Bathroom Renovation Cost in 2024 | Toronto & Montreal

renovation modern bathroom

There’s so much that comes into play when considering bathroom renovation costs! While the latest bathroom decor ideas may inspire your vision, the price tags attached to those materials, floor plans, and utility adjustments may have you second-guessing your aesthetic choices. Don’t worry though – for every luxury item, there’s an affordable lookalike to make your dream possible.

When planning your project, smaller elements, such as cabinetry, painting, bathtubs, and showers, also need to be accounted for. There are a lot of moving parts in a bathroom renovation, from demolition to design, so let’s go over them to get a better idea of the bathroom renovation costs in your region.

Bathroom costs: Toronto vs. Montreal

Here are the average bathroom remodel costs for projects in the GTA and Montreal.

  Toronto (GTA) Montreal
Budget $19,000+ $15,500+
Economic $31,000+ $26,600+
Mid-range bathroom $33,200+ $36,000+
High-end bathroom $37,500+ $31,000+
Luxury $55,000+ $45,500+

*Note that the prices reflect a 8 ft. x 10 ft. bathroom. Many factors can influence the total cost of bathroom renovations, including project scope, labour, material choices, protective measures, and the length of the project (faster = higher cost).

Consequences of COVID-19 on the construction and renovation sectors

Keep in mind that certain unforeseen events due to COVID-19 may affect the cost of renovation projects without notice. For example, the industry has experienced a treated lumber shortage since the first lockdown, resulting in a massive fluctuation of prices. Other construction materials are likely to have similar issues.

Reasons for bathroom remodel cost variations

While the size of your bathroom and scope of your renovation project will ultimately influence costs, your desired aesthetic and material choices play a major role, too. Luxurious Italian showers won’t cost the same as prefab showers, so you may have to compromise on some details if you have a limited budget.

It can be tempting to save money by doing a lot of the work yourself; however, hiring a specialized bathroom contractor comes with a lot of advantages and may end up costing you less in the end. They’ll also know what to do if they run into common bathroom problems, like hidden water damage or faulty wiring.

A good contractor will not only provide good advice and high quality work, but they’ll also manage the subcontractors needed, such as electricians and plumbers, to ensure your bathroom gets done on time. Being down a bathroom is a huge inconvenience, and we want to give it back to you as soon as possible.

Defining the scope of your bathroom makeover

Bathrooms are one of the most commonly renovated rooms in the home due to their functionality and frequency of use. They’re also one of the most expensive rooms to renovate per square foot. So, consider what you are looking to achieve and map out a reasonable budget.

Are you looking to gut the entire bathroom, replace all the tiling and fixtures, and potentially move plumbing to create better space? Or, are you simply wanting to replace the vanity, upgrade a few fixtures, repaint, and convert the bathtub to a shower? Either way, consider the potential return on investment.

Aside from increasing the resale value of your home, upgrading your bathroom seriously improves your quality of life! Whether you want to take baths after work or to create more space for a growing family, take some time to design a relaxing oasis that you’ll enjoy for years to come.

Breaking down bathroom renovation costs

Demolition

If you want to completely gut your bathroom, hire a renovation contractor. The risk of water damage just isn’t worth it, and hiring a professional plumber to fix broken pipes will cost you more in the long run. You can expect to pay around $4,800 for a complete demolition and clean-up of your bathroom.

Plumbing and electrical work

These are licensed trades across Canada, which is what makes them so expensive ($85 to $150 per hour). For example, an electrician typically charges $360 to purchase and install a single pot light. If you hire a general contractor, the cost of plumbing and electrical work will be included in your quote. Though, it doesn’t hurt to ask to be sure it’s included before signing the agreement.

Tiling

Tiling costs can vary significantly depending on the quality and style. While porcelain is slightly more expensive than ceramic ($12/sq. ft. vs. $6/sq. ft., respectively), it’s easier to keep clean and more durable. It will usually end up costing less over time. Marble mosaics can range anywhere from $12 to $120/sq. ft. depending on the intricacy of the design. Installation costs tend to be between $6 and $18/sq. ft. depending on the complexity of the pattern.

Countertop

Natural or engineered stone is the most common material used for bathroom countertops. Depending on the grade, expect to pay anywhere from $90 to $300/sq. ft. for stone materials including installation. While wood is a less common material due to its tendency to absorb moisture, some customers have gone this route and have had it turn out beautifully. Prices can vary considerably depending on the quality of wood, ranging anywhere from $36 to $180/sq. ft. not including installation. Any wood in the bathroom will generally need to be sealed to prevent deterioration.

Vanity

The perfect bathroom vanity will define the look and feel of your bathroom. A custom wood vanity is likely to run you at least $2,800, not including installation. There are several stock options available that can vary anywhere from $600 to $1,800, with an additional cost of somewhere between $500 and $800 for installation.

Labour costs

While installation costs are usually included in your material quotes, general labour costs typically aren’t. For a mid-size bathroom, factor in an additional $2,400 to $3,600 to cover them. If you’re not sure, just ask your contractor if these costs are included and, if not, how much to budget for.

Also, labour costs can vary considerably from contractor to contractor, so don’t be afraid to shop around. Consider things like cost, what’s included in the quote, the quality of the work, and their experience when mulling over your options. Saving a few hundred dollars on your quote may not be worth it if the quality of the work is subpar or if mistakes are made. Don’t be afraid to ask questions before hiring a potential contractor for your bathroom renovation project.

Knowing the square footage of your bathroom will give you a much better idea of what to expect for your bathroom renovation costs. Use a tape measure and write down your findings to get a rough estimate of the floor area. It’s best to overshoot the estimated size to not fall short with your budget.

Let us help with your bathroom remodel!

A bathroom remodel is a big project, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the little things that have to be taken care of. To make things easier, we’ve broken down down the steps in our handy bathroom renovation checklist.

You can also reach out to our Advisors; they’ll make things easier by finding you up to three Verified Contractors for your project. We’ve already checked their work experience, customer satisfaction rates, financial stability, legal record, licence status, and more! All of this at no cost or obligation to you, for better peace of mind.

Feel free to explore our recent bathroom renovation projects to get a better idea of what our Verified Contractors can do!