Written by Evan Giffin, Project Developer
Most people start thinking about a bathroom remodel while standing in the one they already have. Maybe the shower takes forever to drain, or you’re tired of two people sharing one sink. So, you start searching for what a remodel might cost only to find numbers all over the place.
You may find $65,000 for a refresh and $100,000+ for a full remodel. Then comes questions about which direction your remodel should go, which ultimately dictates cost. It can be confusing but we’re here to help.
At Tectonic, our process is built on transparency and communication. We talk budget in our Discovery phase, but the cost convo doesn’t end there. As a part of our Design phase, you’ll receive a conceptual estimate as we set the foundation for your inspiration, along with the final budget in our Final Design phase. The opportunity to ask questions and work with our team happens not once or twice, but throughout our process.
"We are conscious that the design and budget have to complement and be in sync with each other. We want the design to drive the project, and by providing estimated pricing during these initial stages, we allow the client to put actual numbers to these design elements. If needed, this allows us to provide real-time, alternative design options at early stages—saving time and effort compared to evaluating the budget solely after design completion."
Tight storage, poor lighting, and yes, two people using one sink are all valid pain points. Let’s get to some bathroom remodeling cost questions below.
What Decides How Much It Costs to Remodel a Bathroom
We mentioned some numbers in our opener, but because bathrooms are some of the more impactful spaces to renovate, that comes with a cost. Costs vary depending on your bathrooms’s size, which finishes you select, and what structural elements (like plumbing or layout) are changed.
For Boulder and surrounding areas, a primary bathroom refresh can cost $65,000+, a primary bathroom remodel can cost $100,000+, and a primary bathroom suite remodel can be $150,000+
Let’s chat through some of the factors that affect these numbers:
Layout is the biggest factor. Once a toilet or shower drain moves, the plumbing has to be rerouted, and sometimes that means working around floor joists that were never meant to have a pipe run through them. During the Conceptual phase of our process, Jeremy, our architect, draws your layout options which we pair with a conceptual estimate, so you can see what moving a shower or toilet costs. Sometimes a smaller layout change gets you most of what you wanted with far less plumbing work. During this phase, we will value engineer design options that could achieve the same goals, with varying pricing.
Then there’s what’s behind the scenes. The waterproofing behind the tile and the exhaust fan that pulls moisture out of the room are two things you’ll never see, and both decide how well the bathroom holds up against water damage and mold. We inspect your home’s existing structure during the Conceptual phase. We aim to identify any potential issues that are hidden behind walls but if they are discovered during the construction process, we provide the client with the necessary information quickly to avoid major schedule impacts.
Fixtures and finishes can add up fast. At Newlands House, a whole-home remodel in North Boulder, the primary bath got a book-matched Neolith stone slab running to the ceiling, two fixed shower heads plus a rain shower, and radiant floor heating. At our Cedar House project, where we gutted and rebuilt four bathrooms, the primary bath added a double vanity, a makeup station, a freestanding tub, a steam shower, and a custom sauna.
Tile adds up the same way. Wall tile costs more to install than floor tile because it’s slower to set, while overall costs fluctuate based on tile type, size, layout design, total square footage, and how much prep work is required to get the wall or subfloor flat and ready for install.
Patterns like herringbone also mean ordering 15 to 25 percent extra tile to cover all the cuts. Most of those added costs are labor, and that holds for the whole room: labor usually accounts for 40 to 65 percent of what a bathroom remodel costs. Bathrooms work a lot like a kitchen remodel in that sense. The room is small, but almost every trade in the house has to pass through it.
None of those features were mid-build surprises for our Newlands House and Cedar House homeowners. Our team priced every detail with them during design, so each choice was part of a clear plan rather than an unexpected cost. Kate, who leads our design team, walks you through tile, fixtures, and cabinetry while the budget is being built, so you can see where your choices move the numbers.
How Long Does It Take to Remodel a Bathroom?
The construction phase of a bathroom remodel can take between 2 and 4 months, including initial planning, construction, and final installs.
At Tectonic, our goal is to deliver your conceptual design and detailed budget within 45 days, depending on how quickly layout decisions are finalized. From there, we develop the details, finalize selections, and prepare drawings for city permitting. Once design is final and you sign the build contract, we build your construction schedule so you know your dates before any work starts.
Before construction starts, we spend about a month ordering materials, pulling permits, and locking the schedule. Our process builds in a buffer month on purpose, so your bathroom isn't sitting half-finished while a backordered faucet waits in a warehouse somewhere.
Why One Team Keeps Your Number Honest
A lot of bathroom budgets fall apart in the handoff between designer and contractor. A designer draws a floating vanity, the contractor opens the wall and finds nothing solid to mount it to, and you're paying for extra framing nobody priced.
As a design-build firm, we keep our architects, interior designers, and builders on the same team from your first meeting to the final walkthrough. In our floating vanity example, what’s needed for the design and the build are already in the budget.
About the Author
Evan Giffin brings over 15 years of experience having served as a carpenter, pre-construction estimator, and project manager across large-scale commercial developments and luxury residential remodels. At Tectonic, he leads clients through every phase of project planning, budgeting, and execution to ensure custom home projects are delivered on schedule and within budget.
