One of the first questions we hear from homeowners considering a bathroom renovation is simple: “How much is this actually going to cost?”

The frustrating answer is that bathroom remodeling prices can vary significantly. The size of the room, amount of tile, plumbing changes, fixture selections, custom glass, and overall condition of the existing bathroom can all affect the final price.

At Rolling Hill Custom, we try to make the process a little easier to understand by separating the construction cost of the renovation from the finish selections you choose for the space.

Understanding Construction Cost vs. Finish Cost

We think of a bathroom remodel in two main categories:

Construction costs include the labor and work required to actually build your new bathroom—demolition, disposal, plumbing, electrical, drywall, waterproofing, tile installation, carpentry, painting, project management, and other necessary construction work.

Finish selections are the products that give the bathroom its final look. These may include your vanity, faucets, toilet, shower fixtures, tile, mirror, lighting, accessories, shower glass, and other decorative selections.

Separating the two gives homeowners more control over their overall budget. Someone choosing a $600 vanity and standard porcelain tile will naturally have a different final project cost than someone choosing a $2,500 vanity, natural stone tile, premium plumbing fixtures, and custom glass.

You control the finish budget. We keep the construction cost predictable.

Powder Room Remodels

A powder room is typically the most straightforward bathroom renovation because there is no shower or tub.

For a typical powder room, our base construction scope may include:

• Demolition and disposal
• Plumbing
• Electrical
• Drywall and wall repairs
• Tile flooring installation
• Finish carpentry
• Painting
• Installation of customer-selected fixtures and finishes
• Project coordination and management

Our typical base construction cost for a powder room renovation starts around $12,000–$14,000, before finish selections and depending on the existing conditions and scope of work.

Standard Full Bathroom Remodels

A full bathroom introduces considerably more work, particularly when a shower or tub is involved.

A typical Rolling Hill full bathroom renovation may include complete demolition, plumbing and electrical work, drywall repairs, a new shower base, Schluter waterproofing, shower wall tile, bathroom floor tile, a shower niche, finish carpentry, painting, and installation of the selected fixtures.

For a relatively straightforward full bathroom where the existing layout remains similar, homeowners should generally expect the construction portion of the project to begin around the low-to-mid $20,000s, before finish selections.

Moving plumbing, building custom showers, adding extensive tile, changing the room layout, or correcting existing conditions can increase the construction cost.

Primary & Custom Bathrooms

Larger primary bathrooms have a much wider potential range.

Features such as fully tiled showers, curbless entries, benches, multiple niches, freestanding tubs, heated floors, custom shower glass, additional lighting, double vanities, specialty tile, and significant plumbing changes can all increase both labor and material costs.

For these projects, we typically develop a custom construction proposal after reviewing the existing space and understanding the homeowner's design goals.

What Can Increase the Cost of a Bathroom Remodel?

Some of the biggest factors include moving plumbing fixtures, changing the existing layout, expanding the shower, specialty or large-format tile, custom shower glass, additional electrical work, heated flooring, structural repairs, water damage, and upgrading plumbing or electrical systems discovered during construction.

This is why two bathrooms of exactly the same size can have very different renovation costs.

How Much Should I Budget for Fixtures and Finishes?

This is where homeowners have the most flexibility.

Rolling Hill Custom guides clients through the selection process so that the vanity, tile, plumbing fixtures, lighting, mirrors, hardware, and accessories work together as a complete design.

We can provide recommended selections and allowances while still giving homeowners the ability to upgrade the products that matter most to them.

Some homeowners prefer to keep their selections simple and put more of their budget toward construction. Others want the bathroom to be a statement space and invest more heavily in tile, plumbing fixtures, cabinetry, and glass.

There isn't necessarily a right answer—the important part is establishing the budget before construction begins.

Planning a Bathroom Remodel in Massachusetts?

A successful bathroom renovation starts well before demolition.

At Rolling Hill Custom, our process includes planning, design guidance, material selections, construction pricing, scheduling, and project management so that homeowners know what they're building—and what they're spending—before the project gets underway.

We specialize in bathroom renovations throughout Billerica and the surrounding communities of Greater Boston and the North Shore.

Thinking about remodeling your bathroom? Contact Rolling Hill Custom to schedule a consultation and start planning your project.