Bathroom Remodels in Toronto & the GTA

A bathroom remodel is a sequence, and the order matters more than any single step. The old fixtures and finishes come out, the walls and floor are checked for water damage, anything soft or mouldy is replaced, the wet areas are waterproofed, and only then does the tile go down. Tile laid over a problem hides it for a year or two and then fails.

Most of the decisions are made before demolition: the tile and its layout, the vanity size, where the storage goes, the lighting, and whether the toilet, tub or shower stays where it is. Keeping the plumbing where it already is is usually the single biggest saving in a bathroom, and it is worth deciding early.

In Ontario, plumbing is a regulated trade and electrical work needs a licensed electrical contractor, and moving a drain, a supply line or a light usually needs a permit. If your remodel involves any of that, raise it on the first call so the plan and the price include it from the start.

What a remodel usually involves

Every bathroom is different; this is the typical shape of the job.

• Removing old tile, fixtures, vanity and finishes, and taking the debris away.
• Checking the subfloor and walls for water damage and replacing what is soft.
• Waterproofing around the tub or shower before any tile goes on.
• Floor and wall tile, set out so the cuts land where they will not be seen.
• Walls and ceiling repaired and painted with a bathroom-grade finish.
• Vanity, mirror, accessories and trim fitted at the end.