The honest answer is that a bathroom renovation in Ajax costs between $12,000 and $28,000 for a full gut. But that range is so wide it is almost useless on its own, so here is what actually sits behind it.
Cost by scope
| Scope | Installed cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Floor tile only (40–70 sq ft) | $1,200–$3,000 | 2–3 days |
| Tub surround retile | $2,800–$5,500 | 3–4 days |
| Full tiled shower | $4,500–$9,500 | 4–7 days |
| Full gut renovation | $12,000–$28,000 | 2–3 weeks |
What moves the number
Subfloor condition. This is the single biggest unknown. In Ajax homes built between the 1970s and 1990s, we regularly pull up flooring to find a plywood subfloor that has been through thirty-plus Ontario winters. If it flexes, it has to be stiffened before tile goes down, because tile is rigid and cracks over a floor that moves.
Tile format. Large format tile costs more to install than standard, not because the tile is dearer but because the labour is. Every piece needs back-buttering, the subfloor has to be flat within 1/8 inch over 10 feet, and levelling clips go on every joint. Read more in our guide to large format tile installation.
Layout pattern. A straight lay is the baseline. Diagonal adds roughly 15 percent to labour and waste. Herringbone can add 30 percent or more.
Waterproofing. Non-negotiable, and if it is missing from a quote you are not comparing like with like. See our explainer on shower and wet room tiling.
Where the money actually goes
On a typical $18,000 full bathroom in Ajax, roughly 45 percent is labour, 30 percent is materials including tile, and the remainder covers fixtures, vanity, disposal and permits where required. Tile itself is rarely the biggest line item, which surprises most people.
Three ways to reduce cost without regretting it
- Keep the plumbing where it is. Moving a toilet or shower drain means opening the floor and can add $1,500 to $3,000.
- Choose a mid-range porcelain. The installed difference between a $4 and $9 per square foot tile on a small bathroom floor is a few hundred dollars, but a $25 marble will also commit you to sealing it every one to three years.
- Do not economise on waterproofing or membrane. These are the cheapest parts of the job and the most expensive to fix later.
What we would not cut
Waterproofing membrane, a properly sloped shower base, and an uncoupling membrane over plywood. Every failed shower we have been called in to repair skipped at least one of these.
Get a free estimate
Ultra Renovations Inc has been installing tile across Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, Oshawa and the wider GTA for over ten years. We are a registered Ontario corporation, fully insured, and rated 5.0 on Google.
Call (647) 648-8985 or request a free estimate and we will come out, measure properly, look at your subfloor, and give you a written quote for your bathroom at no cost.