Bathroom remodeling
Bathroom remodeling with waterproofing you will never see and never regret
A bathroom is the most likely room in the house to be done wrong, because the mistakes are behind the tile. Josh rebuilds bathrooms from the studs out, with a sheet membrane behind every tiled wall and a shower pan that is tested before tile goes on.
In short
The bathroom on the projects page shows the whole process: a 1970s bathroom with dated wall covering and a worn tub, taken to the studs, re-framed for a jetted tub, plumbing and electrical updated, cement board and a sheet waterproofing membrane on the walls, then white subway tile to the ceiling, a textured porcelain floor, a wider vanity and LED lighting. Two weeks, including cure time.
That is the standard Fox Gables bathroom. The look can be anything from subway tile and a pedestal sink in a Lancaster row home to a large-format tile walk-in shower in a Lititz primary suite. The construction underneath is the same.
Scope options
Bathrooms run from a fixture swap to a full gut. The common jobs:
- Full remodel: everything out, new framing as needed, new plumbing and electrical, tile, fixtures, vanity, lighting, floor, exhaust fan
- Tub-to-shower conversion: the tub comes out and a tiled or solid-surface walk-in shower goes in, often with a curbless entry for aging in place
- Tub surround replacement: new tiled surround on a new or existing tub, with proper waterproofing
- Second bathroom: adding a half or full bath in a closet, under stairs or in a basement
- Fixture and vanity update: new vanity, toilet, faucet, lighting and floor without touching the tile
Waterproofing, the part that matters
Tile is not waterproof. Grout is not waterproof. The waterproofing is whatever is behind the tile, and on most older bathrooms it was nothing, or drywall, or a coat of paint-on membrane applied too thin. Josh uses cement board with a bonded sheet membrane (Schluter Kerdi or similar) on every tiled wall, a pre-sloped foam shower pan or a mortar bed with a sheet membrane, sealed corners and pipe penetrations, and a flood test of the pan before any tile goes on.
That adds a day and a few hundred dollars to the job. It is the difference between a bathroom that lasts thirty years and one that leaks into the kitchen ceiling in five.
Ventilation, electrical and the small things
A bathroom without a working exhaust fan grows mold, and most older bathrooms in the county have either no fan or one that vents into the attic. Every Fox Gables bathroom gets a properly sized fan vented through the roof or wall. Electrical is brought to code with GFCI protection, a dedicated circuit for a jetted tub or heated floor, and lighting at the mirror that does not make everyone look tired. Floors get a textured tile that is not slippery wet; heated floors are an easy add while the floor is open.
| Scope | Typical range | Bathroom out of service |
|---|---|---|
| Vanity, toilet, lighting and floor update | $5,000 to $11,000 | 2 to 4 days |
| Tub surround replacement, tiled | $6,500 to $12,000 | 4 to 6 days |
| Tub-to-shower conversion, tiled | $10,000 to $20,000 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Hall bathroom, full remodel | $16,000 to $32,000 | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Primary bathroom, full remodel | $30,000 to $55,000 | 3 to 5 weeks |
| New half bath added | $9,000 to $18,000 | n/a |
On the job
Sheet membrane on every tiled wall 
Jetted tub set, cement board up 
Before
How a job goes
From the first call to the walkthrough
- 1
Call or send the form
Josh calls back the same day, usually within a couple of hours. Tell him what is going on and he will ask a few questions.
- 2
Josh comes out and looks
On the roof, in the attic, under the deck. He measures, takes photos, and brings samples in the truck. No sales presentation.
- 3
You get a written estimate
Materials named by brand, the scope spelled out, a price that does not expire at midnight. Over $500 it is a written contract, as Pennsylvania requires.
- 4
The work gets done
Materials delivered, the job done by Josh with help as the job needs, the site cleaned every day, permits and inspections handled.
- 5
Walkthrough, then you pay
Josh walks the finished job with you. Anything on the list gets done. Final payment when you are satisfied.
Questions people ask
How long is the bathroom out of service?
Two to three weeks for a full remodel of a hall bath, including the cure times the membrane, pan and grout need. Josh schedules so a one-bathroom house is not without a toilet overnight.
Tile or a solid-surface shower?
Tile for looks and flexibility, solid-surface panels for a faster, lower-maintenance install. Both get proper waterproofing underneath.
Can you make the shower curbless for a walker or wheelchair?
Yes. A curbless entry needs the floor recessed or a linear drain and is best planned from the start.
Do you do bathrooms in Lancaster row homes?
Yes. Row-home bathrooms are small and stacked on one plumbing wall, which keeps costs reasonable.
Is a jetted tub worth it?
If you will use it. It needs a dedicated circuit and an access panel for the pump. The bathroom on the projects page has one and the owners love it.
Do you handle the permit?
Yes. Plumbing and electrical changes are permitted in most municipalities and Josh files and schedules inspections.
Free estimate
Get a number, not a pitch.
Tell Josh what the house needs. He will call back, come out, measure, and give you a written estimate with the materials named.
(717) 598-7728Calls and texts answered seven days a week. Estimates by appointment, Monday to Saturday.
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