Aurora Bathroom Renovation FAQ

Our crew works across every part of Aurora—Bayview Northeast, Bayview Wellington, Bayview Southeast, Aurora Highlands, Aurora Estates, Aurora Grove, Aurora Village, Hills of St. Andrew, Regency Acres and Rural Aurora—as well as Newmarket, King (King City and Nobleton), Oak Ridges in Richmond Hill, Whitchurch-Stouffville and East Gwillimbury.

We do. Condo corporations in Aurora require an alteration package prior to work: a written scope, our WSIB clearance certificate, commercial liability insurance naming the corporation, and booked service-elevator times. Because drain traps are cast into the concrete slab, we keep the fixtures in their existing footprint while upgrading the shower, tile, vanity, lighting and ventilation.

Property managers typically ask for a signed alteration agreement, our detailed scope of work, a current WSIB clearance certificate, a commercial liability insurance certificate naming the condo corporation, and elevator booking dates. We prepare and send our contractor documents as soon as your project is booked.

Yes. We saw-cut a narrow channel in the basement slab, lay new ABS drain piping and a backwater valve tied into the main building drain, pour fresh concrete over the trench, or install a sealed sewage ejector system where gravity drainage sits too high. Both options are completed under a Town of Aurora permit.

Builders often leave basement drain pipes slightly off-centre from finished wall framing. We uncap the stubs, verify the toilet flange and shower trap distances, confirm the vent connection, and map the layout on a drawing so you know before construction whether any concrete cutting is required.

Because below-grade concrete stays cool year-round, we lay an uncoupling membrane over the slab, often add electric in-floor heat to warm the tile surface, and vent a quiet exhaust fan through an insulated duct directly to an exterior wall hood.

Removing the unused corner whirlpool tub and the cramped 36-inch shower stall so we can build a generous frameless-glass walk-in shower with a stone bench, recessed niche and rain head—often paired with a sleek freestanding soaking tub—completely opens up the room.

Yes—that is one of the most frequent projects we build in Aurora. Two-storey detached houses across Bayview Northeast, Bayview Wellington, Bayview Southeast and Aurora Grove were built with a wide tiled tub deck under the window and a narrow framed shower stall beside it. By keeping the toilet stack and vanity drains in their existing positions, we can replace the deck and stall with a generous walk-in glass shower and a freestanding tub without tearing up the whole floor.

Subdivision homes built across Bayview Northeast, Bayview Wellington and Aurora Grove used builder-grade acrylic shower stalls, corner whirlpool decks framed in standard lumber, basic mixing valves and low-output exhaust fans. After two decades of thermal movement and daily moisture, caulk joints open up, valves wear out and subfloors around tubs soften.

A curbless shower runs the main bathroom floor seamlessly into the shower pan with zero step, which is ideal for aging in place and modern ensuites, though it requires recessing the floor framing. A low tiled curb sits above the subfloor, keeping framing simpler and lowering the labour cost.

Freestanding tubs need open space around the rim so water does not get trapped against the side walls where you cannot reach to wipe it dry. For a standard 60-inch three-wall pocket, a deep skirted alcove soaker tub is much more practical, while freestanding tubs shine in wider primary bathrooms.

Tempered 10 mm glass panels cannot be cut or ground after they leave the tempering oven. Our glazier laser-measures the finished tiled opening once the curb and walls are set, fabricates the panels to the millimetre, and returns to install the hardware and clear seals.

Yes—removing oversized corner jetted tubs in Aurora Highlands, Hills of St. Andrew and Bayview Southeast homes is routine for our crew. We safely cap the dedicated pump circuit, demolish the lumber deck, repair the subfloor and reuse the space for a freestanding soaker tub or a much larger walk-in shower.

In family neighbourhoods like Bayview Northeast, Bayview Wellington and Aurora Grove, buyers with young children usually want at least one bathtub on the bedroom level. Most homeowners keep a tub in the main hall bathroom and convert the primary ensuite into a walk-in shower.

A linear channel drain allows the shower floor to slope in a single direction toward one wall, so large-format porcelain tiles can continue straight into the shower without awkward diagonal cuts. A traditional centre point drain requires a four-way slope and pairs best with 2-inch mosaic floor tiles.

Tile and grout are water-resistant, not waterproof. Behind every shower we install waterproof backer board, bond a continuous sheet membrane over every wall joint and screw hole, and seal the pan liner directly into the drain flange and mixing valve before any mortar or tile is applied.

Using a wall-hung vanity so floor tile continues underneath, swapping a fabric shower curtain for clear tempered glass, recessing storage niches between the wall studs, and running bright large-format porcelain up to the ceiling make a 5 x 8 ft room feel noticeably wider without moving a single wall.

A five-foot tub alcove converts cleanly into a spacious 60 x 32 inch walk-in shower. Once the old tub is out, we check the framing and subfloor, build a sloped mortar or foam shower pan with a continuous sheet membrane, add a recessed shampoo niche and corner footrest or bench, and finish the opening with 10 mm tempered glass.

Budget overruns almost always trace back to four things: accepting a one-line estimate with vague allowances, changing fixture locations after rough plumbing is done, ignoring soft subflooring or attic-vented fans in older houses, or hiring an uncertified installer whose shower has to be redone.

Our published Aurora labour packages start at $8,000 for a 7 x 9 ft main bathroom with a new bathtub, $11,500 for a 9 x 12 ft four-piece primary ensuite with a curbless shower and drain relocations, and $15,000 for a 15 x 8 ft wet room. Finish materials are purchased separately. When you combine site labour with mid-range porcelain tile, a vanity, glass and fixtures, a typical hall bathroom runs about $14,000 all-in and a full primary ensuite starts at $30,000 or more.

An acrylic shell glued over your existing tub costs less on day one, but it seals any damp drywall, mouldy framing or aging brass shower valve inside the wall. Stripping the alcove to the studs lets us inspect the framing, install a new pressure-balanced or thermostatic valve, bond a real waterproof membrane and lay porcelain tile that lasts decades.

Listing installation labour separately from finish materials keeps your quote completely transparent. You can pick a $10-per-square-foot porcelain tile or a $100 natural stone slab, and a $500 stock vanity or a $2,000 hardwood cabinet, while seeing the exact installation cost on its own line.

On the labour side, building a waterproofed custom tiled shower with 10 mm frameless glass and trenching or re-routing subfloor drain pipes take the most trade hours. On the material side, custom double vanities, quartz countertops and concealed multi-outlet shower valves represent the largest line items.

Your contract sets out a clear, staged payment schedule linked to physical milestones completed in your home—such as rough-in completion, waterproofing and tile setting, and final fixture installation—rather than large upfront deposits. Ontario's Consumer Protection Act also caps unapproved contract overages at no more than 10% above the written estimate.

When you upload clear photos from the doorway, inside the tub or shower, underneath the sink cabinet and of the ceiling, our written photo quote is normally very close to the final contract total. We confirm every measurement and inspect site conditions in person before you sign and before any demolition starts.

On the labour side, yes: our 7 x 9 ft main-bathroom package is $8,000 and covers full demolition, setting a new alcove tub and 3-way shower bar, wall and floor porcelain, rough plumbing, an exhaust fan, three pot lights, a vanity with quartz top and a sliding glass tub door. Adding basic porcelain tile, a toilet, a tub and a stock vanity brings the all-in project total just over $10,000.

Ceiling stains below a second-floor bathroom usually come from a failed toilet wax ring, a split caulking joint or cracked acrylic shower pan, a loose bathtub overflow gasket, or a slow drip on the shower mixing valve inside the wall. Stop using that fixture and let us trace and fix the leak before repairing the drywall ceiling.

Yes. Replacing a tired builder fan with a quiet, properly sized unit vented through an insulated duct to an exterior hood is a standalone service we perform across Aurora, and it goes a long way toward stopping peeling paint and window condensation.

Yes. We frequently tear out showers that were tiled straight onto bare drywall without a membrane, re-pitch shower floors that hold standing water, and complete renovations that stalled mid-job. We show you what went wrong and provide an itemized scope to rebuild it properly.

Whenever demolition exposes rotted plywood around a toilet flange, damp wall studs or mould behind an old tub surround, we stop, show you the condition in person or by photo, and agree on the exact repair cost in writing before closing the wall or laying new subfloor.

Request the company's current WSIB clearance certificate number and verify it on the WSIB Ontario website, and ask for a certificate of commercial general liability insurance listing the business name and policy dates. We provide both documents before you sign a renovation agreement.

Under Ontario's Consumer Protection Act, any home renovation contract over $50 should state the contractor's legal name and business address, an itemized description of the work and materials, the total price including HST, start and completion dates, a milestone payment schedule, and written warranty terms.

Ask for a current WSIB clearance certificate, proof of commercial liability insurance, photos of their showers at the waterproof membrane stage before tile goes on, how they handle Town of Aurora permits and ESA electrical filings, and whether their quote separates installation labour from finish materials.

Every full renovation includes dimensioned layout drawings (and 3D views where helpful) for your approval before demolition. We also advise on practical details like slip-resistant shower floor tile, niche heights, vanity drawer plumbing cut-outs and tempered glass door swing.

In many 1970s and 1980s houses in Aurora Highlands, Aurora Village and Regency Acres, the original builder fan is loud, undersized, or vented into the attic soffit. While the ceiling is open, installing a quiet, humidity-sensing fan with an insulated duct vented outdoors prevents condensation and peeling paint.

Electric floor heat is one of the most appreciated upgrades in Aurora ensuites and basement bathrooms. We lay the heating cable into an uncoupling mat right beneath the porcelain tile and connect it to a programmable GFCI thermostat so the floor is warm before you step out of the shower.

On morning one we lay padded floor protection from the entry door to the bathroom, seal the doorway with a dust barrier, keep tools inside the work area, vacuum at the end of every shift, and haul demolition debris away promptly.

Yes. Send us a few room photos or a quick video clip through our online quote form—or walk us through your bathroom by phone at (647) 800-6880—and we will return an itemized written quote first. Once the numbers fit your plans, we visit to verify measurements and finalize your layout drawing.

Active construction in your home normally takes three to five weeks for a full bathroom remodel, or roughly one to two weeks for a straightforward tub-to-shower conversion. Layout drawings, finish orders and any Town of Aurora permit or condominium board approval are completed before our crew starts demolition so the room is not left open waiting on parts.

Once demolition begins on day one and the supply valves are capped, that bathroom stays out of service until the new floor tile is grouted and the fixtures are set. If you live in a single-bathroom bungalow in Regency Acres or Aurora Village, tell us up front so we can plan the plumbing and floor tiling to reconnect the toilet as quickly as possible.

Yes, and we encourage it on almost every bathroom remodel. While the wall studs are open, we fasten solid 2x8 or 2x10 lumber blocking around the shower and toilet walls and record the heights in your project file so grab rails can be anchored years later without opening the tile.

Under Line 31285 of the federal income tax return, qualifying seniors aged 65+ and individuals eligible for the disability tax credit (or eligible family members) can claim up to $20,000 in qualifying renovation expenses—such as a curbless walk-in shower, grab bars and fold-down seating—that improve safe access at home. Confirm your eligibility with the CRA or your tax advisor.

Eligible low- to moderate-income Ontario residents aged 70 and older can claim 25% of up to $6,000 in qualifying medical and home-safety expenses (up to $1,500 back), which can cover grab bars, non-slip shower modifications and seated bathing fixtures. Check current income rules with the Ontario government or your accountant.

Manufactured products carry their own factory warranties. When we supply a fixture, we help obtain the replacement part from the vendor; when you purchase fixtures directly, keep your receipts and model numbers and we can assist with installing the replacement part.

Every signed contract includes a written labour warranty covering our waterproofing, tile setting, carpentry and plumbing connections for the term stated in your agreement, plus a no-charge service call during the first 12 months to address minor seasonal settling such as a silicone joint or cabinet door alignment.

Our written workmanship warranty covers all installation work performed by our crew: shower waterproofing, tile setting, plumbing connections, vanity installation and finish carpentry. If a workmanship issue arises within the warranty term stated in your contract, we return and correct it at no labour cost.

Residential electrical work across Ontario is inspected by the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), not the municipal building inspector. Our licensed electrical contractor files the ESA notification for recessed wet-rated lighting, heated floor thermostats, exhaust fan wiring and GFCI receptacles.

Yes. Altering or adding plumbing drains, vents or supply lines—or cutting load-bearing studs and floor joists—requires an application through the Town of Aurora CityView Portal (cvportal.aurora.ca), and a separate Plumbing & Drain Permit Application may be required alongside the building permit.

No. Under the Town of Aurora's published "When are Permits Not Required?" guidelines, repairing or replacing plumbing fixtures in the same location, replacing bathroom cupboards without plumbing work, and installing counters, millwork and floor finishing do not require a building permit. For questions on a specific house, call the Building Division at 365-500-2081.

Either can submit through the Town of Aurora CityView Portal, by email to building@aurora.ca, or on a USB drive in person, but most homeowners authorize us to prepare the black-and-white scaled PDF drawings and handle the submission so municipal inspections at rough-in and final stages line up with our crew's schedule.

The Town of Aurora Building Division requires a permit when you add a new bathroom, relocate fixtures, alter drain, waste or vent piping, cut structural framing, or add basement plumbing. Replacing a tub, toilet, vanity, faucet or tile in the exact same location without changing the plumbing lines does not require a municipal building permit. Electrical wiring is filed separately with the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA).

If the conversion modifies the drain trap size, moves the drain location or changes vent piping, the Town of Aurora Building Division requires a plumbing and building permit. We inspect your existing drain setup during quoting and note whether a permit is needed.