Bathroom Renovations
Bathrooms built to last, behind the tile and on the surface.
Full bathroom renovations across Mississauga and the GTA — designed in-house, waterproofed properly, and finished to a standard that lasts.
What We Build
A bathroom renovation can range from a refresh of fixtures and finishes within an existing footprint, to a complete gut with new layout and updated plumbing, to a master ensuite expansion involving structural work and wall relocations. ScaleBig handles the full range, design-build, with the same accountable team across every phase.
Every project is designed in-house by Dina — layout, tile selection, vanity specification, fixture coordination, and photorealistic 3D renderings — before construction begins. Ahmad manages the build on site with the same vetted trades on every project. Plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, tile, and finishing are coordinated as one continuous process, not handed off between disconnected subs.
A well-built bathroom is mostly invisible. The waterproofing membrane, the slope of the shower pan, the placement of the drain, the routing of the plumbing, the ventilation strategy — none of this shows when the project is finished. All of it determines whether the bathroom lasts twenty years or starts to fail in five.
Our Approach
Bathrooms are where shortcuts cause real damage. A wall that isn't waterproofed properly leaks behind the tile for years before anyone notices. A shower pan that isn't sloped correctly holds water at the wrong spot until the substrate rots. A ventilation fan that isn't sized or vented correctly leads to mould the homeowner never sees. We treat the unglamorous work — the work that sits behind the tile — as the most important part of the project.
Design starts with Dina. Layouts, tile selections, vanity and fixture specification, lighting strategy, and photorealistic renderings are developed before construction begins. The homeowner sees the finished bathroom in detail and makes material decisions with full visibility.
On the build, Ahmad manages the project on site daily. The plumbers, electricians, tilers, and finishers on your project are the same trades on every ScaleBig project, working to a known standard. Inspections are coordinated where required, and any structural work is built from engineered drawings.
What's Included
A complete bathroom renovation at ScaleBig typically includes the following scope. Specific inclusions vary by the size of the project and the homeowner's selections.
In-Home Consultation & Feasibility
Site visit to measure the existing bathroom, review plumbing, electrical, and structural conditions, and discuss the scope.
Design & 3D Renderings
Layout, tile selection, vanity specification, fixture coordination, and photorealistic renderings produced by Dina before construction begins.
Drawings & Permits Where Required
Architectural drawings, engineered drawings for any structural work, and permit applications where applicable.
Demolition
Removal of existing fixtures, tile, vanity, flooring, drywall, and any structural elements being modified.
Structural Work
Wall relocations, framing changes, or other structural modifications, executed from engineered drawings where required.
Plumbing Rough-Ins
New supply and drain lines, fixture rough-ins, valve placement, and any rerouting the new layout requires — all to current code.
Electrical Rough-Ins
Dedicated circuits, GFCI protection, fan venting routes, switch placement, and any panel upgrades required to support the new electrical load.
Waterproofing Membrane
Schluter or comparable waterproofing system applied to all wet walls, the shower pan, and any surfaces with direct water exposure — installed before tile work begins.
Shower Pan & Drainage
Pre-sloped shower pan or wet-room build-up with linear or point drain placement, sloped to drain correctly without pooling.
Tile Installation
Floor tile, wall tile, shower tile, and any feature tile, set on properly prepared substrates with appropriate underlayment.
Vanity & Cabinetry
Vanity installation, including any built-in storage or custom millwork specified during design.
Countertop
Vanity countertop in selected material — quartz, granite, or specialty stone — templated and installed with appropriate edge profile.
Plumbing Fixtures
Toilet, faucets, shower heads, tub fillers, and any specialty fixtures selected during design.
Lighting
Vanity lighting, ceiling lighting, recessed shower lighting where applicable, and any feature lighting — all on appropriate circuits.
Ventilation
Properly sized exhaust fan with ducted venting to the exterior (not the attic), sized for the bathroom volume and humidity load.
Trim & Finishing
Baseboards, casing, paint, accessories, and any final trim work.
Final Walkthrough & Handover
Punch list, fixture commissioning, and handover of warranties and any permit documentation.
Project Management
Daily on-site management by Ahmad from start to handover, with direct contact throughout the project.
What Determines the Cost
Bathroom renovations at ScaleBig typically range from $20,000 to $60,000 or more. The number depends much less on bathroom size than on the scope of the work, the complexity of the layout changes, and the finish level selected. The factors below are what move the budget within and beyond that range.
Scope of the Project
A refresh project (new fixtures, vanity, and finishes within the existing footprint and plumbing locations) is meaningfully different from a gut renovation with new layout, relocated plumbing, and a different shower configuration. Scope is the primary cost driver.
Plumbing Relocations
Moving the toilet, shower, or vanity to a new location involves substantial plumbing work — and in upper-floor bathrooms, often involves opening the ceiling below. The cost of relocation is real and worth weighing carefully during design.
Shower Type
A standard tub-shower combination, a glass-enclosed shower with a tiled pan, a curbless walk-in, and a full wet room are all different builds with substantially different costs. Curbless and wet-room construction in particular require more structural preparation.
Tile Selection and Coverage
Tile pricing varies widely — basic porcelain to large-format slabs to specialty patterns and natural stone. Coverage matters too: a fully tiled shower with a tile niche, tile bench, and floor-to-ceiling walls represents far more material and labour than a basic surround.
Vanity and Storage
Stock vanity versus semi-custom versus fully custom millwork significantly changes the budget. Built-in storage, linen towers, and integrated medicine cabinets all add scope.
Fixtures and Hardware
Mid-range to high-end fixture packages — faucets, shower systems, tub fillers, hardware — can vary by thousands of dollars. Designer brands, integrated thermostatic valves, and multi-function shower systems sit at the higher end.
Structural Work
Wall removals or relocations, knee-wall changes for vaulted ceilings, or any structural modifications add real cost and require engineered drawings.
Permits and Inspections
Most bathroom projects do not require permits. Structural work, new plumbing locations, electrical panel upgrades, or window relocations may trigger permit requirements — and we handle the process when they apply.
A specific budget for your project is developed during the in-home consultation, after we've reviewed the conditions and discussed the scope you're looking for.
The Process
Every bathroom project at ScaleBig follows the same sequence. Timelines reflect an average project — specific milestones vary by scope.
- 01
In-Home Consultation
We visit the home, measure the existing bathroom, review plumbing, electrical, and structural conditions, and discuss the scope and direction.
- 02
Design & Renderings
Dina develops the layout, selects tile and fixtures, specifies vanity and storage, and produces photorealistic 3D renderings. All material decisions are made before construction begins.
- 03
Drawings & Permits Where Required
Architectural drawings, engineered drawings for any structural work, and permit applications when applicable.
- 04
Proposal & Agreement
A complete, itemized proposal is presented with a fixed price, clear scope, milestones, payment schedule, and exclusions. Once signed, the project is scheduled.
- 05
Construction
Ahmad manages the project on site daily. Demolition, structural work, plumbing and electrical rough-ins, waterproofing, tile work, fixture installation, and finishing — all sequenced properly with appropriate cure times between phases.
- 06
Final Walkthrough & Handover
Punch list, fixture commissioning, and handover of warranties and any permit documentation.
Typical timelines: 2–4 weeks for design and any required permits, then 4–8 weeks of active construction depending on scope.
Where We Don't Compromise
Some elements of a bathroom renovation are easy to cut corners on. These are the ones that cause the most damage when done poorly.
Waterproofing Membrane
We use Schluter or comparable approved systems on all wet walls and shower pans. The membrane is installed in full, with proper overlap and corner detailing, before tile work begins. This is not a step we shortcut, ever.
Shower Pan Slope
The shower pan is sloped properly toward the drain — typically a quarter inch per foot — built up before tile installation, not corrected with thinset during tile-setting. Water has to go where it's supposed to go, every time.
Substrate Preparation
Concrete board, cement-based underlayments, and any wood substrate transitions are prepared per manufacturer specs — fastener spacing, seam treatment, and primer where required. Tile sets are only as good as what's underneath them.
Ventilation
Bathroom exhaust fans are sized correctly for the bathroom volume and vented to the exterior of the home — never into the attic. Improper venting is one of the leading causes of hidden moisture damage in bathrooms.
Plumbing Behind the Walls
All new plumbing is run with appropriate materials, proper slope on drains, and code-compliant fitting techniques. Shut-off valves are placed accessibly, not buried behind tile.
What Sits Behind the Tile
The finish surfaces in a bathroom — tile, vanity, fixtures, paint — are what homeowners see, and what most contractors talk about. The work that determines whether a bathroom lasts is mostly invisible. The list below is what we treat as essential on every bathroom project, regardless of the visible finish level.
Waterproofing System
A complete Schluter or comparable waterproofing membrane on all wet walls and the shower pan, with full corner and seam detailing. This forms the actual water barrier — tile and grout are not waterproof on their own.
Pre-Sloped Pan or Mud Bed
The shower pan is built up to a proper slope toward the drain before tile installation. Slope is created in the underlayment, not in the tile setting bed.
Drain Selection and Placement
Linear drains, point drains, and curbless drainage systems are selected to match the design intent and installed in the correct location relative to slope and water flow.
Backer Board Installation
Concrete or cement-based backer board is installed on all wet walls using the correct fasteners at correct spacing, with seams taped and treated per manufacturer specifications.
Plumbing Behind the Walls
New supply and drain lines installed with appropriate materials, correct slope on drains, accessible shut-off valves, and proper sequencing of fittings.
Insulation and Vapour Management
Exterior walls in the bathroom are properly insulated and vapour-managed. This prevents cold-side condensation that can otherwise build up inside the wall cavity.
Ventilation Routing
Exhaust fan routing is run through the attic or wall cavity to an exterior wall or roof cap — never terminated in the attic space. Duct size matches fan CFM specifications.
Electrical Behind the Walls
GFCI-protected circuits, dedicated circuits where required, appropriately sized wire for the fixture load, and any junction boxes accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start with an in-home consultation.
Every bathroom project begins with a visit to the home — to measure the existing space, review the conditions, and discuss the scope and direction. If you're considering a bathroom renovation in the GTA, this is the right next step.
Book a ConsultationOr call Ahmad at 647-289-2823