Full Bathroom Renovation in Aurora

What happens when a bathroom is stripped to the studs

Are you looking to remodel an older bathroom in Aurora and wondering whether you need a surface refresh or a full rebuild? When you book a complete bathroom renovation, every worn surface—old ceramic tile, bathtub or shower stall, vanity cabinet, toilet and damp wall board—is removed right down to the wood studs and subfloor. Taking the room back to the framing is the only reliable way to see what twenty to fifty years of daily humidity and splashes have done behind the walls, and it ensures you get the job done right. In a 1960s Regency Acres bungalow or a 1990s Aurora Grove two-storey house, demolition frequently reveals a seeping shower mixing valve, soft plywood around the toilet ring, or an exhaust fan duct that terminates inside the attic insulation.

Once any subfloor or framing repairs are taken care of, our crew rebuilds the room in a disciplined trade sequence:

• Rough plumbing and ESA-inspected electrical. New supply lines and shut-offs, drain traps, a pressure-balanced or thermostatic shower valve, GFCI outlets, dedicated circuits for electric floor heat, wet-rated LED pot lights and mirror lighting.
• Framing, wall straightening and solid wood blocking. Framing recessed shampoo niches and shower benches, shimming bowed wall studs so large-format porcelain sits flat, and fastening 2x8 or 2x10 lumber blocking between studs for grab bars, towel bars and heavy glass hinges.
• Continuous bonded waterproofing. Waterproof backer board and sheet membrane across the entire shower or tub enclosure—floor pan, walls, bench and niche—with sealed corner bands and drain flange collar.
• Balanced tile setting. Main floor porcelain, shower walls, mosaic pans and feature walls laid out from your approved drawing centrelines so narrow sliver cuts never end up in corners.
• Vanity millwork, quartz and final fixtures. Vanity cabinet and stone countertop, undermount basins, one-piece toilet, bathtub replacement or custom 10 mm tempered shower glass, mirrors, trim and paint.

Three Aurora bathroom layouts we renovate every week

Across Aurora’s neighbourhoods, complete bathroom remodels usually match one of three common footprints.

1. Compact 5 x 8 ft and 7 x 9 ft main family bathrooms

In Regency Acres, Aurora Village, Aurora Heights, Aurora Highlands and Aurora Grove, the main upstairs or bungalow bathroom is typically a compact three-piece room holding a 60-inch alcove tub, a toilet and a single vanity. Keeping those three fixtures in their existing spots avoids subfloor drain changes while letting us set a deep soaking tub, tile porcelain to the ceiling, frame a recessed niche, vent a quiet exhaust fan outdoors and install a quartz-topped vanity. Our published labour package for a 7 x 9 ft main bathroom is $8,000 prior to finish materials.

2. The 1990s–2000s four-piece builder primary ensuite

Two-storey family homes across Bayview Northeast, Bayview Wellington, Bayview Southeast and Aurora Grove were almost all built with an oversized corner whirlpool tub platform next to a narrow 36-inch shower stall. Our 9 x 12 ft four-piece labour package at $11,500 removes the corner deck and stall, re-routes the toilet and shower drains, builds a curbless walk-in shower with frameless glass, a tiled bench and niche, and converts a single sink to a double vanity. Read our article on upgrading a builder-grade ensuite in Aurora and see our bookmatched marble double-vanity ensuite case study.

3. Estate primary suites and continuous wet rooms

In larger homes across Hills of St. Andrew, Aurora Estates, Bayview Southeast and Rural Aurora, primary bathrooms have the footprint to combine a freestanding soaking tub with a curbless walk-in shower or shared wet zone, electric floor heating and custom double cabinetry. Our 15 x 8 ft wet-room labour package starts at $15,000, including relocated rough-ins for the shower, tub, toilet and double vanity. See our freestanding tub and pebble-floor primary bathroom case study for a completed remodel of this scale.

What shifts the total budget up or down

Square footage matters far less than what changes beneath the floor and which finish materials you select. Moving drain pipes under the subfloor, recessing joists for a zero-threshold shower pan, and choosing custom millwork or natural stone move the budget the most.

• Moving plumbing drains and stacks

  Shifting a toilet drain, shower trap or tub supply requires subfloor framing access, new venting and a Town of Aurora plumbing and building permit.

• Wall tile coverage and format

  Tiling full height around the room, setting small mosaic sheets or handling large porcelain slabs increases setting time.

• Curbless pans and frameless glass

  Lowering floor joists for a flush entry and custom-tempering 10 mm glass panels add carpentry and glazier labour.

• Vanity millwork, quartz and fixtures

  Owner-selected cabinetry, stone tops, concealed thermostatic valves and floor-mounted tub fillers shape the material budget.

• Framing and pipes in older Aurora homes

  In 1960s Regency Acres bungalows or 1970s Aurora Highlands houses, opening the walls can expose soft subfloors, older copper shut-offs or unvented fans.

• Condo board logistics

  Low- and mid-rise buildings along Yonge Street or Wellington Street require management approval, elevator reservations and restricted work hours.

• Permit and inspection requirements

  Same-location fixture replacements avoid municipal permit fees, while new basement bathrooms or drain moves require Town of Aurora review.

For room-size all-in ranges and individual trade line items, check our Aurora bathroom renovation cost page.

Two hidden systems that keep a bathroom dry for decades

After the grout cures, two systems hidden behind the finishes determine whether your bathroom stays dry and odour-free twenty years later.

The first is continuous membrane waterproofing. Ceramic and porcelain tile resist water on the surface, but grout lines slowly absorb moisture. Every shower we build is wrapped in a continuous waterproof membrane bonded behind the tile, lapped at every seam and sealed directly into the drain flange and mixing valve.

The second is exterior exhaust venting. Many bathroom repair calls we handle in Aurora trace back to a tired builder fan that barely moves air or dumps moist air into the attic soffit. While the ceiling is open during a full remodel, fitting a quiet, properly rated fan with an insulated duct to an exterior wall or roof hood protects your paint, woodwork and roof sheathing.

Town of Aurora building permits and ESA electrical filings

Whether your bathroom remodel requires a municipal permit depends on the plumbing scope. Repairing or replacing a tub, toilet or vanity in the exact same location without altering drain, waste or vent piping does not require a Town of Aurora building permit. Relocating fixtures, adding a new sink or shower drain, cutting structural framing, or adding a basement bathroom requires an application through the Town of Aurora Building Division (and a separate Plumbing & Drain Permit may apply).

Source: Town of Aurora: Plumbing and Drain Permit Application & Building Division Guidelines (accessed November 7, 2026)

Your written quote states clearly whether your layout triggers a municipal permit, and our licensed electrical trade files all wiring work with the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). Read our full article on Aurora bathroom renovation permits.

Typical on-site schedule and how to get a written quote

A complete bathroom remodel typically runs three to five weeks on site:

1. Hallway floor protection, dust containment, demolition and framing inspection: 1 to 2 days.
2. Rough-in plumbing, electrical wiring, exterior fan ducting and wood blocking: 3 to 5 days.
3. Waterproofing membrane, main floor tile and shower wall tile setting: 1 to 2 weeks.
4. Vanity cabinet, quartz top, toilet, faucets, mirrors, lighting and final paint: 3 to 5 days.
5. Custom tempered shower glass measurement and installation: measured on finished tile and mounted as the final step.

If your bathroom is inside a condominium building along Yonge Street or Wellington Street, visit our small and condo bathrooms page for how board sign-off and elevator bookings are scheduled before demolition.

Ready to see numbers for your room? Send us a few room photos or a short video walkthrough through our free quote page. You will receive a line-by-line written quote first, followed by an on-site measure, layout drawings, and our written labour warranty.