Bathroom Renovations · Vancouver
In a city this wet, a bathroom is only as good as its waterproofing. We build them to be opened up in twenty years and still be dry behind the tile.
Bathroom Renovations in Vancouver
Bathrooms are the most common renovation we're called into twice — once to build, and once to fix somebody else's work. Vancouver's climate is unforgiving of shortcuts: a shower pan that wasn't sloped properly or tile set straight onto drywall will fail, and by the time it shows on the ceiling below, the damage is already done. Most of the bathroom repairs we're asked to quote in Vancouver come down to waterproofing that was skipped to save a few hundred dollars.
The two constraints that shape Vancouver bathroom work are the building's age and, in a condo, the stack. In pre-war homes across Kitsilano, Grandview and Dunbar, we regularly find galvanized supply lines that need replacing, subfloors soft from a decades-old leak, and joist bays that need blocking before a cast-iron or stone tub goes in. In condos, the plumbing stack fixes where the toilet and shower drain can sit — a bathroom can be completely redesigned around that point, but the point itself does not move. We use sheet or liquid membrane systems on every wet wall regardless of building type, because in this climate that is what separates a bathroom that lasts from one that gets rebuilt.
Character homes with original plumbing, Vancouver Specials, condos and townhomes governed by strata, basement suites, and laneway houses
Replacing a tub, toilet or vanity in the same position generally does not require a permit in Vancouver. Moving a fixture — even a short distance — changes the drainage and does. Adding a bathroom always requires a permit and inspections. Condo work adds strata approval on top of the city process. We pull the permits, book the inspections, and make sure the waterproofing is inspected before tile goes on, which is the stage that matters most.
What We Offer
Down to the studs and joists, so problems get fixed rather than tiled over. New waterproofing membrane, properly sloped shower pan, code-compliant venting, and tile set on a substrate that will hold it.
Level-entry showers that need the floor structure modified to drop the pan — done properly with a linear drain and a fully sealed membrane, not a lip of silicone holding water back.
Primary bathroom upgrades: double vanities, heated tile floors, glass enclosures, and better ventilation. Heated floors are worth the modest cost in a Vancouver winter and help the room dry between uses.
Strata-compliant bathroom work planned around a fixed plumbing stack. We handle the work request, insurance paperwork, and scheduling inside the building's permitted hours.
Opening up a shower that has been leaking, drying and replacing damaged framing and subfloor, and rebuilding with a proper membrane so the same failure does not repeat.
Vancouver bathroom renovations typically run $15,000–$30,000 for a full gut and rebuild of a main bathroom, $8,000–$15,000 for a powder room, and $30,000–$45,000 for a premium ensuite with heated floors, custom glass and stone. Older homes needing supply-line replacement or subfloor repair add to that. Quotes are itemized so the waterproofing and prep work is visible rather than buried in a lump sum.
Get Your Free QuoteScope: Full gut after a long-term leak, joist and subfloor repair, sheet membrane waterproofing, curbless shower with linear drain, heated tile floor
Duration: 3 weeks
The owners called us about a stain on their dining room ceiling. The shower above had been tiled directly onto drywall by a previous renovation, and water had been tracking into the floor structure for years. We removed the bathroom entirely, cut out and sistered two damaged joists, replaced the subfloor, and rebuilt with a full sheet membrane system and a properly sloped linear drain. The finished bathroom is curbless with a heated floor — and the assembly behind it will not fail the same way.
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 in Vancouver. Powder rooms are $8,000–$15,000, and premium ensuites with heated floors and custom glass run $30,000–$45,000. Older homes that need galvanized supply lines replaced or subfloor repaired sit at the higher end.
Replacing a tub, toilet or vanity in the same location generally doesn't require one. Moving any fixture changes the drainage and does require a permit, as does adding a new bathroom. Condo projects also need strata approval. We handle permits and book the inspections.
Vancouver's climate means a bathroom rarely gets a chance to fully dry out, so any flaw in the assembly keeps getting fed moisture. Tile and grout are not waterproof on their own — the membrane behind them is. Most of the failed showers we're called to rebuild were tiled straight onto drywall or backer board with no membrane at all.
Yes. It requires dropping the shower pan into the floor structure, which means modifying joists or building up the surrounding floor. It's very achievable in most homes but it is structural work, so it needs to be planned and priced properly rather than added mid-project.
Plan on 2–3 weeks for a full gut and rebuild. Waterproofing and tile need proper cure time, and rushing those stages is exactly what causes failures later. We give you a day-by-day schedule up front so you know which weeks you'll be without the room.
Get a free, no-obligation quote from a team with over 30 years of experience serving Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.