If you are considering a bathroom remodel in Los Angeles, you likely know that renovating a bathroom can give your home’s value a real boost. In addition to recouping much of the original investment in increased property value, owners also enjoy many intrinsic advantages.
For example, making the room more functional, relaxing, and beautiful. Additionally, if you are planning on selling the home, a stunning bathroom is one of the most important selling points.
Indeed, a bathroom remodel is an important investment in your home. It deserves careful consideration backed by a solid bathroom contractor.
Here at GreatBuildz, we speak with clients every day who want to understand the average bathroom remodel costs in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura & San Diego Counties. GreatBuildz is a free service that connects homeowners with reliable, pre-screened home contractors, then provides ongoing project support to ensure a stress-free experience.
Related: Estimate the cost of your remodel with our bathroom remodel cost calculator
Average Bathroom Renovation Costs
The average bathroom remodel cost in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas is approximately $25,000. As you likely can appreciate, no two bathrooms or projects are the same. Costs for the same size space can vary wildly based on a long list of factors including types of material used, layout changes, custom components, and more.
The cost for bathroom remodels varies by region and in the Los Angeles area prices range from $25,000 for an average size bathroom while larger bathrooms will cost around $40,000.
As part of your budget planning, keep in mind that in Los Angeles, labor accounts for a significant portion of the total cost and most bathroom remodels in LA range from $15,000 to $60,000. Depending on the fixtures and scope, a bathroom remodel can cost from $100 to $600 per square foot.
Controlling Costs in a Bathroom Remodel
Now that we’ve covered average bathroom remodel costs and their relationship to the size of the space, let’s talk about some important ways to control costs.
While bigger bathroom remodels do tend to cost more, there are still ways to minimize costs while maximizing the effect of the remodel. What you do before the project starts can have a huge impact on the final cost and outcome. It is important to do your research, ask great questions, and ensure that you work with a knowledgeable contractor.
Here are some important things you can do to help control the costs of your bathroom remodel.
1. Choose the Right Professional
Any successful project begins with the right choice of bathroom contractor. Thankfully, the days of opening up a phone book and hoping for the best are gone.
Finding the right contractors can still be a huge task, however. Before you sign on the dotted line, be sure that your contractor specializes in bathroom remodels, is licensed to work in California, and is fully insured with both General Liability and Workers Comp insurance.
At GreatBuildz, all of our contractors are licensed, bonded, insured, and rigorously vetted in a 10-step process. Make sure you take time to meet with more than one kitchen contractor in order to find one that shares your vision and provides the level of communication and collaboration you desire.
Contractor Bids
Don’t be surprised if your bathroom remodel contractor estimates widely vary. Different contractors make different assumptions about your project, its scope, materials, etc. Plus, every contractor has their own cost structure and expectations of profit they want to achieve. Does that mean that you should go with the cheapest bid? Absolutely not. So, the first thing you need to do is carefully review what’s included in each bid to make sure you are doing an apples-to-apples comparison. Also, you need to be clear about which materials (and their costs) are included in each bid. Once all your bids are complete, thorough, and equivalent in scope…you can better decide the right contractor for you.
2. Have a Solid Vision for Your Bathroom Remodel
It is important to have an idea of what you want and understand the average costs associated with your wish list. This will allow you to separate your must-haves from the lower priorities on your list. This process will help you budget for the entire project and make smart compromises.
3. Understand What Factors Increase Costs
It is also important to understand what elements increase the costs, and ways to avoid them. Changing the layout of the bathroom can get expensive because it usually involves moving water and waste lines, and installing new electrical, lighting, exhausts, HVAC, and more.
Homeowners can control costs, too, by choosing components and fixtures such as vanity, sink, bathtub, tile, and faucets that stay within budget.
4. Work With Your Contractor to Find a Range of Options Based on Budget
It is completely possible to get the look you want on a budget with your bathroom remodeling contractor. While a quartz countertop is beautiful, there are still much more affordable options. For example, try granite, ceramic, and more.
It is also important to consider your material choices as they relate to the price of labor. You might love the look of an intricate mosaic tile design in the shower for a reasonable price. However keep in mind, what looks like a bargain could increase labor costs, however, as smaller tiles and more detailed designs take much longer to install.
As discussed, the average bathroom remodel costs in Los Angeles and Southern California can vary quite a bit. And there are definitely ways to save money on a bathroom renovation.
However, keep in mind that bathrooms get used heavily in your home and are subject to degradation from water, steam, stains, etc. So, it may not be a great idea to cut costs by using less resilient materials. You want your bathroom remodel to last a long time and withstand heavy wear and tear. We’ve all seen bathrooms that look worn, be it the vanity cabinet, the countertop, peeling paint, the moldy shower doors, worn tile grout, etc. Renovating with the appropriate materials that are easy to clean will greatly extend the life of your bathroom.
5. Try to Work With The Existing Layout of the Bathroom
Whenever possible, work with the existing layout of the bathroom.
Changing walls, windows, pipes, and drains will incur a lot of extra costs in design, materials, and labor. Moving tub, shower, and toilet components is a significant element in any bathroom remodel, and the average price of relocating just one of them is between $2,000-$4,000 on top of the price of the component.
Many times it is possible to work with the existing structure and layout but change elements to get the desired functionality.
6. When it Comes to the Big Things, Don’t Change Your Mind
Work closely with your contractor throughout your project to nail down your wants and needs ahead of every stage of construction. Though it is often hard to visualize something until it is in place, you will want to avoid changes mid-project.
In addition to lengthening the time of completion, even small changes can dramatically impact overall costs. Especially in bathrooms, changes are complex and can mean huge costs in having to move pipes and plumbing or reopening walls or flooring.
Don’t Forget to Budget for a Contingency
Once you select the contractor you want to hire and sign a contract for an agreed-upon price, you need to mentally prepare yourself for additional costs. You should always assume a contingency of 10-20% on top of your contracted price, and you should have this in your budget. If you don’t have to spend it, consider it a win. But, in a great majority of projects, there are always additional costs that crop up during the renovation.
Some potential extra costs may arise for the following reasons. The contractor might find unforeseen issues once they start the demolition and construction. Neither you nor them can see behind the walls, so any surprise repairs will come out of your contingency. Alternatively, you might change your mind on something and have the contractor re-do part of the job, again, costing you extra. Or, one of your chosen material will not be available so you might have to buy something more expensive. These and other issues are bound to increase your original costs.
Ready to Start Your Bathroom Remodel Project?
When it comes to finding the best bathroom contractor for your project – GreatBuildz is simplifying the contractor search in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura & San Diego Counties. GreatBuildz is a free service that connects homeowners with reliable, thoroughly screened bathroom contractors and provides project support from start to finish.
Call now (818.317.3567) to chat with a real person about your next renovation project or visit our website for more information: www.greatbuildz.com
