Bathroom renovations in Oxford County

What a bathroom renovation includes

• Demolition and inspection. Old tile, tub and drywall come out, and the subfloor, framing and pipes are checked for water damage while they're exposed.
• Plumbing. New shut-offs, drains and valves, and any fixtures that are moving get re-piped under a permit.
• Waterproofing. A proper membrane behind the shower walls and under the tile floor. This is the part you never see and the part that matters most.
• Electrical. GFCI outlets, vanity and pot lights, and often a heated floor, done by a licensed electrical contractor with an ESA permit.
• Ventilation. An exhaust fan sized for the room and ducted outside, not into the attic.
• Tile, fixtures and finishing. Floor and wall tile, the tub or shower, vanity, toilet, glass, mirrors, accessories and paint.

Full renovation or a refresh?

Not every bathroom needs to go back to the studs. If the tile is sound and there's no water damage, a new vanity, toilet, lighting, paint and fixtures can change the room in a few days. If the tub surround is leaking, the floor feels soft or the layout doesn't work, a full renovation is usually the better spend. A contractor can tell you which one your bathroom needs.

Popular changes right now

• Swapping a tub for a walk-in shower
• Large-format porcelain tile with fewer grout lines
• Floating vanities and wall-hung storage in small bathrooms
• Heated floors, which make a real difference on an Ontario winter morning
• Grab bars and a curbless shower, planned in now for later years

Permits

Replacing fixtures where they already are usually doesn't need a building permit. Moving or adding plumbing does, and new electrical work needs an ESA permit. Read more in our guide to bathroom permits in Oxford County.