A bathroom is a small room with a lot packed into it: plumbing, waterproofing, tile, ventilation, electrical, and fixtures, all in a few square feet. That’s why bathroom budgets can vary so much. Dom’s Workshop, Inc is a residential general contractor based in Plaistow, NH, and we help homeowners across Rockingham County turn worn or awkward bathrooms into rooms that work. This guide covers what drives the cost and how to plan.
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For a straightforward cosmetic refresh in the area, homeowners may see educational planning ranges of roughly $12,000–$20,000. That type of project can include new paint, lighting, a vanity, fixtures, hardware, and a replacement mirror while keeping plumbing in its current locations. A mid-range remodel commonly falls around $20,000–$38,000 when it includes a new tub or shower, tile, flooring, ventilation improvements, updated electrical work, and a more tailored vanity.
These are educational planning ranges, not quotes. Your home, your selections, and what’s behind the walls will determine the real number.
Keeping the toilet, shower, and sink in place saves the most. Relocating drains, especially the toilet, means opening floors and may require reframing.
A prefabricated surround costs less than a custom tiled shower. Tile size and pattern, niches, benches, glass doors, and the waterproofing system all add up.
Large-format tile, intricate patterns, and heated floors add material and labor. Floor-to-ceiling tile costs more than a wainscot height.
A properly sized exhaust fan ducted to the outside is essential. GFCI outlets, vanity lighting, and any heated-floor circuit add electrical scope.
Stock or custom vanity, single or double sink, and fixture finishes and brands can each change the total noticeably.
Old bathrooms often hide rot under the toilet or tub, failed subfloors, or outdated supply and drain lines. A contingency allowance helps you plan for this.
If you plan to stay in your home long term, a few choices cost little during a remodel and are expensive to add later: blocking in the walls for grab bars, a low-threshold or curbless shower, a handheld shower head, good lighting, and slip-resistant flooring.
Bathrooms pack a lot of trades into a small space: demolition, framing, plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, tile, glass, cabinetry, and paint, often in a room smaller than 50 square feet. Each trade has a minimum amount of time it needs, no matter how small the room is, and the work has to happen in a set order with inspections in between. That’s why a small bathroom can cost more per square foot than almost any other room in the house. What makes the biggest difference in a bathroom budget is how much you move and how much custom tile you choose, not the size of the room.
Ask each contractor what waterproofing system they use, what’s included for tile layout and trim pieces, which items are allowances, and how hidden rot or plumbing issues will be handled. Compare the scopes line by line. Our remodeler checklist helps.
Is a tub-to-shower conversion expensive?
It depends on the shower type, the tile, and whether the drain moves. We’ll go over options at the site visit.
Does a custom tile shower cost more than a surround?
Generally, yes. It takes more material, labor, and waterproofing.
Will an old house add cost?
Possibly. Rot, old plumbing, and uneven framing are common in older bathrooms.
Do I need a permit?
Usually, for plumbing and electrical work. We can take care of permits for you.
How do I get a real number?
Request an estimate and we’ll see the room and send a written scope.
Dom’s Workshop, Inc, based in Plaistow, NH, serving Rockingham County, NH · (978) 775-8642 · Dom@doms-workshop.com
