How to Go About a Full Bathroom Remodel

What Matters Most The tub and shower area should be your first priority. It accounts for roughly 70% of a full bathroom remodel budget and is the most likely place for waterproofing failures, plumbing problems, and moisture damage to spread. One contractor doesn't always mean one team. Many general contractors use subcontractors, which can mean scheduling gaps, surprise costs, and less control over who's in your home. You don't have to do everything at once. Start with the tub and shower area, then handle flooring, vanities, paint, and fixtures separately.

Hiring one contractor to handle a full bathroom remodel sounds simple. You might think they’ll take care of everything. The reality is that many general contractors bring in subcontractors, which means different people in your home on different days, scheduling gaps, and a hard-to-predict project timeline. That leaves many homeowners wondering if there's a better way to plan.

Shugarman's Bath has completed over 6,000 tub and shower remodels in San Diego and Orange County. We've heard from homeowners who hired a single contractor and ended up with scheduling gaps, surprise costs, and work that had to be redone.

This article offers an alternative approach to your full bathroom remodel.

Table of Contents:

• How Can You Plan a Full Bathroom Remodel?
• How Much Should You Budget for a Full Bathroom Remodel?
• Get a To-the-Penny Quote for a Tub and Shower Remodel

How Can You Plan a Full Bathroom Remodel?

There isn’t necessarily a single best way to approach a full bathroom remodel. If you want one contractor to take care of everything, that is a valid option. However, you need to understand what could happen if you go that route.

Many general contractors use subcontractors, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The issues are that you might not know who is in your home on certain days, there may be scheduling gaps between trades, and there is a chance of delays.

The tub and shower area is where many full bathroom remodels run into trouble. Not every general contractor has the specialized experience this portion of the job requires.

If you decide to hire one contractor to do everything, ask who will be doing the work, whether subcontractors are involved, and what their warranty covers.

Knowing the right questions to ask makes a big difference. We built a buyer’s guide to help you know what questions to ask and what answers to look for.

1. Start With The Tub And Shower Area

Get this portion of your bathroom remodel done by a contractor that specializes in the tub and shower area. When this part is done right, the rest of your bathroom remodel becomes straightforward.

The tub and shower account for roughly 70% of a full bathroom remodel budget. It’s the part most likely to fail, especially when exposed to around 17.2 gallons of water per use. If it isn’t done correctly, you’re facing waterproofing issues, plumbing problems, and moisture-related structural damage to your home. That damage could spread to adjacent rooms.

2. Get Someone to Complete Any Remaining Plumbing Work

Take care of any other plumbing issues before closing things up. This includes toilets, supply lines, or anything a general plumber or handyman can handle. Get this done before the flooring and cabinetry go in, and save yourself from having to tear things apart later.

3. Finish with Flooring, Vanities, Paint, and Fixtures

You can hire a general contractor, a handyman, or handle some of it yourself. Toilets, vanities, paint, and hardware are manageable for a homeowner comfortable with basic repairs. Flooring can be tricky, especially if the floor isn’t properly leveled first.

Adding circuits or upgrading to more complex lighting can be tricky and may require an electrician.

A handyman or general contractor can handle most of this work. Understand that the complexity and cost of this phase depend on how much you want to change.

How Much Should You Budget for a Full Bathroom Remodel?

A mid-range bathroom remodel in Southern California runs between $25,000 and $36,000 for a standard 40-square-foot bathroom. The tub and shower area typically runs from $12,500 to $22,000. If you can't fund everything at once, start with the tub and shower area first and tackle the rest of the bathroom later.

Material and labor costs go up every year, so waiting on the tub and shower area will cost you more down the road. If your budget is a concern, ask whether the contractor you want to work with offers financing.

Get a To-the-Penny Quote for a Tub or Shower Remodel

Whether you start with a specialist or use a single contractor, get a reliable quote. When you get a quote, ask what happens if there’s mold or water damage behind the walls, what their warranty covers, and whether the warranty is written into the contract.

Any contractor you hire needs to maintain high standards to deliver the best-quality remodel. If you’re not sure how to vet contractors before they go to your home, read our article on how to find the right contractor for your remodel.

Want to start with a tub and shower remodeler? Schedule a free design consultation with Shugarman’s Bath to get an exact quote for your tub and shower area.

The opinions expressed in the referenced materials are those of the authors only, not necessarily of Shugarman’s Bath. While these referenced materials are useful in answering generalized questions, each bathroom is unique. For a particular question about your tub or shower remodeling project, contact your Shugarman’s Bath consultant.