One of the first questions we get from homeowners — before we’ve talked about scope, timeline, or materials — is some version of: “Can you do this for $X?”
And I get it. Budget is real. It’s not a dirty word. One of the things I’m most deliberate about at BEC Innovations is that we talk about money early, honestly, and often. We’re not the contractor who dances around numbers until you’re already emotionally invested in a design you can’t afford.
So in that spirit, I want to put something on the table that doesn’t always get said directly: we have minimums. Not because we’re trying to be selective, but because below a certain budget, we genuinely can’t do the job in a way we’re proud of — or protect you as a homeowner in the process. Here’s what those numbers look like, and why they exist.
Bathroom Renovation: Starting at $20,000
A bathroom remodel is one of the most requested projects we take on, and one of the most misunderstood when it comes to cost. People assume that because a bathroom is small, it should be cheap. Physically, yes — but cost-per-square-foot in a bathroom is actually higher than almost any other room in your house. You’ve got plumbing, waterproofing, tile work, fixtures, vanities, lighting, exhaust, and sometimes structural considerations, all compressed into 50 or 80 square feet.
Our minimum for a bathroom renovation is $20,000. At that number, we can do meaningful work — updated tile, a new vanity and fixtures, fresh lighting, and a result that’s genuinely functional and beautiful. Below that, we start making compromises that affect quality and longevity, and that’s not work we’re willing to put our name on.
Everything goes up from there depending on size, materials, layout changes, or a custom tile shower. But if your budget is under $20K, we’d encourage you to be honest with yourself about what’s actually achievable before calling anyone.
Kitchen Renovation: Starting at $40,000
The kitchen is where homeowners most often want to make an impact, and for good reason — it affects how you live in your home every single day. A full kitchen renovation involves cabinetry, countertops, appliances, lighting, plumbing, flooring, backsplash, and usually electrical work. The coordination alone is significant before you factor in a single material.
Our minimum for a kitchen remodel is $40,000. That gets you into real, quality cabinetry — not big-box store stock — solid countertops, updated fixtures, and a finished result that holds up and adds value to your home. It’s not a luxury kitchen at that number, but it’s a good one.
If you’re getting quotes for a kitchen at $15,000 or $20,000, ask a lot of questions. What are the cabinets actually made of? Where are the countertops coming from? What’s included in that number? The gap between bids in kitchen remodeling is almost always explained by what’s missing from the cheaper one.
Screened Porch: Starting at $60,000
This number surprises people more than any other. A screened porch feels like it should be straightforward — no plumbing, no tile, no cabinetry. But a properly built screened porch involves structural work, roofing, concrete or decking, screening systems, and electrical for lighting and fans, plus permits and inspections. If you’re tying into the existing roofline of the home, the complexity increases quickly.
Our minimum for a screened porch is $60,000. We’ve seen a lot of cheap screened porches, and we’ve also seen what happens to them after a couple of winters — improper drainage, inadequate structural support, screening that sags and separates. Done right, a screened porch becomes one of the most-used spaces in your home. Done wrong, it’s a liability. At $60K and up, we’re building something that functions, lasts, and looks like it was always part of the house.
Home Addition: Starting at $150,000
A home addition is the most significant project we do, and the minimum budget reflects that. You’re not just adding square footage — you’re tying a new structure into an existing one, which means foundation work, framing, roofing, HVAC integration, electrical, plumbing in most cases, insulation, and full interior and exterior finishes. Permitting for additions in Nashville and Hendersonville has also gotten more complex in recent years, with longer timelines and more scrutiny.
Our minimum for a home addition is $150,000. That’s the floor for a project we can properly plan, build, and finish in a way that’s safe, code-compliant, and adds real value. Additions priced below that almost always involve corners being cut somewhere — on structural elements, on finishes, or on the process.
If you’re thinking about an addition, this is also where our Discovery Phase matters most. Before you fall in love with a floor plan, you need to know what’s possible on your lot, what the permitting process looks like, and whether your vision actually aligns with your budget. That’s exactly what we help you work through before you spend a dollar on design.
Why These Minimums Exist
Honestly, because we’ve learned from watching homeowners get burned by contractors who said yes to a number that never made sense. Having the right team on your side matters more than the price tag.
Quality has a floor. Materials, skilled labor, and a proper process cost what they cost. There’s a number below which the work can’t be done well, regardless of how much everyone wants it to be. Beyond that, we carry insurance, pay licensed tradespeople fair wages, pull all required permits, and stand behind our work with a warranty. That infrastructure exists to protect you, and it costs money to maintain. And cheap upfront almost always means expensive later — we’ve seen it more times than we can count. Homeowners who went with the lower bid, ran into problems, and ended up spending more to fix the work than they would have spent doing it right the first time.
If Your Budget Is Below These Numbers
Don’t feel bad about it — budget constraints are normal, and they’re something we’d rather discuss early than run into three months into a project. The most honest thing I can tell you is to either wait and save if the project matters to you, because a bathroom that holds up for 20 years is worth more than one that needs to be redone in five, or look at adjusting the scope.
Sometimes, a partial kitchen update instead of a full renovation accomplishes most of what you need and lands you in a much better place. We also have free estimator tools on our website for every project type — bathrooms, kitchens, additions, and screened porches — that can help you understand what’s realistic before you call anyone.
If your budget does line up with these numbers, you’re looking for guidance during post-damage rebuild, or just want to have an honest conversation about what’s possible, we’d love to talk.
BEC Innovations is a licensed general contractor serving Nashville, East Nashville, Hendersonville, and the surrounding Middle Tennessee area. We specialize in kitchen and bathroom remodeling, home additions, and screened porch construction.
