A bathroom remodel can mean very different jobs. Cracked tile, a tub nobody uses and a shower stuck in the nineties: one company says redo the whole bathroom, another says just the shower, and every quote looks different. This guide shows the three sizes of bathroom job, the shower and tile choices, and what a good bid lists, so you choose the right job, not just a number.
Full bathroom remodel, partial update or repairs?
Pick the size of job before you ask for prices, or every company quotes something different.
| Job size | What it usually includes | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Full remodel | Gutted to the studs and subfloor: plumbing as needed, waterproofing, tile, tub or shower, vanity, toilet, lighting, fan, drywall and paint. | Old leaks, soft floors or a new layout. |
| Partial update | Walls, tile and plumbing lines stay. New vanity, faucets, toilet, mirror, lighting and paint. | A sound shower with a dated look. |
| Repairs | Re-grout, re-caulk, replace cracked tile, fix leaks at a faucet, valve or toilet. | A bathroom you like with a few problems. |
A shower remodel sits in between: the rest of the room stays, but the wet area is rebuilt from the studs. Bathroom tile repair only makes sense when what is behind the tile is sound. Tiles that move, soft spots or stains on the ceiling below can mean hidden water damage, so ask a pro to check first.
Tub to shower conversion: what changes
Swapping an unused tub for a walk-in shower is a common bathroom renovation. What changes:
- Drain location: a shower drain often moves from the tub end to the center, or to a linear drain along one wall, and the drain line may need to change.
- Curb or curbless: a curb is a low step that keeps water in. A curbless shower has no step, which often means lowering the floor: more work, but easier to walk into.
- Waterproofing membrane: the whole shower floor and walls, not just a tub, now need a waterproof layer behind the tile.
- Glass door or curtain: glass looks clean but needs regular wiping; a curtain is simpler and keeps the opening wide.
- Keeping one tub: if it is the only tub in the house, families with young children and some buyers may miss it. Ask a local real estate agent how it affects homes like yours.
Shower remodel: walk-in showers, waterproofing and grab bars
A walk-in shower can have a fixed glass panel or no door, a bench, a niche and a handheld shower on a slide bar. In a small bathroom remodel, clear glass and one floor tile running into the shower make the room feel bigger.
The part you never see matters most. Tile and grout are not waterproof, so the shower pan and walls need a real waterproof layer behind them: a mortar bed with a liner, or a sheet or liquid membrane. Ask which method each pro uses and whether they fill the pan with water to test it before tiling. A leaking pan can rot the subfloor long before you notice.
Planning to age in place? Grab bars must be anchored into studs or wood blocking, not just drywall. Even if you do not want bars yet, ask for blocking while the walls are open. A curbless entry, a bench, a handheld shower and lever handles help too.
Bathroom tile compared: porcelain, ceramic, stone and large-format
| Tile | Look and upkeep | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Porcelain | Dense, absorbs very little water, can look like stone or wood; harder to cut. | Floors and showers. |
| Ceramic | Softer, easier to cut, many colors; check it is rated for floors. | Walls and accents. |
| Natural stone | Every piece different; needs sealing; polished stone is slick when wet. | A natural look, with regular care. |
| Large-format | Few grout lines, easy to clean; needs a very flat surface, so more prep. | A clean, open look. |
Cement grout needs sealing; epoxy grout resists stains but takes more skill to install. Where surfaces meet, like the tub and the wall, flexible caulk belongs instead of grout because those joints move. Redo cracked grout and peeling caulk before water gets behind the tile.
On floors, choose tile rated for wet floors with a matte or textured finish. Small tiles on a shower floor follow the slope to the drain and give more grip.
Ventilation, permits and moving fixtures
A bathroom fan pulls out the moisture that causes mold and peeling paint. It should vent outside, not into the attic, and be quiet enough that people run it.
Moving the toilet, shower drain or sink means opening the floor, and on a concrete slab, cutting it. Keeping fixtures in place keeps the job simpler. Plumbing and electrical changes usually need a permit and, in many places, a licensed tradesperson. Rules vary, so check with your city or county and ask who pulls the permit.
Why bathroom remodel quotes differ
Before you compare bathroom remodel quotes, check that they price the same job:
- Scope: one quote replaces the shower only; another adds a floor, fan and vanity.
- Allowances: placeholder amounts for tile or fixtures you pick later; go over and you pay the difference, so low allowances make a quote look cheaper.
- Fixture grade: valves, faucets, toilets and glass vary widely in quality.
- Who supplies materials: if you buy the tile or fixtures, ask who handles broken or wrong items and whether the warranty still applies.
- Hidden damage: rot or old leaks often show up at demolition. Ask how surprises are priced and approved.
What a good bathroom remodel bid lists, line by line
- Demolition and haul-away: what comes out, who hauls it, and how dust is contained.
- Plumbing: the shower valve, drains, supply lines and anything that moves.
- Waterproofing method: named, not just "waterproofing included."
- Tile and setting materials: tile type, areas covered, backer board, thinset, grout and caulk.
- Fixtures: tub or shower base, vanity, toilet, faucets and glass, and who supplies each.
- Electrical and fan: lighting, outlets, circuits, and where the fan vents.
- Drywall and paint: moisture-resistant board where needed, and the finish.
- Permits and cleanup: who pulls permits, daily cleanup and the final clean.
- Schedule and warranty: start date, how long the room is out of use, payments tied to finished stages, and the workmanship warranty in writing.
Questions to ask, red flags and living without your bathroom
- Who does the work each day, and who is my contact?
- Which waterproofing method do you use, and how do you test it?
- What is the deposit, and how are payments tied to finished work?
- Can I see proof of insurance and any license my city or state requires?
- What does your written warranty cover, and for how long?
Red flags: pressure to sign today, most of the money up front, an offer to tile over a leaking shower, "waterproofing" with no method named, or no written agreement.
If it is your only bathroom, ask whether the toilet can be put back at the end of each work day, and plan where you will shower. Setting materials, grout and caulk need time to cure, so ask for a written timeline. For the full planning steps, read our kitchen and bathroom remodel guide.
Get bathroom remodel bids on BidHandyman
Describe the job, add photos and rough measurements, and post it free. Only pros approved by BidHandyman can bid, and each has a profile with reviews. Compare bids side by side, message pros and hire the one you like, with no obligation. Post your bathroom remodel, or just the shower or tub or tile repairs.