Project Overview

When Kim and her husband bought their home in Durham, NH, they were excited about the potential it held—except for the bathrooms! Kim vividly recalls her first visit to the house, guided by their realtor. The moment she stepped into the bathrooms, she was ready to walk right out! 

The primary bathroom was so uninviting that she couldn’t even look inside! The other bathroom, while bearable, was adorned with a hideous Caribbean theme, complete with aqua-colored walls and seashell border wallpaper! It was clear that these spaces needed significant changes to make the house feel like home!

Our Client

Our enthusiastic client, Kim, had a vision of transforming her bathrooms into spaces that were not just functional but also serene and inviting. Despite the initial hesitation, she and her husband saw the potential in their new home and decided to make it their own. To help them achieve this, they turned to Rothrock Kitchen & Bath, confident in our ability to bring their vision to life.

Discovery Call and Project Development

Kim’s remodeling journey began with a phone call. She shared her needs and desires for her bathrooms, painting a vivid picture of the tranquil, spa-like spaces she envisioned. We listened attentively, seeking to understand her needs and preferences. This discovery call allowed us to provide her with a realistic budget expectation without the need for an immediate home visit, respecting her time and convenience.

With the budget aligned, Kim was eager to move forward with our design & project development services. We guided her through every design decision, from selecting materials to weighing the pros and cons of each option. This thorough planning phase ensured that every detail was carefully considered, making the construction phase smoother and more predictable.

Project Preparation

After all the selections and design details were finalized, we moved into project preparation. We started ordering materials and scheduling our trade partners, as well as ordering a dumpster and a porta-john for our workers.

Meanwhile, Kim made plans to spend a couple of weeks away while we got started. We recommended she make plans to stay away for a month or more so that we could get the entire project completed before she returned, but she decided that wouldn’t be necessary. Two weeks would be sufficient for her to avoid the messiest and most disruptive parts of the remodeling process: demo, rough-in, and drywall.

With Kim and her husband having left, we arrived on a beautiful Monday morning ready to start demolition! The dumpster arrived at 8 AM, with the porta-john not far behind! We had a van loaded with tools and workers eager to get her transformation started!

Primary Bathroom: A Minimalistic Bathroom Remodel

Kim’s primary bathroom was in dire need of a remodel! She wanted a more spacious shower stall and a better configuration for the laundry area. Despite the need for significant changes, she preferred a cost-effective approach, salvaging as much as possible from the existing space.

Our scope of work for this remodel included:

• Replacing the shower with a fiberglass/acrylic shower unit

• Replacing the shower valve and showerhead

• Replacing the vanity top and faucet

• Upgrading the vent fan and vanity light

• Replacing electrical outlets and switches

• Installing a new mirror

• Laying porcelain tile flooring

• Reconfiguring the washer/dryer hookup

• Repainting the entire bathroom

Respecting Kim’s desire to minimize disruption and cost, we utilized the existing room layout, framing, rough wiring, rough plumbing, drywall, vanity cabinet, and door & window trims.

Structural Problems

During the planning phase, we discovered a compromised floor joist under the shower that needed to be addressed before we could proceed. Kim appreciated our transparency and agreed to include the necessary repairs in our scope of work. 

How Much Does a Minimalistic Bathroom Remodel Cost in Durham, NH?

This project required replacing many aesthetic aspects of the bathroom, including the shower, flooring, vanity top, and lighting while salvaging as much as we could of the original bathroom.

Without the need for joist repairs, a project like this will generally cost approximately $28,000

With the joist repairs, the total cost for this bathroom remodel was around $36,000.

Secondary Bathroom: A Simple Bathroom Renovation

The secondary bathroom was more of a renovation project. Kim was satisfied with the existing layout and wanted to retain the vanity, bathtub, and linen cabinet. However, the space needed a fresh look to match her aesthetic preferences.

Our renovation plan included:

• Replacing the vanity top and faucet

• Upgrading the vent fan and vanity light

• Replacing electrical outlets and switches

• Installing a new mirror

• Laying porcelain tile flooring

• Repainting the bathroom

Unexpected Structural Issues

Unfortunately, during the demolition phase of the secondary bathroom, we encountered an unforeseen structural issue. A compromised floor joist under the toilet required immediate attention!

We communicated the problem promptly to Kim, who agreed to the additional work, understanding the necessity of these repairs. 

How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost in Durham, NH?

This bathroom renovation was straightforward and less invasive than the primary bathroom remodel. We replaced aesthetic aspects of the bathroom, like lighting, faucets, and paint while avoiding the more extensive work of a bathroom remodel, like a tub replacement. This bathroom renovation work only required an investment of $17,000.

When the joist repairs were added to this renovation, the total cost rose to approximately $24,000.

Kitchen Floor Tile Installation

Kim didn’t mention her kitchen & foyer floor in our initial phone conversation. But when we arrived to start the design and project development process for her bathrooms, she asked us if we could add the kitchen & foyer floor to our list of projects in her home.

Kim’s kitchen floor had three layers of underlayments and vinyl flooring, and she was worried that the floor was too high to allow her to have a doormat by the front door. The local flooring companies she talked to had all recommended installing another layer of vinyl on top of the existing three layers, to keep costs down. But this would make the already high floor higher still! Kim wasn’t comfortable with this idea.

We listened intently to Kim’s needs and priorities. We found that she didn’t even want vinyl flooring! What she really wanted was ceramic/porcelain tile. It was also important to her that the floor was low enough to use a doormat at the front door.

So, we gave her an option that would meet these needs. We offered to remove all three layers of the existing floor, install a low-profile tile underlayment, Schluter Ditra uncoupling membrane, and install the large format porcelain floor tiles that she really wanted! This new flooring would be slightly lower than the existing flooring and allow her to have a doormat by the front door!

More Unexpected Problems!

To our surprise and disappointment, when we removed the existing kitchen flooring, we found a rotten subfloor at one of the exterior walls!

After an extensive inspection, we found that the roof had been leaking, and the water that was getting in had been running down the exterior walls and making its way between the subfloor and the flooring!

If we hadn’t removed the flooring when we did, no one would have known about it before it had caused more extensive damage!

During our roof inspection, we also found that an improperly engineered roof truss was creating a point load on one of the kitchen floor joists, causing the floor to sag in one area due to the overloaded joist.

To fix these problems, we worked closely with the condo association to get the faulty roof, wall framing, and siding repaired. We then repaired the subfloor and worked with an engineer to finalize a solution to the overloaded floor joist.

Once all of this was done, we were able to prepare the subfloor, install floor leveler where needed, and install the flooring.

How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Kitchen Floor in Durham, NH?

The flooring companies Kim talked to were correct; this was a much more expensive approach than what they had recommended! But since the low-cost method didn’t meet her needs, Kim decided that our approach, which did meet her needs, made more sense for her.

The kitchen floor installation on this project cost around $16,500.

After the subfloor and structural repairs, the total cost of the kitchen project was approximately $24,000, not including the roof, siding, or wall framing work, as that work was taken care of by the condo association.

Overcoming Remodeling Challenges

We work very hard to make thorough plans before construction starts, to avoid surprises. Sometimes, unexpected issues still crop up. This project is a perfect example of this reality.

As we mentioned, we found a structural issue in the primary bathroom during design and project development. So, we made appropriate plans to make the necessary repairs.

Unfortunately, the issues in the secondary bathroom and the kitchen weren’t visible until we removed the flooring in these rooms. This led to increased costs and time needed to complete the project.

Throughout the project, clear and calm communication was key. Kim recalls Kelly’s calm demeanor and reasonable explanations, which helped ease the stress of the unexpected issues and additional costs. Kim also noted that Ben’s hands-on approach, showing the structural problems in person, reassured her and her husband that the repairs were essential for the project’s success.

Project Completion and Client Satisfaction

After weeks of hard work, Kim’s vision became a reality! The remodeled primary bathroom now features a brand-new shower, elegant ceramic tile floors, and updated fixtures, transforming it into a spa-like retreat! The renovated secondary bathroom, with its fresh look and retained layout, also complements the overall aesthetic of their home.

Kim’s testimonial highlights the transformation:

"I've never witnessed two such hardworking people. They were consistently there, working their tails off, day in and day out. After the renovation, I have these gorgeous ceramic tile floors, a brand-new shower, and brand-new everything! It’s like a spa bathroom to me now. So now I definitely want to live here forever!"

Our Client’s Video Testimonial

Despite the stress caused by unexpected surprises, Kim is now thrilled with her new bathroom! Listen to her share the experience in her own words:

Conclusion

This case study exemplifies how sometimes a full remodel isn’t always necessary to create the transformation you need in your home! A little creativity in working within the existing space, and salvaging what you can, will go a long way in keeping remodeling costs down. Kim and her husband were able to transform two bathrooms for less than it would have cost to fully remodel one!

Unfortunately, this story also exemplifies how, even with expert assistance, thorough planning, and a dedicated team of professionals, unexpected problems can still crop up.

And, of course, it is a testament to the dedication and craftsmanship of our team! By understanding our client’s needs and maintaining clear communication, we turned a daunting task into a rewarding transformation that Kim and her family will enjoy for years to come!