroom furniture, etc.. These products are each available in a wide variety of quality levels and thus also price ranges. In this respect, the scope of this article can only be to give a few rough clues.

An initial assessment

In order to determine the possible costs of renovating the bathroom, it is first important to determine what work needs to be done and what components need to be purchased new. Unless the age of the bathroom can be determined from the year the house was built or the documents provided when the property was purchased, an approximate estimate can often be made based on the shapes, sizes and colors of the tile backsplash. Whether this needs to be replaced depends primarily on the quality and current condition of the tiles themselves. The color does not matter, as it is usually easy to apply a new coat of special tile paint. Similarly, minor damage to the sanitary ware can usually be repaired in a simple manner. In this respect, in addition to the condition of the bathroom, it is often mainly a matter of personal taste, to what extent work needs to be done.

The cost of the individual trades

. In the case of a complete renovation of the bathroom, the first question is whether the removal of the old fixtures and tiling should be done yourself or by a company. In the latter case, the removal of the old fittings usually costs about 1,200 euros. Furthermore, there are costs for waste disposal. These range from 100 to 150 euros, depending on the quantity and regional prices. In the gutted bathroom, the electrician is usually called in at the beginning. Laying new wiring in a medium-sized bathroom takes about eight hours of work. If an hourly wage of 50 euros is applied here, the costs amount to 400 euros net without materials. It is similar with the costs for the painter. For the ceiling, door and, if applicable, the window including frame, eight hours of work and thus costs of around 400 euros are also likely to be incurred. The plumber's work will take considerably longer. For a complete replacement of the shower or bathtub, toilet and washbasin, this is likely to take around 40 hours and thus a complete working week. Accordingly, assuming an hourly rate of 50 euros, further costs of 2,000 euros net will be incurred. Further costs may arise if the pipes also have to be refurbished or additional radiators replaced. The tiler usually also needs a lot of time. If all the tiles on the floor and walls are replaced, 32 hours of work quickly add up, including the removal of the old tiles. If these are also calculated with a factor of 50 euros, costs of 1,600 euros arise without materials. In total, the labor costs are thus around 5,600 euros. In addition, there are the costs for the disposal of the removed fittings and tiles.

Costs for a basic fitting

. While the cost of the work in the bathroom should not move significantly down or up, there is basically no limit to the price in terms of the equipment of the new bathroom upwards. The values given here are therefore in each case the price for a basic equipment of the bathroom. For shower, WC and wash basin including armatures usually at least costs of 2,500 euro result. The cost of the tiles is 25 euros per square meter. For an eight-square-meter or small bathroom, assuming this value, costs of 750 euros will be incurred. The material required by the electrician in the form of cables, switches, sockets, etc. is likely to cost around 300 euros. In addition, there are material costs for the tiler in the form of tile adhesive, leveling compound, etc., as well as lines, clamps, etc. for the plumber. At least another 500 euros should be budgeted for this. The total cost of materials is thus over 4,000 euros for a simple design.

Conclusion

. If you add up labor and material costs, the complete renovation of a bathroom often quickly adds up to 10,000 euros and more. This is especially the case if the equipment of the bathroom is to be somewhat more exquisite. If a whirlpool as well as a steam and rain shower with light spectacle are installed, the costs quickly rise to 30,000 euros and more. However, it is important above all to attach importance to good quality and durability in all materials, so that the next renovation of the bathroom can be postponed as far into the future as possible. Fig.: stux/pixabay.com