What actually decides what a kitchen or bath remodel costs

Square footage matters less than people expect. The bigger swings come from decisions, not dimensions.

Whether the layout changes is the biggest one. Moving a sink, a stove line or a wall means real plumbing and electrical work behind it. Keeping everything where it already sits is the difference between a Cabinet & Countertop Replacement and a Full Kitchen Remodel on our own price list.

Cabinet tier is next. Stock, semi-custom and custom cabinets are three different price points before a single hour of installation is counted, and the gap between them is usually bigger than most homeowners expect going in.

Countertop material works the same way — laminate, quartz and natural stone aren't just different looks, they're different price points and different long-term maintenance.

The one nobody budgets for: what's actually under the old flooring or behind the old tile. Subfloor damage and old, undersized wiring are both common once a wall or floor opens up, and neither is optional to fix once it's found.

What we do on every estimate: walk the space, point at the specific things driving the number up or down, and show a starting price with real reasoning behind it rather than a number pulled from a square-footage formula.