Interior · Surrey, BC
Bathroom Renovation
Waterproofing, tile, vanities, fixtures and ventilation for homes, strata units and commercial washrooms across Surrey and the Lower Mainland — built to BC Building Code, not just to look good on day one.
Bathroom transformation
See the finished space in action
Watch this recent Fix Up House bathroom renovation and get a closer look at the details, fixtures and finished result.
Watch on YouTube
How a bathroom renovation runs
We start with a walkthrough to check what's behind the existing tile and fixtures — subfloor condition, whether the exhaust fan actually vents outside, and what plumbing runs look like if you want to move a tub or shower. That turns into a written quote broken down by materials and labour before anything comes out.
Demo comes first, followed by any plumbing or electrical rough-in changes and inspection sign-off where a permit applies. Waterproofing membrane goes on next, with mandatory cure time before tile can go over it — skipping or rushing this step is the single most common cause of bathroom leaks we get called to fix in other people's work, so we don't shortcut it. Tile, vanity, fixtures and the exhaust fan finish the job.
Permits and code
Straight fixture swaps in the same footprint typically don't need a City of Surrey permit. Moving plumbing, changing the shower or tub footprint, or adding a new exhaust fan run does, and the fan has to vent to the exterior per the BC Building Code — not into the attic, which is a shortcut we still find in older Surrey and Fleetwood houses and always correct.
What we check before closing up a wall
Once fixtures are pulled, we look for soft subfloor around the toilet flange and tub drain — a slow leak that's been going on for years is common in bathrooms built before the 1990s, and it's much cheaper to address while the floor is already open than to discover it later.
Timeline
A fixture and finish refresh with no plumbing moves runs 1-2 weeks. A full gut with waterproofing, tile and fixture relocation runs 3-5 weeks, mostly driven by tile and vanity lead times and membrane cure time rather than our on-site labour.
Bathroom renovation FAQ
- Do I need a permit for a bathroom renovation in Surrey?
- A like-for-like fixture swap (new vanity, toilet, tub in the same spot) usually doesn't need a City of Surrey permit. Relocating plumbing, changing the tub/shower footprint, or adding a new exhaust fan run does — we identify this during the walkthrough and pull permits where they're required.
- How do you handle waterproofing?
- Shower and tub surrounds get a proper waterproofing membrane behind the tile, not just a vapour barrier — this is the single biggest factor in whether a bathroom lasts 20 years or starts leaking into the ceiling below in 3. We also check subfloor condition once fixtures are pulled, since older Surrey homes often have soft spots around the toilet flange or tub drain from years of minor leaks.
- Does my bathroom fan need to vent outside?
- Yes — the BC Building Code requires bathroom exhaust to vent to the exterior, not just into the attic. It's a common shortcut in older houses and one of the first things we check, since attic moisture from an improperly vented fan leads to mould you can't see until it's a bigger problem.
- How long does a bathroom renovation take?
- A fixture and finish refresh (vanity, toilet, tile surround, no plumbing moves) typically runs 1-2 weeks. A full gut with waterproofing, tile work and fixture relocation runs 3-5 weeks, largely driven by tile and vanity lead times and mandatory cure time on waterproofing membrane before tiling over it.
Next Step
Ready to plan your bathroom renovation?
Contact us today to schedule a walkthrough and get a written quote.