2021 Cost Guide for a Home Remodel in Dallas

Sweeten’s guide to 2021 home remodeling costs in Dallas: kitchen, bath, whole home; plus outdoor deck & permit costs

Dallas is the ninth-largest city in the United States. It’s the headquarters for multiple Fortune 500 companies like American Airlines. There’s the Dallas Cowboys (as well as real cowboys!) And of course, there’s BBQ. Dallas is a thriving city and a great place to renovate your dream home. Sweeten‘s guide to 2021 Dallas remodeling costs provides a jumping-off point to get you on your way with estimates from Sweeten and the 2021 Cost vs Value Report. 

Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and up to $50,000 in renovation financial protection—for free.

Developing a budget is your first step to your dream Dallas home. Sweeten contractors will want to sit down with you and inspect your home to reach an accurate number. 

Here’s a quick overview of budgets for some typical renovation projects:

Gut renovation: starting at $80—$100 per square foot (psf)
Budget kitchen remodel: starting at – $15,000 (for a 75-100 sf space) 
Mid-grade kitchen remodel: starting at $25,000—$30,000 (for a 75-100 sf space) 
High-end kitchen remodel: starting at $40,000 (for a 75-100 sf space) 
Budget bathroom remodel: starting at $8,000—$15,000 (for a 35-square-foot space) 
Mid-grade bathroom remodel: starting at $15,000—$25,000 (for a 35-square-foot space) 
High-end bathroom remodel and expansion: starting at $30,000 (for a 35-square-foot space) 
Deck composite: $19,000 or $60 psf
Wood deck: $13,000 or $40 psf

Keep in mind that every professional contractor will want to have a detailed conversation with you. They will also inspect your home before developing an estimate specific to your needs and wants.

Pro tip: Do not wait. The pandemic has caused a backlog in the supply of materials in many sectors. For homeowners interested in renovating, it’s smart to schedule and sign with a contractor to lock in your material prices. You’ll also want to book a start date on the contractor’s schedule. If you do wait, prices will only continue to go up and your material order starts at the back of a long queue.

“With the lockdowns from covid, we saw companies cut production and manpower with the expectation that construction would slow down (which it did not),” Dallas-based Sweeten contractor Joel said, “and it took awhile to ramp up production.” With a large influx of people moving out of the coastal cities and into the South and Midwest, “there’s been an increase in housing demand making quality labor more expensive.” Overall, according to Sweeten contractor Kyle, who is also based in Dallas, “Costs are going up in today’s current environment for: the whole home, the kitchen, and the bathroom.”

Dallas home remodeling costs per square foot

A total gut renovation in Dallas that brings your home down to its bare bones and remodels it to your liking, starts at $80—$100 psf. For a home that has budget finishes, this means materials such as laminate flooring and countertops, value-brand appliances, and basic tiles from big box stores like Home Depot. These scenarios, however, are dependant on the scope of work and existing conditions.

Although a gut renovation is a big project, consider doing it all at once to get you the best bang for your buck. You’ll also have your dream home much quicker than renovating room by room. 

As a guide, Joel advises clients to tie the price of their kitchen (or bathroom) renovation to the price of their home. You should only spend between 10 and 20 percent of the value “to really cap the budget at the return on investment,” Joel said. So for a $300,000 home, aim to spend between $30,000 and $60,000 on a bathroom or kitchen remodel, which will be a major slice of a gut renovation project. 

Before getting started, general contractor Kyle suggests homeowners research other recent remodels in the area to see what materials and appliances were used. This is important if you want to resell quickly so you don’t end up with a budget-level renovation in a high-end area or vice versa. If this is your forever home, then your personal taste is more important than whoever you might sell to years later.  

How much a Dallas kitchen remodel costs per square foot in 2021

A kitchen renovation in the budget range can start at $10,000 and reach $15,000. This would apply to a 75-100-square-foot room. To get a new kitchen at this price, it needs to be a rip-and-replace job, meaning a layout of the kitchen must stay the same with pipes and appliances remaining where they are. Cabinets are the highest ticket item in a kitchen budget, said Joel. To keep costs down, cabinets can be re-stained or re-painted. The next upgrade is pre-fab followed by semi-custom. Fully custom costs the most, he said. A mid-grade kitchen remodel in Dallas at the same square footage has costs starting at $25,000—$30,000. What does a mid-grade kitchen look like at this starting cost? The kitchen layout must remain the same as a rip-and-replace: swap your old oven for a new one and your old sink for a new sink. You can get a stainless steel sink with a single-lever faucet, laminate countertops, a built-in microwave, new appliances, custom lighting, and semi-custom cabinets. An island could also be added. Moving plumbing, gas, and electrical, reconfiguring the layout, or choosing custom features will increase the budget.

“A kitchen with upgraded material and selections, as well as special additions such pot fillers, custom-built islands, under cabinet lighting, etc. can drive up the cost to $50,000 and higher,” says Sweeten contractor Kyle.

For an upscale kitchen that is 75-100 square feet, labor costs and a refresh with select high-end materials such as marble or quartz countertops, imported backsplash tile, and high-quality fixtures start at $40,000.

The upscale kitchens Kyle has worked on were budgeted from $50,000 and up. A big chunk of those budgets were custom-made cabinets as well as quartz countertops and expensive backsplashes. “Adding French doors or moving walls to create a larger kitchen” also brings up the price, Kyle said. As will above and below cabinet lighting, moving plumbing, and custom-built islands.

There are plenty of variables in most materials, according to Sweeten contractor Joel. For example, with quartz you can spend $2,000 or $7,000 depending upon the quality. “It just comes down to not overbuilding for your house,” Joel advised.

How much a Dallas bathroom remodel costs per square foot in 2021

At the budget level, expect a rip-and-replace bathroom with no behind-the-wall surprises to start at $8,000—$15,000. These are typically smaller master baths or guest bathrooms at 35 square feet. The layout will remain the same where plumbing doesn’t move, Kyle said. This budget won’t include any issues like leaks or mold discovered once the project begins. Materials will include a prefabricated vanity, ceramic tile, and fixtures from big-box stores.
In the Dallas area, a 35-square-foot mid-grade bathroom can start at $15,000—$25,000. The average cost for this price range remodel is about $22,866 or $653 psf with the same dimensions, according to the 2021 Cost vs Value Report. The key to a budget in this range is rip-and-replace. This means keeping the layout the same and swapping out an old toilet for a new one, an old vanity for a new one, etc. That way, no expensive plumbing work is needed.

You can install a new porcelain-on-steel bathtub, ceramic tiles, and a recessed medicine cabinet with built-in lighting. More than 55 percent of your budget can be recouped in the value the project adds to your home.  

For a high-end bathroom remodel and expansion, the cost can start at $30,000. This budget includes a three-piece bathroom (tub/shower combo, toilet, and sink) for a typical 5’ x 7’ space. The cost increases with features including a double vanity, creating a separate shower from the tub, specialty tile, a custom vanity, or a toilet with additional functions.

“Cost drivers are things like removing an existing tub or shower to install a new standalone tub,” said Sweeten contractor Kyle. It can also include building larger showers, moving walls to expand bathroom size, custom vanities, and frameless glass shower enclosure.

2021 costs to adding outdoor space to a Dallas-area home

Dallas is a city perfect for outdoor entertaining, whether it’s a crisp winter night in front of the fire pit or a cold beer paired with a hot summer evening. An outdoor area is often the cherry on top of a dream home remodel. It’s the project to really let your creative juices flow. There are endless options to make your outdoor area your own with extensive outdoor kitchens, gas fireplaces, fans and misting systems for cooling, custom lighting, and landscaping. 

A basic wooden deck will likely cost $49 psf or $15,678 for something in the 320 square foot range, according to the 2021 Cost Vs Value Report. A deck made from composite, a mix of wood product and plastic, will cost just under $20,857 for the same size or $65 psf. This material tends to last longer and requires less maintenance. 

2021 Dallas remodeling costs: Permits

Dallas is experiencing a lot of new building construction. This has resulted in a more rigorous approval process compared to approvals for existing homes. 

There are numerous cities and towns that make up Dallas. Each one has its own building department and its own fee structure for permits. Your Sweeten contractor will likely put an estimate in the budget for building permits, which will be determined by your end costs or square footage of your project.

The upmarket suburb of Highland Park bases building permit costs on square footage. The permit for a 200 square foot kitchen renovation costs $490, according to Highland Park’s calculator.  

In the city of Addison, building permit fees for a project with a budget between $2,000 and $25,000 will have a base cost of $115 with an additional $23 per $1,000 for estimated costs over $2,000. That means the permit for a $20,000 mid-grade bathroom remodel will cost $529. 

Building permit fees in Cedar Hill, southwest of the city’s center, are determined by square footage. There is a set fee of $400 for any renovation of less than 1,250 square feet. For each additional square foot over 1,250, the permit increases by $.60. After 2,500 square feet, it increases by $.40.

Enjoy making your Dallas home your own. Understand the costs and find the right renovation team to bring your vision to life. Post your project on Sweeten and you’ll be one step closer to your home sweet home. 

©2021 Zonda Media, a Delaware corporation. Complete data from the 2021 Cost vs. Value Report can be downloaded free at www.costvsvalue.com.

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