| |  |  | Low: DIY Materials Start $500-$1,500 |  | Medium: Simple Conversion Starts $3,000-$6,000 |  | High: Adding Floor space Can Run $25,000-$50,000+ | |
A bathroom addition can range from a small half-bath (sink, toilet and mirror) to a spa-like master bath. Adding a bathroom is usually more expensive per square foot than other rooms because it requires specific types of plumbing, heating, electricity and ventilation. Typical costs: | - Converting existing floor space inside a garage, basement or attic into a simple bathroom starts around $3,000-$6,000. However, costs can be $7,000-$25,000 or more for a more luxurious bathroom, or if the new bathroom is far from existing water and sewer lines. Prices may vary significantly by region, depending on local labor rates.
- Costs for do-it-yourself materials start around $500-$1,500, but can run $2,000-$5,000 or more depending on room size, the quality of fixtures and other amenities. A Pennsylvania homeowner[1] added a 4x8-foot powder room with granite and upgraded fixtures for about $5,000, doing all the work himself except the rough-in plumbing.
- Adding new floor space to your home for a basic 6x8-foot bathroom addition starts around $25,000-$50,000 and goes up depending on complexity, quality of fixtures, number of amenities and local labor rates. Remodeling Magazine[2] pegs the price of a 6x8-foot bathroom addition at averages of $33,188-$41,195 in the Midwest, $34,876-$42,491 along the East Coast and $35,987-$47,052 in the Western states. For a spa-quality 100-square-foot master bath the survey says it averages $75,812 nationwide.
Related articles: Home Addition, Bedroom Addition, Family Room Addition, Second Floor Addition, Porch, Basement Remodeling | | What should be included: | - If you're adding new floor space, before you do anything else check with your local planning department. Better Homes and Gardens provides an overview of legal remodeling requirements.
- As a general rule, a half-bath should be at least 3-4 feet wide and 6-8 feet long, or at least 18 square feet; a bathroom with shower should be 30 square feet or more; and a bath with both a shower and tub should be at least 35 square feet. ThisOldHouse.com explains how to plan a half-bath[3] (also called a bonus bath) while RemodeOrMove.com lists things to consider[4] for any size bathroom addition.
Additional costs: | - Adding a tile floor, marble counter tops, or other upscale features can dramatically increase the weight load on your foundation. You might need to consult with a structural engineer (anywhere from $300-$800 or more, depending on what's needed and rates in your area) to see if the foundation needs to be reinforced.
- Hiring an architect to create a set of plan drawings could cost you a flat fee of $700-$30,000 or more, depending on size and complexity, or the architect may charge 5-15 percent of the project's costs.
- Usually a bathroom addition will trigger a reassessment of your property taxes and a resulting tax increase, but in most areas the reassessment will only be on the value of the addition, not the entire house.
- Bathroom design books[5] cost $10-$40 or more, and can give you great ideas and tips; they may also be available at your local library.
Shopping for a bathroom addition: | - Gather photos of bathroom styles and details that appeal to you. Better Homes and Gardens displays a slide show of contemporary styles and Kasmar Publications posts pictures of luxury bathrooms.
- Even if you want to do some of the work yourself, most experts recommend hiring a licensed and certified plumber. Ask family or friends for recommendations, or search for referrals from the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association[6] and the National Electrical Contractors Association[7] .
- If you want a remodeling contractor to handle all aspects of your bathroom addition, the National Association for the Remodeling Industry provides an online booklet with tips[8] for hiring a contractors.
- Check whether a contractor is licensed in your state. A written contract should include a detailed outline of the work required and materials used, dates within which the project will be done, and a payment schedule.
| | |  Post | | Comments (6) | | | | | CostHelper News | | | | | What People Are Paying - Recent Comments | | Posted by: Nan2095 in Millville, NJ. | Posted: September 16th, 2016 10:09AM | It is for an attic it's already bedroom upstairs but would like to add a basic bathroom | | | Posted by: CFM in Wilmington, DE. | Posted: February 24th, 2016 10:02AM | | Square Feet: Approx. 36 | Contractor: Self | Added a shower to existing 1/2 bathroom in basement. Used ceramic wall tiles for shower and added tiles to toilet section as well. Materials cost approx. 1500 including shower door. Gave a friend $500 as thank you for general assistance during the 4 weekends it took to complete project. | | | Posted by: a user in Timonium, MD. | Posted: January 27th, 2015 07:01PM | | Square Feet: 36 | Contractor: Self | Required adding all plumbing and electrical work. Also adding an exhaust fan that required drilling a 6-in hole through exterior brick wall of house. Used high-end building materials: cast iron shower pan, glass frameless shower door, ceramic wall tile with custom niche for soap, marble counter top, slate flooring, and high-end fixtures/faucets. | | | Posted by: Frick in Madeira Beach, FL. | Posted: December 28th, 2013 07:12AM | | Square Feet: 52 | Contractor: Self | Built a full bath in the "Florida basement" space from the garage area of my three story home. Building out masonry walls, tapping into the sewer and water, running electrical, fitting out a two head shower, tiled walls and floor, and AC ducts. | | | Posted by: JT in Minneapolis, MN. | Posted: April 26th, 2012 09:04AM | | Square Feet: Approx. 40 | Contractor: Self and outside | I would like to get and estimate of how much it would cost to add a master bath to the upstairs of my 1.5 story house. Using existing floorspace, framining myself and installing pre-fab vanities, sinks and showers. Hiring for outside plumbing. Bathroom would be about 10-15 feet from existing plumbing a floor below. Any thoughts on how much this will run me??? | | | Posted by: C. T. in Indianapolis, IN. | Posted: August 1st, 2009 07:08PM | | Square Feet: 120 | Contractor: self | To break concrete floor and install drainage and vents I hired a plumbing company, which was $4500. I did the remainder of work including electrical and other. | | | | | | External Resources: | - www.city-data.com/forum/raleigh-durham-chapel-hill-cary/259914-adding-bathroom.html
- www.remodeling.hw.net/2009/costvsvalue/national.aspx
- www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20202296,00.html
- www.remodelormove.com/
- www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=adding+...
- www.phccweb.org/applications/ContractorReferral/search.cfm?navItemNumber=532
- www.necanet.org/find-a-contractor
- www.nari.org/pdf/selectremodpro.pdf
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