Express home renovations: why swapping a bathtub now costs €13,000
Replacing a bathtub costs €13,000 and a 32 m² floor slab €10,000. Behind it: a shortage of bricklayers, 35-45% in taxes and rising material prices.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Home renovations: the cost of the basics is soaring
The price of home renovations has reached figures that leave anyone stunned. Swapping a bathtub for a walk-in shower with a screen and renewing the plumbing: €13,000. No tiling, just vinyl panels. Preparing a 32 m² floor slab and building three block walls: €10,000. These are real examples circulating among homeowners, and they paint a picture where what used to be a minor job has become a considerable outlay.
Behind these figures lies a perfect storm. Demand for renovations remains high, but the supply of professionals has shrunk dramatically. Several self-employed tradespeople in the sector confirm they no longer even quote for new jobs because they have no time to serve their regular clients. The labour shortage is made worse by an ageing workforce and the scarcity of young people willing to work in tough conditions for pay that, after taxes, is not that attractive.
And taxes are another key factor. It is estimated that between 35% and 45% of the final budget for a job ends up in the hands of the State. Income tax, VAT, social security contributions… it all gets passed on to the final price. On top of that comes the rising cost of materials due to higher energy prices, which some estimate could double or triple input costs.
The result is a generalised price rise that means renovating an average home can exceed €60,000. Is it worth it? It depends on whether you are willing to roll up your sleeves or wait a few years for, perhaps, the crews that used to keep prices in check to return.
The price of home renovations has reached figures that leave anyone stunned. Swapping a bathtub for a walk-in shower with a screen and renewing the plumbing: €13,000. No tiling, just vinyl panels. Preparing a 32 m² floor slab and building three block walls: €10,000. These are real examples circulating among homeowners, and they paint a picture where what used to be a minor job has become a considerable outlay.
Behind these figures lies a perfect storm. Demand for renovations remains high, but the supply of professionals has shrunk dramatically. Several self-employed tradespeople in the sector confirm they no longer even quote for new jobs because they have no time to serve their regular clients. The labour shortage is made worse by an ageing workforce and the scarcity of young people willing to work in tough conditions for pay that, after taxes, is not that attractive.
And taxes are another key factor. It is estimated that between 35% and 45% of the final budget for a job ends up in the hands of the State. Income tax, VAT, social security contributions… it all gets passed on to the final price. On top of that comes the rising cost of materials due to higher energy prices, which some estimate could double or triple input costs.
The result is a generalised price rise that means renovating an average home can exceed €60,000. Is it worth it? It depends on whether you are willing to roll up your sleeves or wait a few years for, perhaps, the crews that used to keep prices in check to return.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (25 replies).
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