How Much to Budget for a Bathroom Remodel in CT?
It’s a running joke in this industry that bathrooms are the most expensive rooms in the house per square foot. Homeowners are often surprised that a room the size of a closet can cost as much as it does. But when you think about it, a bathroom renovation has a lot of moving parts. You’ve got water, electricity, and heavy finishes like stone and tile all packed into a tiny area. It’s a dense workspace where every inch of labor counts.
For a standard bathroom in our area, here’s how the numbers usually break down.
A Guest or Hallway Bathroom ($15,000 to $25,000)
This is your typical 5x8 bathroom. This budget covers a new tub or shower unit, a standard vanity, new flooring, and updated fixtures. It’s a gut project, meaning we take it to the studs to ensure there's no hidden water damage. We see this quite often in older ranches and split-levels. Replacing an old tub with a modern walk-in shower is a common request, and it’s a great way to make a small space feel significantly larger and more accessible for guests or growing families.
A Primary Suite Bathroom ($30,000 to $60,000+)
Primary bathrooms are where people want to spend a little more on comfort. This range often includes a custom tiled walk-in shower with a glass enclosure, a double vanity, and higher-end tile work. If we’re expanding the bathroom by taking space from a bedroom or closet, the cost moves toward the higher end because of the structural and plumbing changes involved. This type of remodeling work often requires moving vent stacks or drain lines, which adds complexity you can't see until the walls are open.
The Hidden Budget Items
We always recommend keeping a 10% contingency fund. In Connecticut, we deal with older homes that love to hide surprises. If we pull up your old tile and find that the subfloor is rotting due to a slow leak, we have to fix it. We won't put beautiful new tile on a soft floor. It’s part of our standard process to check the structural integrity of the room before we start finishing it.
Another factor is the plumbing. If your home still has old galvanized pipes, it’s much smarter to replace them while the walls are open. This isn’t an upsell, we're here to make sure you don't have to tear the bathroom apart again in five years due to failing pipes. We want you to feel confident that once the job is done, it's done for good.
Budgeting for a bathroom is about more than just picking out a pretty faucet. It’s about ensuring the systems that keep your home dry and functional are modernized and safe. We’re here to listen to your goals and give you a realistic path forward that fits your lifestyle. You can reach out to us here to discuss your ideas.
