The True Cost of a Shower Remodel

There comes a time when your shower no longer is functioning properly. Perhaps it has poor water pressure, is slow to drain, or perhaps it has lost its shine and is no longer inviting. Whatever your reason, you know when it is time to remodel your shower.

Covid Issues

During the past few years, the building industry has seen a significant problem with covid-induced supply chain issues causing materials to be delayed and very hard to get. Covid has also put many contractors out of business so there is now a short supply of trained workmen available to hire. This has created an increase in remodeling costs, some reporting the increase is as high as 30% in some areas. Regardless of our current conditions,  determining the cost of a home shower remodel is not easy to determine because there are so many factors to consider.

Cost Guidelines

Certainly, not everyone enjoys an ample budget to draw on and everyone’s level of luxury is different, however, some general guidelines are offered by the National Kitchen and Bath Association. They suggest allocating 5 to 10% of your overall home’s value toward your entire bathroom remodel. This would mean that if your home was valued at $250,000 you would allocate $12,500 to $25,000 to remodel your bathroom. These figures are based on the remodeling of the primary bathroom which often is attached to the master bedroom and is the largest in the home. These guidelines are meant to ensure the money you spend will be in line with the quality of your home.

Hidden Factors

Will your shower be relocated to a different spot in the bathroom? If so, the plumbing will need to be moved and the costs associated with moving pipes and drains are dependent on the structural layout of your home. Oftentimes the framework cannot be seen and requires opening up drywall or floors to determine what can and cannot be done. Regardless of the work required to reroute plumbing, be assured that all reworked plumbing will add to your bottom line. Also, once you remove your existing shower the studs, subflooring, ceiling, and plumbing will be exposed. This gives you the opportunity to evaluate and repair any damages caused by leaking pipes and remove any mold or mildew that may have formed.

Prefabricated Kits or Custom?

Your next consideration will be deciding whether to use easy-to-install shower kits from stores such as Home Depot or will you be using a remodeling company such as Bath Fitters to do your remodeling project. The products that are available through these types of entities are prefabricated,  fit existing shower footprints, and are the least expensive option. The average cost to purchase a shower kit is $4,000 but higher-end stand-alone showers can range between $2500 to over $30,000 depending on the options chosen. If you choose to tile your new shower, the price will increase as each new selection is made.  Will you use marble tiles? These come in as the most expensive option with ceramic tile costing the least. There are hundreds of styles and patterns from which to choose and range in price from $3 a square foot to $50 or more.

Valves, Heads, and Doors

Other costs you will incur with a shower remodel are the purchase of pressure-balanced valves,  a new shower head valve, and some additional piping, with added costs for a professional plumber who knows how to install these features. On average, plumbing costs range from $1200 to $4000 but can skyrocket if plumbing needs to be relocated or replaced. Other design choices needed for your conversion will include showerheads which start in the price range of $100 but can climb up to and exceed more than $4,000. Ceiling mount showerheads and multi-spray units fall into this high-end category.  Finally, shower remodeling may include glass doors or other shower enclosure options. There are sliding doors, trackless doors, curved shower doors, framed or frameless shower doors, and glass doors. These glass doors have the added features of being frosted, tinted, etched, or seeded,  offering additional privacy in your bathroom.

So, as you can see, there are endless options from which to choose and many factors that will determine the cost of your shower installation. Knowing the average cost of materials and installation will help you decide which options work best for you. Remember, a shower remodeling project should increase your standard of living while being gentle on your pocketbook.

Thinking of remodeling your shower? Contact us today! We are shower remodeling specialists in Huntington Beach, Orange County.