How Much Does It Cost to Completely Gut and Renovate a House?
Depending on the type of your house, the renovation cost varies. For example, renovating a farmhouse will cost significantly higher than an apartment. Also, the expense depends on the scope of the project and the size of the property. Last but not least, the quality of materials will also influence the total cost.
However, if you’re looking for a definite amount, the average cost to gut and remodel a house can be anywhere between $100,000 – $200,000. Although these numbers can vary quite a bit, you should get the idea from them.
What Does It Mean to Gut a House
Many get confused between gut renovation and remodeling. Yet, there is a clear difference between gutting a house and remodeling. In simple words, gutting a house means bringing the entire interior down to the studs, while remodeling means redoing certain parts of a home only.
In addition, when you are gutting your home, the structural skeleton of the dwelling remains in the same position. But you have complete freedom to re-work the interior. By gutting your home, you may change the floors, walls, and plumbing. Besides, you are free to re-think the cabinets, fixtures, and appliances also. Moreover, a gut means exterior work as well.
On the contrary, while remodeling your home, you have to leave the vast majority of the layout of your home in place. In such cases, you may redo some of the aesthetic and functional aspects of your property. But it is required to leave the core structural elements as it is.
Some Factors that Influence the Gut Renovation project
Below are the factors that you have to keep in mind while calculating the overall cost.
Flip and Sell versus Live in?
Perhaps the biggest factor in determining the cost of a major rehab is the objective of the project. If you are going to live in the home for 10+ years, you should definitely use premium contractors and materials. On the other hand, if you’re planning to list the home on a multiple listing service and sell it right away, it might make more sense to perform some of the work with subcontractors and economical materials, fixtures and finishes.
Age
The age of a house influences the costs. For instance, old buildings have more issues than comparatively newer buildings with the need for renovation. Besides, they have more hidden expenses like lead paint, asbestos, and rotting wood.
Size
In most cases, the cost per square foot goes up as the size of the house increases. Plus, if you’re planning to change the structural skeleton, the expenditures will increase proportionately.
Materials
The quality of the materials dramatically enhances the budget cost. Yet, when you’re using qualitative material, you can expect it to last for a long time.
Plumbing
According to a recent construction cost survey by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the average cost of installing new plumbing in a home is around $14,745. Yet, this number is only 5% of the total cost of new home construction. However, as you need not redo plumbing again to gut a house, you can save a few thousand on it.
Electrical
According to the NAHB survey, a new electricity connection for a new home accounts for $13,798 that is 4.7% of the total cost of building a new home. However, you can save money while gutting by leaving the existing electrical work in place wherever possible.
Kitchen
It is a little harder to get such specific figures while you get into the nitty-gritty details of undertaking your renovation project. Yet, the National Association of Realtors (NARI) suggests the average cost of a kitchen renovation is $68,000. Moreover, by upgrading new appliances and redesigning the floor plan, you can get a fascinating kitchen.
Additionally, you can make your kitchen more operative by fabricating cabinets and granite countertops. Yet, you can spend less than this estimation by reducing the upgrading process. You can even cut the extra cost by using ready-made cabinets from local stores.
Bathrooms
Generally, Bathroom renovation means upgrading the toilet appliances, new bathroom fixtures, flooring, and so on. Besides, lighting, wall tiling, and cabinetry also fall in the renovation process.
A standard bathroom costs up to $2500 to $15000. Moreover, the figure gets larger while you are renovating a master bath. It costs almost $10,000 to $30,000.
Yet, things tend to get even more expensive when you add a bathtub to your bathroom. Therefore, the expenditures of renovation are $120 to $275 per square foot. But if you want to construct an entirely new bathroom while remodeling, it costs almost $60,000.
Living Room
Living room renovation means updating the flooring, painting, and plantation shutters. Besides, installing crown moldings is one of the parts of living room remodeling. Moreover, it is required to embed a fireplace in your living while you are in cold weather. But it significantly increases the renovation cost.
The average cost of gutting a living room is $4,000 to $10,000. But you can reduce it to $2,500 to $5,000 by renovating the floor and design work only.
Bedroom
If you are not interested in reconfiguring the layout of the bedrooms, you only need new flooring and interior paint. In this case, the project will cost the lowest of the whole renovation project.
But if you are willing to get an aristocratic look, the cost will be higher. For example, a standard bedroom costs $1500 to $5,000 for only renewing the floor, trim, and installing molding. But an entire bedroom renovation costs $4,000 to $12,000. And with this money, you can focus on tiny details of your room and get an aesthetic look.
Basement
When you are renovating the basement, it requires insulating the walls and adding a new floor. Also, its main focus is waterproofing the space. In this case, this project costs up to $47,000.
However, if you are willing to convert the basement into a bedroom, it may have several additional safety issues and livability requirements. And these extra requirements increase the overall cost.
Roof Removal & Replacement Cost
Depending on the roof size, pitch, and the type of the using material, the average cost of the roof replacement is $7,800 to 15,900. Generally, an asphalt shingle roof needs to get replaced every 25 years. However, upgrading the surface to metal lasts for 40 to 70 years. But that will cost a little too much.
How Much Does It Cost to Completely Gut and Renovate a House
There is no straightforward answer to how much money it needs to gut and renovate your house completely. Several issues can affect your house renovation costs. For example, the age of your property, the material you use for gutting, and the size and layout of your house determine how much money you need to renovate your home.
Moreover, apartments and farmhouses need a different genre of the gut, hence the money difference. However, I will try to give you some idea of what to expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would you gut a house?
As gutting a house removes toxic material, it is significant to renovate a house after certain years. Moreover, this process provides you with a much healthier life. Besides, it provides you with a blank canvas to reimagine the home. And as gutting removes all the old materials down to the studs, you may get a modern and aesthetic interior.
Is it cheaper to build or gut a house?
Generally, a complete gut renovation is usually cheaper than building a house. Destructing the interior to the studs and renovating costs $100000 to $200000, while building a house from the ground up costs $155,000 to $400,000 or more.
Conclusion
Understanding the full spectrum of house costs involved in a major renovation is vital for any homeowner. From securing building permits to managing labor costs, each aspect contributes significantly to the final cost. Home renovation projects, especially those involving extensive electrical and plumbing work, demand meticulous planning and accurate cost estimates. It’s not just about the aesthetics; it’s about ensuring that every phase of your home renovation project aligns with both your vision and your budget. Remember, the total remodeling costs encompass more than just the visible changes; they include permit costs, materials, and the often-overlooked elements that ensure your house is safe and up to code.
When approaching major renovations, be prepared for the range of cost factors that can influence your project. Labor costs, materials for electrical and plumbing work, and permit fees are just the tip of the iceberg. It’s essential to have a clear understanding of these elements to arrive at a realistic final cost estimate. Every home renovation project is unique, and costs can vary widely based on the scope and scale of the work. By considering all potential expenses and planning accordingly, you can ensure that your home transformation is not only beautiful but also financially manageable.
