How to find a contractor for bathroom renovation in GTA? And how much should this job cost?

lolbeast wrote: ↑ Do you guys find homestars reliable? So far I've been using recommendations from family.

Last year a nice guy on here recommended a painter and we were super happy with the job. Would be awesome to get some recommendations from here too.

Looking to renovate bathrooms and need tiles, shower, vanity, toilet, etc. In York region.

I have been contacting some random guys that show up on my instagram feed but they dont seem that reputable.

Also, how much should I be paying for this job?

• 10x5' washroom that needs tiles, shower (maybe can reuse glass), new vanity, new toilet, new faucets plumbing etc. Existing shower already exists and we're not looking to change the structure or shape much. Just replace with new look tiles.
• 9x5' powder room that needs tiles, vanity, toilet
• 8x7' entrance area that just needs tiles.

Looking for 24x24 porcelain and pretty nice faucets and vanity finishes.

Got a quote for 13000 all in, including all material/equipment but not shower glass. Around 4k more if I want both washrooms to be full porcelain walls, so no drywall except for ceiling.

Some other quotes for 8-9k for labor only, I supply the tiles, vanity, shower and faucet pieces etc.

Is that $13k for both bathrooms and the entrance area, all in? Seems a bit on the low side of it includes vanities, fixtures, toilets, tiles and all the labour. If you're comfortable with the contractor, I think that's a really good price.

When we did our reno I used a combination of Houzz, Homestars and Trusted Pros. I put it out there, and met with ~7 contractors. Combination of communication, price and gut feel. We ended up being very happy with the guys we used.

Toukolou wrote: ↑ Is that $13k for both bathrooms and the entrance area, all in? Seems a bit on the low side of it includes vanities, fixtures, toilets, tiles and all the labour. If you're comfortable with the contractor, I think that's a really good price.

When we did our reno I used a combination of Houzz, Homestars and Trusted Pros. I put it out there, and met with ~7 contractors. Combination of communication, price and gut feel. We ended up being very happy with the guys we used.

Yes it’s 13k labor and all materials, except shower glass which if cannot be reused would need to be custom made.

The price seems inline with other contractors who quoted for labor only. Im mainly looking for a reputable guy who will do a solid job!

That price is extremely cheap. Maybe too cheap.

How much do you guys think it would cost to buy porcelain tiles, vanities, faucet, toilet for two bathrooms? And shower heads for one room?

I got a few quotes for 8-9k for labor only. And for 4K more these guys will source all the other stuff which seems in-line.

lolbeast wrote: ↑ How much do you guys think it would cost to buy porcelain tiles, vanities, faucet, toilet for two bathrooms? And shower heads for one room?

I got a few quotes for 8-9k for labor only. And for 4K more these guys will source all the other stuff which seems in-line.

I think it really depends on how nice of materials you want and if those guys have deep contractor discounts.

Normal nicer toilets range from 300 to 1000. Vanities around 1000. Sink faucets 100 - 300. Shower trim/systems 100-1000. Tile $2-7 per square ft. So maybe $2-4k per bathroom depending on your taste.

13k sounds low for two bathrooms. I think you will get what you pay for.

I like a good deal, but I don’t haggle with trades people and I will pay a little more for someone that thinks they are being treated fairly. If someone is constantly angry because you low balled him, I think you will see it in the work they do.

Gee wrote: ↑ 13k sounds low for two bathrooms. I think you will get what you pay for.

I like a good deal, but I don’t haggle with trades people and I will pay a little more for someone that thinks they are being treated fairly. If someone is constantly angry because you low balled him, I think you will see it in the work they do.

Agreed, that is way too low for even a 10x5 bathroom, let alone 2 bathrooms and a front entrance. Seems fishy or miscommunication

$13K is very low for those works due to:
- very cheap materials provided
- don’t know to do all
- don’t know how to estimate
Edit:
1 man crew with helper - take long time to complete.

lolbeast wrote: ↑ How much do you guys think it would cost to buy porcelain tiles, vanities, faucet, toilet for two bathrooms? And shower heads for one room?

I got a few quotes for 8-9k for labor only. And for 4K more these guys will source all the other stuff which seems in-line.

Another 6k to $$$ depends on how good/quality for materials.

The average 5x8 bathroom reno in Canada is about $14k. Average. Tile is not an average finish material it is a luxury.

Your initial quote is just to low to accomplish all that unless you compromise on materials or compromise on quality of install. Tile work is not like drywall or paint, there are no do-overs or second chances.

CHM.

CanadianHandyman wrote: ↑ The average 5x8 bathroom reno in Canada is about $14k. Average. Tile is not an average finish material it is a luxury.

Your initial quote is just to low to accomplish all that unless you compromise on materials or compromise on quality of install. Tile work is not like drywall or paint, there are no do-overs or second chances.

CHM.

14K seems extremely high. The materials and parts are not more than 4K. The rest of the job takes one person like one week. So he’s making 10k labor in one work week?

lolbeast wrote: ↑ 14K seems extremely high. The materials and parts are not more than 4K. The rest of the job takes one person like one week. So he’s making 10k labor in one work week?

https://homestars.com/cost-guides/bathr ... odel-cost/
https://blog.renovationfind.com/bathroo ... st-canada/
https://www.canadiantilepro.ca/bathroom ... -for-2021/

Nope. Its about 50/50 in labour and materials. Roughly 80-140hrs of labour for most bathrooms. Usually over the span of 2-3 weeks. I do about 4-8 complete bathrooms per year so I have had some limited experience in this. If you can find someone that can do the demo, plumbing, electrical, drywall, waterproofing, tile installation, painting and trim work all in a 40 hour work week I gotta get his number.

Rough numbers....vantiy ($1200), Faucet ($200), Mirror ($200), anity Light ($200) plus the unseen parts like ABS, pex, valves, ptrap, etc...will eat up half your material budget. Wall paint, trim paint, ceiling paint, primer, another couple hundred. Baseboard, door, window casing $150. Your 4k budget is disappearing quickly as we start to itemize what is going into the bathroom. And we haven't even hit the expensive stuff for your tile installation like ditra, mortar, waterproofing, tile trim, grout, etc

CHM.

lolbeast wrote: ↑ 14K seems extremely high. The materials and parts are not more than 4K. The rest of the job takes one person like one week. So he’s making 10k labor in one work week?

No, it's definitely a two people job. The fastest estimates I got were two people finishing off in a week, and likely working on weekends for final touches.

Other estimates gave me 2 weeks per bathroom. 1 or 2 people working on it depending on the day/task.

lolbeast wrote: ↑ 14K seems extremely high. The materials and parts are not more than 4K. The rest of the job takes one person like one week. So he’s making 10k labor in one work week?

Your thinking is way low. You will be disappointed for final product.

2 weeks just changing tubs to stand up showers, no floor and toilets changed. Labour cost was 6k, materials were another 5k. I provided all materials and fixtures. It was 6 years ago.

teoconca wrote: ↑ Your thinking is way low. You will be disappointed for final product.

2 weeks just changing tubs to stand up showers, no floor and toilets changed. Labour cost was 6k, materials were another 5k. I provided all materials and fixtures. It was 6 years ago.

I already have stand up showers that just need tiling replaced

lolbeast wrote: ↑ I already have stand up showers that just need tiling replaced

This was an example. Your requirement is bigger scope, it will cost more, it will take longer time.

Just saying.

My sister has a small condo bathroom that is maybe 5x5 and she was quoted 11k for just labour and she had to provide all materials including grout, watrproofing, trim.

An all-inclusive quote was 15k.

And she isn't even changing out the bathrub or moving plumbing. Just retiling, new toilet, new vanity and faucets and trim, paint, light.

Granted there is probably a "condo tax" because it's a pain in the butt to work in a condo and deal with bylaws, but the point stands that you probably should be expecting around 8-10k in labour PER bathroom. Then whatever extra materials to your taste will cost. Especially during covid when all the good contractors are probably booked for months ahead.

I would be wary about pricing so cheap at 10k for both bathrooms, but I guess if they have great references and are giving you a special discount, you can go with your gut.

From my experience, there are some things you can cheap out on cheating out on a bathroom shows. You usually see it in the details. Remember that a bathroom is an investment and ads value to your house so you’re better off to spend a bit more money and get a better job done. I’ve seen the cheap and it looks horrible. Ads no value and you feel like ripping the whole thing out.

Meibatsu wrote: ↑ My sister has a small condo bathroom that is maybe 5x5 and she was quoted 11k for just labour and she had to provide all materials including grout, watrproofing, trim.

An all-inclusive quote was 15k.

And she isn't even changing out the bathrub or moving plumbing. Just retiling, new toilet, new vanity and faucets and trim, paint, light.

Granted there is probably a "condo tax" because it's a pain in the butt to work in a condo and deal with bylaws, but the point stands that you probably should be expecting around 8-10k in labour PER bathroom. Then whatever extra materials to your taste will cost. Especially during covid when all the good contractors are probably booked for months ahead.

I would be wary about pricing so cheap at 10k for both bathrooms, but I guess if they have great references and are giving you a special discount, you can go with your gut.

Condos are charged higher based in the headache of doing Renos in condos. It’s annoying so thry are owed higher for that reason.

And of course you mentioned that so my post doesn’t mean much.