Renos & DIY

Common Renovating Costs: Kitchen and Bath

By Julia Black

Common Renovating Costs: Kitchen and Bath

Many of us haven’t the slightest idea of how much it really costs to undergo a basic home renovation, let alone a complete overhaul.

In our Renovating Costs series, we outline how much you can expect to spend for just about any project you plan to take on.

COUNTERTOPS

It has become a common belief that a finished bathroom and kitchen are a wise investment for resale. Although these rooms will likely turn out to be most costly of renovations, they are undoubtedly worth it. To begin, you may be considering new countertops.
A Natural Stone (eg. Marble, Granite) is most costly, at approximately $100 per square foot to supply and install.
There are many factors that will influence the price, such as the thickness, nosing, cuts, angles, etc.
Therefore, it’s safe to budget $80 per square foot for your basic ¾” thick, no nosing, with one sink cutout.
A Man-Made stone or solid-surface, for example, Quartz or Corian, respectively, is similar to natural stone and priced at approximately $75-$100 square foot, supply and install. No sealing is required.
Butcher’s Block Wood is relatively less costly at $60 to $80 square foot for supply and install.
Natural oil sealants are required periodically for adequate upkeep.
A laminate surface, such as Arborite is equally cost efficient at $25 to $50 square foot supply and install.
Concrete countertops are a little more complex. Firstly, a sufficient weight-bearing base cabinet must be in place to properly support the countertop.
Once a template is made, the concrete is poured into the molding to be cast, it is further reinforced and left to dry to be polished and sealed.
There are various styles to select from, depending on how much of a texture you wish for.
In general the price for a custom concrete countertop is $70 to $90 per square foot.
Stainless Steel ranks highest in price at approximately $120 per square foot, supply and install.

BACKSPLASH

A backsplash of Natural Stone slab costs approximately $80 to $100 per linear foot, supply and install.
Whereas stone tiles, whether they be 2x4, 3x6, or 2x12, generally costs $25to $40 per square foot in labor while the material can range from $2 a square foot, all the way up to $100 a square foot, depending on the rarity of the stone.
An average sized kitchen with an average 40x40 square foot backsplash space will cost around $700 in labor.
A ceramic or porcelain tile will cost approximately $20 a square foot for both supply and install.
You can find fantastic ceramic subway tiles for approximately $4 a square foot.
Glass tiles run about $25 a square foot, not including material as that can range from $10 to $80 a square foot, depending on color, clarity and purity of the glass.
Mosaic tiles and any ornate or custom detailing will generally cost $25 a square foot in labour, and this price may go up or down depending on the intricacy and time commitment of the pattern.