Bathroom Renovation — Greater Montreal
A fully redone bathroom, with moisture control taken seriously
Plumbing, waterproofing, ventilation and finishes: a poorly waterproofed bathroom causes damage that only shows up years later. Our written scope spells out how moisture is managed — not just the final look.
Who it’s for
Who this service is for
This service is for homeowners taking on a bathroom as a whole — plumbing, shower or tub, tile, ventilation and finishes — rather than an isolated swap.
- Your current bathroom shows moisture-related wear — degraded grout or caulking, or insufficient ventilation.
- You want to rework the layout — for example a curbless walk-in shower, or relocating the toilet or sink.
- Your property is a condo, a single-family home or a plex, and the project touches the plumbing or tile as a whole.
This service is built around a full renovation, including plumbing and waterproofing. For an isolated swap — say, just the fixtures — tell us: we’ll tell you honestly whether that project fits what we offer.
What this service solves
What a full bathroom renovation solves
- Poor waterproofing that exposes the structure and neighbouring rooms to moisture damage.
- Insufficient ventilation that encourages mould.
- Aging plumbing — pipes, fixtures, drain — at the end of its useful life.
- A layout that no longer works, whether for accessibility, storage or traffic flow.
- Dated or damaged materials and finishes.
Typical scope
What a full bathroom renovation usually covers
The exact scope depends on your property, but a full renovation generally touches plumbing, waterproofing and finishes together — rarely just one of these on its own.
- Demolition and disposal of existing materials
- Plumbing: pipes, drains, fixtures
- Waterproofing membrane and drainage slope for the shower
- Mechanical ventilation to code
- Tile, vanity, toilet and accessories
- Lighting and finishes
What’s included
What’s usually included
- Demolition and removal of existing materials
- Certified waterproofing membrane and drainage slope for the shower
- Plumbing: connecting or relocating water points
- Installation of tile, vanity and accessories
- Mechanical ventilation to building code
- A written scope specifying the materials and waterproofing method planned
What’s usually not
What’s usually not included
- Purchase of high-end fixtures or accessories, unless specifically agreed otherwise
- Major relocation of the building’s main plumbing lines, beyond the bathroom itself
- Structural work tied to enlarging the room — handled as a special project if applicable
- Condo board approval steps, which are the client’s responsibility — we help prepare the documents the board requires
Decisions that affect your budget
Decisions that affect your budget
A bathroom’s budget mostly varies with the following decisions.
Type of shower or tub
A curbless walk-in shower requires more structural and waterproofing work than a prefabricated shower base.
Relocating the plumbing
Keeping existing water points where they are generally reduces cost compared to a full relocation.
Tile and fixture choices
Tile format, material and origin carry significant differences in price and lead time.
Condition of the structure under the existing floor
Rot or sagging found under an old tile floor can add repairs that weren’t visible at the start.
These factors are specific to your project — we can go over them together before moving further.
Book a ConsultationHow this service specifically unfolds
How a bathroom renovation specifically unfolds
This sequence builds on our general process — waterproofing plays a central role in it.
- 1
Measurements and layout
Measurements and a proposed layout, including the type of shower or tub selected.
- 2
Selections
Choice of tile, fixtures, vanity and accessories, documented in the proposal.
- 3
Demolition and plumbing
Removal of the existing bathroom, then rough plumbing — the point where the real condition of the pipes and structure is confirmed.
- 4
Waterproofing and tiling
Installation of the waterproofing membrane and drainage slope, then the tile.
- 5
Finishing and commissioning
Installing the vanity, accessories and lighting, then a water test before the joint walkthrough.
What affects duration
What affects how long the work takes
Duration mostly depends on the curing time needed between certain steps — the waterproofing membrane and tile mortar — not just labour — it’s estimated in the written proposal.
- Curing time required for the waterproofing membrane and mortar
- Delivery lead time for the tile and fixtures chosen
- How much the plumbing is being relocated
- Whether moisture damage turns up under existing materials
Permits and professionals involved
Permits and professionals that might be involved
A permit or authorization may be required depending on the municipality, borough, building type and scope of work. Requirements must be verified with the applicable authority before work begins. A condo project may also require board approval, to be confirmed directly with the board.
- Depending on the scope, certain work must be performed by contractors holding the appropriate licences and subclasses. Applicable responsibilities are confirmed before the contract is signed.
- A certified plumber for piping and drainage
- A certified electrician for any circuit tied to ventilation or lighting
- A municipal permit for plumbing and mechanical ventilation
- Condo board approval, where applicable
Assumptions and changes
How assumptions and changes are documented
Our assumptions about the condition of the piping, subfloor and structure are written into the proposal. If a different condition is found at demolition, it’s presented to you with the available options before work continues.
A concrete example
Rot found under an old tile floor is flagged immediately, with the cost and timeline for repairing it, before the new waterproofing membrane goes in.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions, answered directly
Why does waterproofing cost so much for such a small room?
The waterproofing membrane, drainage slope and required curing time make up a significant share of the work, even in a small room — it’s what protects the surrounding structure from moisture damage over the long term.
Can I get a curbless walk-in shower installed in my current bathroom?
It’s often possible, but it depends on the height available under the floor for the drainage slope. That’s confirmed when your project is assessed.
Do I need condo board approval to renovate a bathroom?
That depends on your condo board’s bylaws — approval is often required once plumbing is changed, but must be confirmed directly with the board. We help you prepare the documents required.
What do you do if you find hidden water damage?
The condition is documented and explained as soon as it’s found, with the options and their impact on price or timeline, before any work proceeds.
How long should I expect to be without a working bathroom?
That depends on the scope of work and the curing times required. An estimate is provided in the proposal, and a temporary solution can be discussed if you only have one bathroom.
Service area
This service is offered in the following areas.
Plateau-Mont-Royal and Mile End · Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie and Outremont · Ville-Marie (Downtown) · The Southwest · Villeray and Hochelaga-Maisonneuve · Westmount · Boucherville and an approximate 5 km radius
See all service areasReady to talk about your bathroom project?
The next step is a 15- to 20-minute conversation to understand your space and priorities, and confirm whether Maison Craft is a good fit for it.