Photo: TikTok screenshot (@tajmleps)

A young tradesman on TikTok posted a video in which he explained how much he earns from bathroom renovations.

In a short video, while casually laying wall tiles, the young man confidently explains how he finances his BMW. His calculation sounds like the realization of the wildest financial dreams. He claims that he charges around 8,000 euros for renovating one bathroom, and completes two to three per week.

When multiplied, that comes to an incredible sum of 80,000 euros per month, with a clear message to followers to do the rest of the math themselves.

What does bathroom renovation actually mean?

For all those who have never ventured into the charms of construction work, it is important to clarify what a complete bathroom renovation actually entails. It is by no means just sticking on new tiles overnight. The process includes the painstaking breaking of old tiles, removal of rubble, replacement of complete water supply and drainage pipes, leveling the walls, applying layers of waterproofing that prevent moisture penetration, and only at the very end the precise installation of new ceramics and sanitary fixtures.

Each of these steps requires time, and materials such as adhesive and insulation must dry naturally. That is precisely why the claim that one person can independently and properly finish three bathrooms in just seven days raises great suspicion among construction experts.

Craftsmen's prices are skyrocketing, but there is a limit

It is generally known that the prices of trade services in Croatia have literally 'shot through the roof' over the past few years. A chronic shortage of real craftsmen has led to the fact that people wait several months even for tile installation by a proven expert. In the past, a square meter of ceramic installation was charged at around 10 to 12 euros, while today those figures regularly exceed 20 to 35 euros per square meter, and for more complex formats significantly more.

Today, tilers really do earn very well, and their work has finally begun to be appreciated on the domestic market. Still, the amount of 8,000 euros for just one average bathroom stands far apart from Croatian reality and what the average citizen can afford.

Public reactions between disbelief and mockery

As expected, such statements caused a real storm in the comments below the video. People quickly started adding and subtracting, and many tried to bring the tradesman back down to earth. One follower humorously commented that with a price of 8,000 euros per room, the tradesman probably works exclusively for Donald Trump. Another user added that the price is absolutely unclear to him because it sounds like a royal palace is being built.

Many noticed logical holes in the very timeframe of the work. More experienced followers pointed out that they do not know what kind of bathroom someone can finish in a day and a half, emphasizing that an easy and quality bathroom renovation takes from 7 to 10 days. There were also those who quite seriously wondered whether the Croatian Tax Administration knows about those 80,000 euros per month. On the other hand, a smaller portion of commenters came to the young man's defense, claiming that everyone has every right to value their hands and their effort as much as they want, especially if there is a buyer for it.

When we draw the line and look at the facts with a cool head, these figures may be exaggerated. That, of course, does not mean that there cannot be incredible exceptions on the market with exclusive clients, but for an individual to independently earn 80,000 euros in a month just from laying tiles, he would probably have to break the laws of physics, work without sleep, and skip the basic rules of the construction profession regarding the drying of materials.

This post on TikTok is actually an excellent marketing move. The young tradesman cleverly used provocative figures and a luxury car to provoke a reaction from the audience, gather views, and stir up dust around his business.