If you live in Los Angeles or want to sell a house here, you know that 2021 has been a crazy year for housing prices. This frenzy is why many of our clients ask for investment breakdowns for bathroom remodels, home additions, ADUs and alike. A myriad of factors contributes to the total cost and resale value of any of these improvements.
In this article, we will cover some of the most critical investment considerations in bathroom remodels. We will first provide the most up-to-date data on average bathroom remodeling costs in southern California. We will then list all the design and materials choices that influence the cost. And lastly, we will break down the ROI factors for your bathroom remodel.
Table of contents:
- What Is The Average Bathroom Remodeling Cost in Los Angeles?
- How do bathroom remodeling costs vary?
- How much value can a bathroom remodel add to a home?
- Bathroom Remodel ROI Example
Related:
- How to Make a Roll-in Shower Look Like a Luxury Hotel Bathroom – Under Budget
- Bathroom Remodeling Services
What Is The Average Bathroom Remodeling Cost in Los Angeles?
In 2021 Cost Vs. Value reported that the cost for mid-range bathroom remodels averaged $29,744. Our own mid-range remodels can go from range from $15,000 to $30,000. These researchers define mid-range remodels as renovations that use basic materials. They are often considered nice but not high-end and include standard white toilets and ceramic tile floors.
Alternatively, Cost Vs. Value reported that the cost of upscale bathroom remodels averaged $88,491. Their threshold for upscale remodels includes luxury top-of-the-line improvements like heated floors, new lighting, and major structural changes.
But design preferences aren’t the only factors that determine cost. Your neighborhood and city can also influence the going rates for materials and labor. For example, the average mid-range bathroom remodels price was more than $5,000 lower just north of Los Angeles. Cost Vs. Value reported that the average bathroom remodeling cost was $24,424 in Ventura County.
How Do Bathroom Remodeling Costs Vary?
We can’t include every factor that will influence the cost of your bathroom to remodel, but we can break cost factors into three hierarchical categories of a bathroom remodel. This hierarchy starts with the bathroom layout then follows with the shower, vanity, and toilet. We have found that this approach is best at helping you make design decisions that will meet budget objectives. The reason is, every design decision will have a cascading effect on the following categories. So, you can save more money by starting with design choices that will have the most significant impact on cost.
Bathroom Layout
Deciding your new bathroom layout will have the most significant impact on the total cost. The reason is that moving the shower, toilet, and sink location will require new plumbing and electrical wiring. The hours required in paying both an electrician and plumber for rearranging these fixtures add up.
Secondly, these layout costs compound if the bathroom is on the ground floor. Most homes in southern California don’t have a basement. So, the ground floor is directly above a concrete slab. As a result, any plumbing that requires cutting into the concrete will be a lot more expensive.
Additionally, if your layout uses custom dimensions for the vanity and shower, you will not be able to cut costs by using prefabricated options for both.
Lastly, increasing the bathroom’s square footage by knocking out a wall may also require additional plumbing and rewiring. This depends on where exactly the wall is. But, regardless of the construction, any increase in square footage will require more materials. So if high-end materials like heated floors or expensive tiles are essential, you will need to consider the added flooring costs from increasing the square footage.
Shower
The most cost-efficient shower option is to use a prefabricated surround. A shower surround is a fiberglass all in one unit that goes above the bathtub line. The showers are a more affordable alternative to tile and range from $400 to $2,000 at Lowes and Home Depot. The fiberglass surrounds are more durable than tile. They will last a long time and will help insulate your shower. Your options are limited, but you can find unique surroundings that incorporate stone design patterns into the fiberglass.
If you are not looking to use a prefabricated option, then there are additional material costs that you will need to consider when choosing your design:
Hi-tech polymer: Two walls can cost $2,100, three walls up to $8,900
Tile: Ranges from $0.90/sq ft. to $7/sq ft.
Plumbing: Drain & shower fixtures can range from $500-$2000
Tub: Ranges from $100-$950
Shower doors: $510-$2,200
Shower pan: $ 500-$700.00
Vanity
Like bathroom showers, vanities also come in prefabricated versions that you can purchase at Lowes and Home Depot. There are pros and cons to both, but as you can imagine, the prefabricated options cost less. These can range from $1000-$3000
The custom vanities require some important considerations that don’t often come with the prefab options. The first is that customizations often require multiple countertop slabs, which means that the countertop will have a seam. Clients should talk with our designers about choices on the best location for that seam.
Secondly, homeowners often forget to consider the optimal distance between the sink and the wall. Some people prefer space for various toiletries but don’t consider that preference until the vanity is complete.
Toilet
As functionally crucial as a toilet is to a bathroom remodel, your design choices will have less impact on the total cost than the other categories. There is a long list of categories to choose from, but gravity-assisted and pressure-assisted toilets are the two most popular options. Gravity-assisted toilets are the least expensive option ranging from $100-$600, and pressure-assisted toilets range from $350 to $650.
How Much Value Can a Bathroom Remodel Add to a Home?
Remodeling magazine reported that on average, for every dollar spent on essential bathroom remodeling changes like new toilets, sinks, flooring and paint, California homeowners saw a $1.71 return. But, there are some important considerations to make in estimating your ROI.
First, you want to consider the overall state of your bathroom. Your return will be higher if there is a more considerable difference between your before and after pictures. So if there are visible damages like cracked tiles and outdated fixtures, a moderate remodel will go a long way. You can see evidence for this difference in Cost Vs. Value’s recent report on ROI for bathroom remodels. Midrange remodels are 6% more valuable than upscale remodels.
Secondly, does your neighborhood have a market of buyers looking for your remodel? Real estate agents can provide a report that shows the kind of renovations that appeal to buyers. Keep in mind that buyer sentiment is constantly changing, so this is only valuable if you look to sell quickly. If you are looking for a long-term investment, the best improvements will be functional instead of aesthetic.
Bathroom Remodeling ROI Example
For example, creating more space always creates more value for bathroom remodels. In our last bathroom remodel, we found a creative way to add space by moving the furnace. Its previous location was in a closet, taking up space in the bathroom. We knocked out that closet and dragged the furnace into the attic. Since we were already in the reconstruction process, we decided to move the shower to provide additional space for the bedroom closet. This 2 in 1 move increased the long-term value of the home by making the space more functional. No matter what buyer sentiment may be, having that extra space in the bedroom closet and bathroom will be a plus.
In this same bathroom remodel, we converted the bathtub into a roll-in shower. We did all of this under $40,000 and the average resale value of this kind of bathroom in Los Angeles is upwards of $60,000. This hot design choice can make the bathroom look like a luxury hotel within an affordable budget. We have an entire article on all the design tips in making your bathroom feel like you are at a resort.
If you would like to discuss other creative ways to renovate your bathroom, give us a call, and we will connect you with one of our expert designers.
