What a Remodel Costs in Boston
Remodeling costs in Boston and nearby towns
What moves the price of a kitchen, bathroom, addition or whole-house job in Boston, and how to read our estimate.
- Licensed and insured in Massachusetts
- Design, permits and construction by one team
- Itemized written estimate
The one figure we publish
A full kitchen remodel with us starts at $35,000. That is the lowest figure we work from, not a quote for your kitchen.
Bathrooms, additions and whole-house work we price after a site visit. Most of the cost depends on what is behind your walls.
What moves the price up or down
| Project | Pushes the price up | Keeps it down |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | Moving the sink, range or a wall. Custom cabinets. Stone slabs with few seams. A new circuit for an induction range. | Keeping the layout. Semi-custom cabinets. Prefabricated quartz. |
| Bathroom | Moving the toilet or shower drain. A curbless shower. Mosaic tile. Heated floors. A cast-iron stack replaced while the wall is open. | Same footprint. A standard tub size. Porcelain tile in a common format. |
| Addition | Excavation and a new foundation. A second story on an old frame that needs new posts. Matching old siding. A zoning variance. | A bump-out on piers. A simple roof. Starting in spring, not January. |
| Whole house | Knob-and-tube wiring and galvanized pipe that have to come out. Plaster on every wall. Beams to open up rooms. | Keeping rooms where they are. Opening walls once for wiring, plumbing and insulation together. One line of tile and hardware throughout. |
What adds cost around Boston
Permits take drawings and time
Boston permits go through the Inspectional Services Department. Exterior work in Back Bay, Beacon Hill and the South End also goes to the landmark commissions. Condo boards add their own review.
Getting in and out
Without a driveway, the dumpster sits on the street and needs a street occupancy permit. Materials go up narrow stairs by hand. In a condo, elevator bookings and set hours shorten each working day.
Old houses hide work
Plaster walls, knob-and-tube wiring and cast-iron drains take longer to open, reroute and patch. Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint, which Massachusetts regulates.
Winter slows exterior work
Inside work goes on all year. Excavation, roofing and siding wait on frozen ground, and snow delays deliveries.
How to read an itemized estimate
Our estimate is itemized by trade: demolition, framing, electrical, plumbing, tile, cabinets, paint. Permit work and the 3D design have their own lines.
In any estimate, check which lines are allowances, what is excluded, and if the dumpster and street permit are included.
If you compare two estimates, compare the scope line by line, not the totals. A lower total is sometimes a shorter list.
Allowances and change orders
An allowance is a placeholder for something you have not chosen yet, like tile or faucets. If your pick costs more, the difference is a change order. If it costs less, the line goes down.
A change order is any change to the contract price after signing. Each one is written and priced, and you sign it before that work is done.
How to set a budget you can hold
Separate must from want
List what has to change, such as a leaking shower, then what you would like. Price the first list first.
Keep a reserve outside the contract
Decide the most you will spend, then keep part of it out of the contract. Old Boston houses hide things, and the reserve pays for them.
Choose finishes before demolition
Tile, cabinets, faucets and lighting picked early turn allowances into fixed lines. Late choices push totals past the plan.
Plan where you will live
A bathroom usually takes four to eight weeks of construction, a whole house far longer. Eating out or renting for that time is part of the cost.
What we need to give you a number
Have these ready for the site visit.
- Your budget range, even a wide one. It tells us which cabinets and tile to draw.
- For a condo, the association rules on hours, elevators and insurance.
- For a house built before 1978, any lead inspection report you have.
From the visit we draw the 3D design, then write the itemized estimate. Both come before demolition. The full sequence is on our process page.
Questions homeowners ask about cost
Why won’t you price a bathroom over the phone?
Drain location, subfloor and pipe material decide much of the cost, and none of that shows over the phone.
Do you charge for the estimate?
No. The site visit and the itemized estimate are free.
What if you find a problem behind the wall?
We stop that part, show you what we found, and price the fix as a written change order. You decide before we continue.
Can I buy my own tile and fixtures?
Often, yes. Our workmanship warranty covers our work, not products you supplied, and a late delivery holds the schedule. Ask your project manager before you order.
Is a condo remodel more expensive?
Usually. Association approval, elevator reservations and limited working hours all add days, and days are labor. We price that in.
Get a free estimate
Fill in the form and we will call to set up a site visit. Or call (857) 228-5854 between 7:00 AM and 10:00 PM.
