Bathroom Renovations · Coquitlam
Post-war Coquitlam homes have small original bathrooms and, usually, a basement worth finishing. Both are jobs we do constantly here.
Bathroom Renovations in Coquitlam
Coquitlam bathroom work divides along the same line as the kitchens. In Austin Heights, Como Lake and Maillardville, the original bathroom is often small, entirely tiled in its 1950s or 60s finishes, and long past the point where refinishing makes sense. In Burke Mountain and Westwood Plateau the bathrooms are newer and structurally fine but finished to a builder's standard. And unlike Richmond, most Coquitlam homes have a real basement — which means adding a bathroom down there is genuinely practical, and it's one of the most common projects we're asked to quote.
The basement is the Coquitlam-specific opportunity. Most homes here have full basements, and a large share of owners eventually finish them — either for family space or as a suite. Adding a bathroom below grade brings its own requirements: if the drain sits below the sewer line, it needs a sewage ejector or an up-flush system, and venting has to be run properly rather than improvised. Suite bathrooms also fall under BC Building Code suite requirements. On the older housing, the recurring find when we open up a 1950s bathroom is a cast-iron tub sitting on framing that has taken sixty years of small leaks — worth knowing before you plan a like-for-like replacement.
Post-war bungalows and split-levels with full basements, 1990s Westwood Plateau homes, newer Burke Mountain builds, and townhomes near Coquitlam Centre
Replacing a tub, toilet or vanity in its existing position generally does not require a City of Coquitlam building permit. Moving a fixture does, and adding a bathroom always does — including basement bathrooms, which also need proper venting and, where the drain is below the sewer line, an ejector or up-flush system. Suite bathrooms fall under BC Building Code secondary suite requirements. Plumbing and electrical are permitted separately. We pull permits, book inspections, and get the waterproofing inspected before tile goes on.
What We Offer
Adding a bathroom to a Coquitlam basement, including sewage ejector or up-flush systems where the drain sits below the sewer line, and venting run properly rather than improvised.
Full gut of original 1950s and 60s bathrooms. These almost always reveal something — soft subfloor under a cast-iron tub, galvanized supply lines, or no waterproofing at all behind the tile.
Double vanities, heated tile floors, frameless glass and better ventilation in Westwood Plateau and Burke Mountain homes where the room is fine but the finishes are entry-level.
Level-entry showers with linear drains, built by modifying the floor structure and sealing with a full membrane — structural work done properly, not a silicone lip holding water back.
Bathrooms for legal secondary suites, built to BC Building Code requirements for separation, venting and fixtures so the suite passes inspection.
Coquitlam bathroom renovations typically run $15,000–$30,000 for a full main-bathroom gut and rebuild, $8,000–$15,000 for a powder room, and $28,000–$45,000 for a premium ensuite. Adding a new basement bathroom typically runs $18,000–$32,000, higher where an ejector or up-flush system is needed because the drain sits below the sewer line. Quotes are itemized.
Get Your Free QuoteScope: New three-piece basement bathroom, up-flush system installed below sewer line, venting run to exterior, full membrane waterproofing, code-compliant suite separation
Duration: 3 weeks
The owners were converting their basement into a legal suite and needed a bathroom where there had never been one. The slab sat below the sewer line, so gravity drainage was not an option — we installed an up-flush system, ran venting properly to the exterior, and built the room with full membrane waterproofing. Everything was permitted and inspected as part of the suite, so the space is legal and rentable rather than a liability at resale.
Verified Google Reviews
“They've become my go-to for any home renovation. They consistently deliver exactly what I envision, if not better.”
Nikki I
Multiple home renovations · Google review
“Timelines were respected, and the workspace was kept clean and organized, which made a big difference during the renovation process.”
Jasleen Lidder
Full renovation & finishing carpentry · Google review
“From start to finish Christopher was there for us. Honest, reasonable and very professional.”
Laura Logan
Kitchen renovation · Google review
Frequently Asked Questions
A full main-bathroom gut and rebuild typically runs $15,000–$30,000, powder rooms $8,000–$15,000, and premium ensuites $28,000–$45,000. A brand new basement bathroom runs $18,000–$32,000, at the higher end when an ejector or up-flush system is required.
Almost always. The main question is drain height: if the new drain sits below the sewer line, you need a sewage ejector or up-flush system rather than gravity drainage. That adds cost but it's routine work. Venting also has to be run properly. Adding a bathroom requires a permit.
Soft subfloor under the cast-iron tub, galvanized supply lines, and tile set without any waterproofing membrane are the three most common. Sixty years of small leaks add up. We open up and show you before rebuilding rather than tiling over it.
Not for replacing fixtures in their existing positions. Moving a fixture or adding a bathroom does, including basement bathrooms. Suite bathrooms fall under BC Building Code secondary suite rules. Plumbing and electrical are permitted separately. We handle it all.
Two to three weeks for a full gut and rebuild, three weeks or so for a new basement bathroom. Waterproofing and tile need genuine cure time and rushing those stages causes failures later. We provide a schedule up front.
Get a free, no-obligation quote from a team with over 30 years of experience serving Coquitlam and the Lower Mainland.