Bathroom remodeling cost in southeast Wisconsin

What actually drives the price

1. 01

   Moving fixtures or keeping them

   Replacing a toilet, tub and vanity where they stand reuses the existing drain, vent and supply lines. Moving any of them means new drain lines at the right slope, new venting, and often notching around or reinforcing floor joists to get the pipe through. Plumbing needs its own permit in every municipality we checked, separate from the building permit.

2. 02

   Size, tile area and waterproofing

   Tile labor scales with square footage, and small tiles, patterns, niches and benches multiply it. Behind the tile, a shower needs a continuous waterproofing layer. Schluter lists its KERDI sheet membrane, one example of the category, as both a waterproofing membrane and a vapor retarder for direct tile application. Leaving waterproofing out saves money once and costs the whole shower later.

3. 03

   Tub-to-shower conversions and curbless showers

   Replacing a tub with a walk-in shower changes the drain, the floor under the shower pan and the wall waterproofing. A curbless shower means recessing the floor so water stays put, which can mean altering joists. The Cost vs. Value report treats an accessible bathroom as a separate project with its own specification.

4. 04

   Hidden damage from old leaks

   A toilet or tub that leaked slowly for years can leave soft subfloor and damaged joist tops, and opening a wall in an older house can expose supply and drain piping worth replacing while it is reachable. Nobody can see either until demolition, so an estimate should say how it will be priced if found.

5. 05

   Vanity, fixtures and glass

   A stock vanity with an integral top costs much less than a furniture-style vanity with a stone top, and the same spread applies to faucets, shower valves and toilets. A frameless glass enclosure is measured after the tile is finished and adds its own fabrication and installation step.

6. 06

   An exhaust fan that actually vents outside

   Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code requires exhaust in any room with a toilet, tub or shower, 50 cfm intermittent or 20 cfm continuous, ending outside the building; an openable window does not count. The UDC covers homes started on or after June 1, 1980; older homes follow your municipality's requirements. Either way, a fan that dumps into the attic puts moisture where it causes damage, and running a new duct to a roof or wall cap costs more than swapping a fan.

7. 07

   Electrical work and in-floor heat

   New lighting, outlets, the fan circuit and any electric in-floor heating mat, which sits under the tile with its own thermostat, all involve an electrician and an electrical permit.

8. 08

   Lead-safe rules in pre-1978 homes

   Paid work in a pre-1978 house that disturbs 6 sq ft or more of painted surface in a room must follow Wisconsin's lead-safe renovation rule (DHS 163), with a certified lead-safe company and renovator, containment and specific cleanup. A bathroom tear-out usually qualifies. No source we reviewed quantified the added cost. See lead-safe renovation in Wisconsin.

How projects differ

Permit fees for bathroom remodels

Building-permit fees for one- and two-family homes, as each municipality publishes them. Plumbing and electrical permits are separate in every municipality we checked. Confirm with the building department before you budget, and see our permit guide.

Controlling cost without cutting corners

Questions

• Muskego
• Franklin
• Waukesha
• Milwaukee
• Racine