Waterproofing is the job
Tile and grout are not waterproof. Water gets through and the layer behind decides what happens next. We build showers with a bonded sheet or liquid membrane over the backer board, preformed or mud-set sloped pans, sealed niches and benches, and we flood test the pan for twenty-four hours before a single tile is set. Green drywall behind shower tile, which we still find in homes from the nineties and two-thousands, is why so many of those showers have loose tiles and soft walls today.
Layout within the same four walls
Most hall baths are five feet by eight and that does not change. What can change: a tub becomes a walk-in shower, a single vanity becomes a wider one with drawers, a swing door becomes a pocket door, and a recessed medicine cabinet and a niche add storage without taking floor space. Keeping the toilet where it is saves the most money, because moving a three-inch drain in a framed floor means opening the ceiling below.
Air, heat and light
We replace the rattling builder fan with a quiet one sized for the room, ducted outside through the roof or a wall, never into the attic. It goes on a humidity sensor or timer. Lighting is layered: face-level light at the mirror so there are no shadows, a wet-rated recessed light in the shower, and a night-light level for 3 a.m. Heated floors are a small upcharge during a gut remodel and the feature clients thank us for most.
How the work runs
- Assess and designMeasure, check the subfloor, plumbing and ventilation, and lay out fixtures and tile patterns.
- Select and orderTile, vanity, top, fixtures, glass and valve trim chosen and on hand before demo.
- Demo and rough-inGut to studs where needed, repair framing and subfloor, update supply, drain, valve, wiring and fan, inspect.
- Waterproof and tileBacker, membrane, flood test, tile, grout and sealant.
- Trim outVanity, top, toilet, fixtures, glass, accessories, paint and final clean.
What moves the price
We do not publish square-foot prices, because they mislead more than they help. These are the factors that actually change the number on a proposal.
- Whether plumbing fixtures stay in place.
- Shower construction: acrylic base versus fully tiled, and the glass enclosure.
- Tile quantity and complexity. Large format, mosaics and patterns all add labor.
- Condition of what is under the old floor and behind the old walls.
From our recent projects
Photographs from jobs we have built. Each one opens to the full project, including the framing and rough-in stages when we have them.
How long it takes
A hall bath gut remodel takes three to four weeks. Custom glass is measured after tile and takes another one to two weeks to arrive, though the shower is usable with a curtain in the meantime.
Permits
Replacing fixtures in place often needs no permit. New circuits, relocated drains or framing changes do, and we pull them. See our guide to which projects need a permit.
Bathroom Remodeling questions
Can I use the bathroom during the remodel?
Not the one being remodeled. If it is the only bathroom in the house, we plan the work so the toilet is out of service for the fewest possible days and reset it temporarily overnight when we can.
Should I remove the only bathtub in the house?
Keep at least one tub if resale within a few years matters or if small children are likely. Otherwise build the bathroom you will use.
Why did my old shower fail?
Usually no real waterproofing behind the tile, a pan liner with no pre-slope, or movement at the curb. All three are avoidable with current methods.