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We got quoted basically that same amount for a small bathroom remodel here on Long Island. It's pretty standard. But you're right, when you do the math, it's a little crazy. Has me thinking about doing a gut myself on a half bath in our house that I've always hated. If I could do it for even $5k, that would rule.
I don't remember all the numbers for when I redid my bathroom a few years back, but in this same range. My walls were fine, and I did hire out the tile work. But for that size bathroom, I was able to get high end tile at $1 per sq foot at a local non-profit where people donate overruns and extra materials. 
I think this is the best advice. A GC is going to want to take a 15% cut or a daily rate to oversee. You can pocket that right away and put the materials on your card saving the 15% and any cash back type credit card offers you can do. Just expect the process to take 2x as long.
underlined and bolded the part that makes most people NOT tell the guy to pound sand. If he used to do this for a living, would he be in here asking how much it should cost?
Would appreciate information of the make/model of that toilet. Ours (both of them) are awful. More than 4 sheets of toilet paper seem to clog the sum#####.
I'd have to see if I kept the paper work, but it was the American Standard one that was about $400. When you flush this thing, it sounds like it sucks all the air outta the house with a sonic boom. Literally, if you leave a newspaper on the vanity right next to it, it sucks it down the toilet along with the shower curtain, small pets, and Otis' leftover potato peels. This thing is amazing.
Can you check the actual model on that? I searched the internet and got an American Standard Champion 4 ...but it's like $199. It shows the golf balls flush etc.
So how long have you had it? Seems like the deal is that it doesn't work as well after a while. I hate my toilet, it has horrible, minimal cleaning flush ...gotta make a move.
on buying your own materials if your contractor is OK with that. We had a guy who did our basement who was fine with it, and we managed to source what he needed for 20-30% less than the prices he initially quoted. They don't really bargain shop when they're doing the buying - time is money to them, and the money they're spending is yours! I managed to get our bathroom fixtures for 1/2 what he quoted, and saved a ton on the shower enclosure and bar sink/counter too. All he asked was that I make sure they're there when he needed to put them in. Probably saved us ~$3K overall. We of course promptly spent that on upgraded carpet, but whatever.
lol at $800. Sink is a tupperware bowl on an old crate, toilet is a 5 gallon pail? Paint was found out back.
it's all name brand
i don't have a Viking freezer and 14 person jacuzzi tub like you maybe. what did you use for countertops/backsplash?it's all name brand
buy things that are on sale before you need them. instead of paying max for a brand new toilet because your wife said you had to remodel the bathroom RIGHT NOW BEFORE THE BABY IS BORN, buy one months ahead when you see a good deal. crazy how much money you can save by planning ahead.
no backsplash
It's fine. I'm looking into redoing our bathroom and I'm looking at ~12'x25" of countertops to replace (yes, 12 feet) with two sink cutouts at different heights.
You can buy the $39 faucet, the $200 vanity and sink, the $150 toilet, the 88 cent tile, the $150 shower base, and the $20 paint. Most of that stuff is good enough. Maybe on clearance/sale, you can stuff of pretty good quality in that range. At everyday prices, I would double most of those for fairly good stuff.
there's no question that a HUGE majority of the quotes are LABOR and profit. I am a DIYer myself, so I agree with you that the number seems insane, but only because I can do it. Those that can't do, teach. Those who can't teach, teach gym AND get raked by contractors.
not sure what you mean... slab at wall-surround rather than tiles?
I've seen blasted glass and solid tile sections (1 per wall) surrounding a shower rather than individual standard tiles.
I still don't know what you mean by "solid tile sections". are you talking about a big slab of material instead of individual smaller tiles of the same material (of different material)?
Good stuff. I was not implying this was something I was going to do, but I like the look/maintenance for the additional cost
I prefer it. but definitely adds expense and technical expertise beyond typical DYIers. need to template the stone/material just right, cut it just right, and install it just right. do most DYIers out there have the capability to cut 2 or 3cm stone slabs and then hang them? I dunno- I'd be impressed if so.
some pics of both options...
slabs (nanno-glass & granite), tiles (ceramic and granite)
at 20/hour
