How much it costs to renovate a bathroom and how to go about it

The bathroom is one of the most frequently used rooms of the house, which is why it is one of the first rooms homeowners think of when it comes to renovation. But, how much does it cost to renovate a bathroom? This depends on what you want to achieve and your budget. You will spend a lot more if you want to totally renovate it rather than simply give it a facelift.

Once you have decided on the type of bathroom renovation you want to undertake, other factors will also influence the cost of a bathroom renovation. The three main ones are:

If your flat is already several years old, it is likely that the pipes are in poor condition or that they no longer comply with new regulations. This is why it is advisable to carry out a comprehensive renovation of your bathroom, including PVC toilet drain pipes, hot and cold water copper pipes, and electrical wiring. You will appreciate it later, preventing problems or leaks shortly after you have renovated your bathroom.

Things to consider when renovating a bathroom

There are many things to consider when budgeting to renovate a bathroom, so it is difficult to give an overall price; however, broadly speaking, two factors must be taken into account: labour and materials.

With regard to labour, there is a wide range of renovation companies to choose from, both large and small, and some large DIY companies even offer this service, so it's time to scour the market, get several quotes and compare them. To renovate facilities, ask the company to give you prices in units, not by hours of work. In other words, how much does it cost to renovate a square metre of PVC pipe, how much does each plug and light point cost, etc.

Rough prices for a bathroom renovation 

With regard to materials (wall tiles, toilets, bathroom units, taps, facilities, accessories, etc.), prices can also vary widely, from the cheapest possible to luxury and design brands of high quality, which will cost you. Below is a rough idea of the cheapest prices offered by one of the best-known DIY and construction chains:

From that price upwards, you will find a wide range of prices, qualities and designs for each product.

In terms of flooring and tiles, the variety of materials suitable for use in bathrooms is so wide that final prices will vary greatly too. In the same DIY shop, you can find ceramic tiles for walls and floors from €12.99/m2 to €89.99/m2. Whatever you do, make sure the products you choose are resistant to humidity.

It is likely that your renovation company, when buying in bulk, will be able to give you a better price than those provided above, but this will always depend on what materials you want to use for your bathroom renovation.

Renovating a bathroom without any works

If all you want to do is update your bathroom without doing any works, either because your budget is not big enough or because you are renting and your landlord will not allow it, you can still get good results. Installing special vinyl flooring for wet areas on your current floor, refreshing your walls with tile paint, replacing an old sink with a bathroom unit or updating accessories are small changes you can make yourself if you consider yourself a bit of a handyman. Any large DIY shop will have everything you need to renovate your bathroom without performing any works.

Tips to consider

Whether you are doing the work yourself or employing a specialist to do it, undertaking a bathroom renovation, like any other renovation, can be a source of stress. Follow these tips to keep everything under control:

Now we have reviewed the main factors that influence the cost of bathroom renovation, you should be able to get a more realistic idea of how much it will cost to renovate yours.