New bathroom estimates vary wildly?

Question

We're looking have a new bathroom installed in our basement which will require cutting into the concrete to tie into the sewer line.

We're talking small in size, max 6x5, shower stall/sink/toilet. The hot & cold supplies are right there from our laundry room and we're not looking for any fancy tile or whatnot: Just the fixtures (mid grade), some sheet vinyl and drywall, and I'll need a small space heater.

We've had several people come in for estimates (after many, many calls - why is it so hard to get contractors to call back?) and I made sure they were all long-standing, recommended vendors and not fly-by-nighters.

Now what surprised me: The estimates for the same job run from $2000 to $7500! I expected some spread, but nothing like this! I'm now at a loss. I don't mind paying for quality work but I sure don't want to overpay by thousands.

Does anyone please have an idea of idea of cost/per sf for installing a bathroom like this in Souteastern PA?

Answer 1

You should be able to get a decent idea if you do some homework & write up a "scope of work " for the contractor's to bid on
Break it down into line items eg.
XYZ plumbing fixtures
XYZ sink cabinet
XYZ shower enclosure w/ XYZ doors etc
Pricing should include breakdown for materials ,labor ,permits separately.
Include a line item for contingencies & code compliance
Nothing wrong with inviting 2 or more contractors to look at job at same time ( good luck) reputable contractors wont mind at all
High priced aint always good & ;low priced aint always bad as someone mentioned
If you have them all bid the prtoject the same way , the number spread should get smaller.
Middle of the road is safe esp w/ good references
Good luck

Answer 2

The wide variety of estimates may be due to contractors useing different materials. You can pay $50 for a toilet or $600. A shower stall can be $100 or $1000. The same is true for flooring. Maybe you need to be more specific when getting estimates.

Answer 3

It' s difficult to put a cost per sq' on a new bathroom install in a basement.

This may sound cliche's, but go with a middle estimate. The lower estimates sound TOO low... ( I do bathroom remodels for a living )

The closeness of water supplies mean nothing. It's the draining into the main sewer and more importantly, the "VENTING" to the roof stack that make it all work well. These are the parts that cost $ in labor, but they MUST be done for this bathroom to work properly.

Feel free to contact me at hawthornehandyman.com for further discussion.

Answer 4

I don't have an answer for you, but it sounds a lot like when I got estimates to put a new roof on our house ($4000 - $12000). Make sure each estimate compares apples to apples. Also, I would suggest NOT doing business with any contractor that doesn't return your calls promptly. What if you need him during construction, or afterwards and he's impossible to reach?

Answer 5

JUST A NOTE, I'M DOING ONE RIGHT NOW FOR A COUSIN ( NOT IN BASEMENT). I NEED A JACUZZI TUB. I KNOW THE SUPPLIERS, HAVE BOUGHT HUNDREDS THROUGH BUILDERS OVER THE YEARS. THE FIRST PERSON I TALKED TO TOLD ME $ 1800.00, 2ND I/S SALES $ 1226.00, THEN I ASKED FOR A SALESMAN, HIS QUOTE $ 756.00. WHAT'S BAD ABOUT THIS IS.. I'VE SEEN THE PURCHASE ORDERS TO THIS COMPANY FROM THE BIG BUILDER, I KNOW THE BIG PLUMMERS PRICE TOO. ( ABOUT $ 250.00 - 300.00 )
WHO, GIVES YOU THE BID MAY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PRICE, & THE FIXTURES YOU'VE CHOSEN.

Answer 6

Their is an estimator tool on contractors.com that I have used - it is a little too low though - I take their final cost and add 20% to it - but at least it gives you a ballpark figure:
click on cost estimator under resources: