Bathroom Remodeling in Georgia

A bathroom remodel can be as small as a new vanity, toilet and floor, or as large as moving walls to fit a walk-in shower. Most projects fall somewhere in between. This page walks through how bathroom remodeling is planned and carried out for homeowners around metro Atlanta, and links to our page for each city.

Bathrooms pack water, electricity and tight dimensions into a small room, so the hidden layers matter as much as the finishes you pick.

Starting with layout and fixtures

The first decision is whether the fixtures stay where they are. Keeping the toilet, sink and tub or shower in their current spots reuses the existing drain and supply lines and keeps the project simpler. Moving them is often possible but may mean opening the floor or walls to reroute pipes and vents.

Common goals include replacing a tub with a curbless or low-curb shower, adding a second sink, gaining storage, or making the room easier to use as you get older with grab bar blocking in the walls, a bench in the shower and a wider door.

Waterproofing, ventilation and what sits behind the tile

Tile and grout are not waterproof on their own. In a shower, a waterproof membrane, either a sheet product or a liquid applied over cement board or foam board, keeps water out of the wall framing. The shower pan needs a proper slope to the drain so water does not sit in the corners.

An exhaust fan sized for the room and ducted to the outside, not into the attic, clears steam and helps protect paint, drywall and grout from mildew. Outlets near water need ground-fault protection, and lighting at the mirror usually works better than a single fixture in the center of the ceiling.

Choosing finishes

Porcelain tile is a common floor choice because it is dense and absorbs little water; natural stone looks different from piece to piece and needs sealing. Vanities come in stock sizes or built to fit, with tops in quartz, granite, solid surface or cultured marble. A shower valve that balances pressure or temperature prevents sudden hot or cold bursts when someone flushes elsewhere in the house. Glass doors, niches and the tile layout around them are settled before tile is ordered.

How the work is sequenced

After demolition, the framing and subfloor are checked and repaired where needed. Plumbing and electrical rough-in follows, with inspections where a permit applies. Then come backer board, waterproofing and a flood test of the shower pan, tile and grout, paint, the vanity and top, fixtures and accessories, and finally the glass, which is measured after tile is complete.

What a clear estimate includes

A useful written estimate lists the demolition, any framing or subfloor repair, the plumbing and electrical changes, the waterproofing method, tile area and layout, the vanity, fixtures and glass, and paint. Where you have not chosen a product yet, it should state an allowance and what that allowance covers. It also explains how hidden damage, such as rot under an old tub, is priced if found, and how changes you request along the way are written up.

When a permit may be needed

Moving plumbing, adding circuits or changing walls is the sort of work that may need a permit and inspection, while swapping a faucet usually does not. Rules are local, so check with your city or county building department. If the floor or shower is the main focus, our tile installation page goes deeper into substrates and grout.

Bathroom remodeling by city

Pick a city to read about bathroom remodeling there; most of these pages also name the office that handles permits.

Frequently asked questions about bathroom remodeling

Can a bathtub be replaced with a walk-in shower?

Yes, this is one of the most common bathroom changes. The tub comes out, the drain is moved or adapted for a shower, and a sloped pan and waterproofed walls are built in its place. If you want a curbless entry, the floor may need to be recessed. Keep in mind that a home with no tub at all may not suit families who bathe small children.

Why does the exhaust fan need to vent outside?

A fan that blows into the attic simply moves warm, wet air to a place where it can condense on the roof deck and insulation, which can lead to mold and rot. Ducting it through the roof or a wall carries the moisture out of the house. The fan should also be sized for the room and run long enough after a shower to clear the steam.

Can I keep my existing tile floor and only update the shower?

Sometimes. If the floor tile is sound and you like it, the work can be limited to the shower walls and pan, though removing the old shower may chip nearby floor tile. Matching an older tile later is often difficult, so it helps to save spare pieces or plan a border or threshold where old and new meet.

Plan your bathroom with us

Call 404-409-4448 to tell us about your bathroom and what is not working in it now. We can arrange a visit, take measurements and put together a written estimate based on the choices you make.