Most Jacksonville homeowners searching for renovation cost information find either vague national averages that don't match the local market or contractor quotes that appear from nowhere. This is JK's attempt to give you real numbers for the Jacksonville market in 2025, with the caveats that matter. These are not low-bid numbers. They are what a licensed, OSHA 30, self-perform GC actually charges for gut renovation in Northeast Florida.
What "Gut Renovation" Means in This Breakdown
A gut renovation goes down to the studs (or concrete/block in some cases): all finishes removed, all fixtures removed, all tile removed. What remains is the structural shell — framing, slab, and exterior walls. The renovation starts fresh from that point: new MEP rough-in where needed, new insulation, new drywall, new finishes throughout.
Gut is not cosmetic. Gut is not "replacing the kitchen counters and painting." Gut means the room is a box before it is rebuilt.
Kitchen: $35,000-95,000
The kitchen has the highest cost concentration of any room in a gut renovation because it combines tile, cabinetry, countertops, appliances, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC in roughly 150-300 sqft.
What Drives Cost in a Kitchen Gut
- Cabinet quality: Stock cabinets from a big box store: $4,000-10,000 installed. Semi-custom from a cabinet shop: $12,000-25,000. Full custom: $25,000-60,000+.
- Countertops: Laminate: $40-80/linear foot. Quartz: $80-140/linear foot. Natural stone: $100-200+/linear foot.
- Appliances: Builder-grade package: $3,500-6,000. Mid-range: $8,000-18,000. High-end: $20,000-50,000+.
- Tile work: Floor and backsplash tile at $10-15/sqft installed for standard porcelain; $25-50/sqft for natural stone or large format.
- Layout changes: Moving the sink or range to a new location requires new drain rough-in or gas line relocation — add $3,000-8,000.
JK gut kitchen, 200 sqft, semi-custom cabinets, quartz counters, mid-grade appliances: $48,000-65,000.
Primary Bathroom: $25,000-70,000
Second-highest cost concentration. Tile, plumbing fixtures, custom vanity, and waterproofing all combine in 100-180 sqft.
- Tile throughout (floor, shower walls, tub surround): 300-500 sqft total. Standard porcelain at $8-12/sqft installed: $2,400-6,000. Large-format or natural stone: $12,000-25,000.
- Shower system: Prefab insert: $1,500-3,500. Tile shower with glass door: $8,000-15,000. Walk-in with frameless glass: $12,000-22,000.
- Vanity and fixtures: Stock double vanity with standard faucets: $2,500-5,000 installed. Custom millwork with designer fixtures: $10,000-25,000.
- Freestanding tub (if added): $3,500-15,000 depending on material, plus $2,000-4,000 for plumbing rough-in modification.
JK gut primary bath, 150 sqft, tile shower, semi-custom vanity, mid-range fixtures: $38,000-55,000.
Secondary Bathrooms: $14,000-35,000 Each
Secondary baths run smaller and simpler. 60-100 sqft typical in Jacksonville residential.
- Same trades involved (tile, plumbing, electrical) but smaller quantities
- Tub/shower combo instead of separate soaking tub and walk-in shower
- Single vanity instead of double
JK gut secondary bath, 80 sqft, tub/shower tile, single vanity: $18,000-28,000.
Half Bath / Powder Room: $8,000-18,000
- No shower or tub — just toilet, vanity, and flooring
- Smaller tile quantity; vanity is a statement piece in many powder rooms
- Custom fixtures or vessel sink add cost quickly
Living Room / Family Room: $15,000-35,000
Gut renovation of a living area involves framing (if wall configuration changes), drywall, finish carpentry, and flooring. No plumbing. MEP scope is limited to electrical and potentially HVAC register relocation.
- Flooring: Hardwood at $8-14/sqft installed. LVP at $4-8/sqft installed. Tile at $8-12/sqft installed.
- Trim work: Crown molding, base, casings — $3-7/sqft of room perimeter for quality installation
- Built-in shelving or entertainment center: $5,000-20,000 depending on complexity
- Fireplace surround (if existing fireplace): $3,000-12,000 depending on material
JK gut living room, 400 sqft, hardwood floors, trim, no structural changes: $18,000-30,000.
Bedrooms: $10,000-22,000 Each
Bedrooms are the most straightforward gut renovation rooms. No plumbing, minimal MEP changes, no tile.
- Flooring: $8-14/sqft for hardwood; $4-8/sqft for LVP
- Closet build-out: Stock closet system: $1,500-4,000. Custom built-in: $4,000-12,000.
- Trim: Base, casing, crown — $2,000-5,000 per room for full trim package
JK gut bedroom, 200 sqft, hardwood floors, full trim, basic closet: $11,000-18,000.
Structural Changes: Price Them Separately
Any structural change — load-bearing wall removal, new opening in an exterior wall, beam installation, floor leveling — is priced separately from the room finish gut. These items are:
- Load-bearing wall removal (including beam): $4,000-12,000 depending on beam span and load path complexity
- New exterior window or door opening: $3,000-8,000
- Floor leveling (slab topping or subfloor work): $3-8/sqft
- Structural floor system repair (rot, damaged joists): $5,000-20,000+ depending on extent
These items are identified in JK's pre-construction existing conditions assessment and included in the fixed-price contract before work starts.
Whole-House Gut Renovation Totals: Jacksonville 2025
For a typical Jacksonville home of 1,800-2,400 sqft undergoing a full gut renovation:
| Scope | Low End | High End |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | $38,000 | $75,000 |
| Primary Bath | $32,000 | $58,000 |
| 2 Secondary Baths | $36,000 | $65,000 |
| Living/Dining/Family Room | $20,000 | $40,000 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $33,000 | $55,000 |
| Electrical panel, service upgrade | $5,000 | $12,000 |
| HVAC replacement | $8,000 | $18,000 |
| Total | $172,000 | $323,000 |
These numbers assume a solid existing structure with no major structural changes, no foundation work, and no mold remediation. They are construction costs only — design and engineering fees (typically $12,000-25,000 for a full renovation) are additional.
What JK's Fixed-Price Model Means for Your Budget
A fixed-price renovation contract means the number in the contract is the number you budget to. If the scope does not change, the price does not change.
The catch: the fixed price requires a defined scope. JK's pre-construction process documents the scope before the contract is signed — existing conditions, finish selection schedule, structural assessment. The homeowner who wants to start gut renovation next Monday with a verbal understanding of what they want will not get a fixed-price contract from JK. They will get a pre-construction process that produces one.
No call center. No coordinator. A JK principal reviews every inquiry and replies with a real number, not a range, not a follow-up form.
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