ᐅ Costs of a Bathroom Renovation Including Minor Layout Changes
Created on: 16 Jan 2020 15:52
K
kowalski
Hello dear forum members,
I want to renovate the bathroom in my apartment from the 1960s.
As was common back then, the bathroom is very small (about 3.5m² (38 sq ft)) and unfortunately equipped with a combined mini bathtub and shower. I would like to replace this with a shower. Since all the connections and drains are located on one side, the layout is quite inconvenient given the small size (room depth only 2m (6.5 ft)), with the toilet and sink positioned next to each other. You would gain a lot more space for the shower (across the entire width) if the sink could be moved to the opposite side. Of course, this would require major renovations, meaning changes to the drainage and water supply.
I understand that a bathroom is a significant cost factor, but the prices I have encountered here in Berlin, where I live, have really been surprising. So far, I have contacted three companies, and all of them told me to budget €15,000 (!!) if I want to avoid any surprises. This sounds like an extremely high amount to me — the bathroom measures only 2m (6.5 ft) deep, 1.7m (5.6 ft) wide, and 2.7m (8.9 ft) high.
I have very little experience with this and wanted to ask here if such prices are typical.
Thanks in advance.
I want to renovate the bathroom in my apartment from the 1960s.
As was common back then, the bathroom is very small (about 3.5m² (38 sq ft)) and unfortunately equipped with a combined mini bathtub and shower. I would like to replace this with a shower. Since all the connections and drains are located on one side, the layout is quite inconvenient given the small size (room depth only 2m (6.5 ft)), with the toilet and sink positioned next to each other. You would gain a lot more space for the shower (across the entire width) if the sink could be moved to the opposite side. Of course, this would require major renovations, meaning changes to the drainage and water supply.
I understand that a bathroom is a significant cost factor, but the prices I have encountered here in Berlin, where I live, have really been surprising. So far, I have contacted three companies, and all of them told me to budget €15,000 (!!) if I want to avoid any surprises. This sounds like an extremely high amount to me — the bathroom measures only 2m (6.5 ft) deep, 1.7m (5.6 ft) wide, and 2.7m (8.9 ft) high.
I have very little experience with this and wanted to ask here if such prices are typical.
Thanks in advance.
N
nordanney17 Jan 2020 10:08Tassimat schrieb:
but items like supply lines, drainage, heated towel rails, screed, possibly new electrical installation, pre-wall installation, etc. are missing. Yep, that's missing. A heated towel rail for a bathroom of 3.4sqm (36.6 sq ft) is really not necessary—setting aside the space issue. The rest is "minor stuff."
Tassimat schrieb:
above all, it's unclear how the installation of supply lines and wastewater can be carried out. That is usually the deal-breaker in older buildings. Just running pipes straight across the room becomes a major problem (especially drainage). Often, there is only a few centimeters (inches) of screed on top of the concrete.
kowalski schrieb:
Hello dear forum members,
I want to renovate the bathroom in my apartment from the 1960s.
As was common back then, the bathroom is very small (about 3.5m² (38 sq ft)) and unfortunately has a small bathtub-shower combo. I would like to replace this with a shower. Since all the plumbing and drains are located on one side, the small size (room depth only 2m (6.5 ft)) results in a rather awkward layout, with the toilet and sink next to each other. You would save a lot of space for the shower (across the entire width) if you could move the sink to the opposite side. Of course, this requires major modifications, meaning changes to the waste pipes and water supply lines.
I understand that renovating a bathroom can be quite costly, but the prices I have been quoted here in Berlin, where I live, really took my breath away. So far, I have requested quotes from three different companies, and all have told me to budget around 15,000 (!!) euros if I want to avoid unpleasant surprises. That sounds like an extremely high amount to me – the bathroom dimensions are only WxDxH 2 x 1.7 x 2.7 meters (6.5 x 5.6 x 8.9 ft).
I have very little experience with this and wanted to ask here whether these prices are typical.
Thanks in advance. I think you at least did more than most uninformed people by asking three different companies. If they independently tell you it might cost around 15,000 euros, then it’s probably in that range. Renovating and doing everything new is always (whether proportional or not) more expensive than just installing new fixtures.
N
nordanney17 Jan 2020 10:32kowalski schrieb:
the bathroom only measures WxDxH 2x1.70x2.70 meters (6.6x5.6x8.9 feet) That is not a bathroom size where typical companies really enjoy working. A lot of work and mess in a small space with low profit potential. Hence the correspondingly high price. Look for a small contractor via MyHa... or similar.
A one-person business will have much more interest in such a job and will offer it significantly cheaper.
First of all, many thanks for the detailed and helpful answers.
I am also contracting other trades for the apartment – you tend to think that it’s easier to do everything that might be necessary before moving in. Other contractors ultimately say that the situation is mainly due to the current conditions in the construction industry – meaning there is more work than tradespeople, which leads to higher prices.
However, there is no way I can spend 15,000 euros on a (mini) bathroom. Of course, doing some work yourself helps. But you either need the skills or the time – ideally both. I also think there is no other option than to use an online platform. I will probably have to give up on relocating the washbasin.
I am also contracting other trades for the apartment – you tend to think that it’s easier to do everything that might be necessary before moving in. Other contractors ultimately say that the situation is mainly due to the current conditions in the construction industry – meaning there is more work than tradespeople, which leads to higher prices.
However, there is no way I can spend 15,000 euros on a (mini) bathroom. Of course, doing some work yourself helps. But you either need the skills or the time – ideally both. I also think there is no other option than to use an online platform. I will probably have to give up on relocating the washbasin.
So, a single person easily needs 2-3 days just to strip out the old bathroom. That leaves 9 days.
Then the walls need to be leveled—either plastering or drywall. Another 3 days gone. Remaining 6.
Leveling the screed takes about half a day, but we’ll leave that out.
The rough installation also takes 1-2 days. Installing the wall-mounted fixtures including drywall takes one day. One day for tiling, half a day for grouting.
Next, the bathroom furniture.
14 days for one person is absolutely nothing. Then there are costs and time for travel.
Disposing of old materials. Towel radiators are also expensive and no small matter.
Sorry, but bathrooms usually mean high costs.
Your bathroom furniture is decent but not really “special.” My wife wanted a unique toilet and a stylish curved sink with a vanity unit. What can I say? The budget allowed it. And we had a plumber who worked with relatively low additional charges.
Conclusion: A complete new bathroom from start to finish for around 15,000 is simply realistic nowadays.
Then the walls need to be leveled—either plastering or drywall. Another 3 days gone. Remaining 6.
Leveling the screed takes about half a day, but we’ll leave that out.
The rough installation also takes 1-2 days. Installing the wall-mounted fixtures including drywall takes one day. One day for tiling, half a day for grouting.
Next, the bathroom furniture.
14 days for one person is absolutely nothing. Then there are costs and time for travel.
Disposing of old materials. Towel radiators are also expensive and no small matter.
Sorry, but bathrooms usually mean high costs.
Your bathroom furniture is decent but not really “special.” My wife wanted a unique toilet and a stylish curved sink with a vanity unit. What can I say? The budget allowed it. And we had a plumber who worked with relatively low additional charges.
Conclusion: A complete new bathroom from start to finish for around 15,000 is simply realistic nowadays.
kowalski schrieb:
First of all, many thanks for the detailed and helpful answers.
I’m also hiring other tradespeople for the apartment – you think it’s easier to get everything questionable done before moving in. Other contractors ultimately say it’s mainly due to the current situation in the construction industry – meaning more work than available workers leads to higher prices.
However, I definitely can’t spend 15,000 euros on a (mini) bathroom. Of course, doing it yourself helps. But either you need the skills or the time – ideally both. I also think there is no other option than going through a platform. I will probably have to give up on relocating the sink then.Take a weekend, a friend, and some tools, and you can gut the bathroom.
Another weekend and another friend, and you can straighten the drywall. This helps save a lot.
Always coordinate with the plumber.
For tiling, I found a self-employed tiler through the well-known platform. He communicated well with the plumber and was the second best trade during my renovation.
You can also have the plumber do only the rough-in installation (if he agrees). You install the basin yourself.
Be flexible. Say: if you have some free time, come and do it.
That way, he can take it as filler work. It takes longer but works in his favor.
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