Any single number for “a bathroom” is close to useless, because two bathrooms of the same size can need completely different work. That is why we price every bathroom after a free visit. What we can tell you is exactly what moves the number, so you know what to expect before anyone comes out.
Want a ballpark for the tile part of the job right now? Our tile cost calculator gives you one in under a minute.
Scope and timeline
| Scope | What it involves | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Floor tile only | Remove old floor, level, membrane, tile | 2–3 days |
| Tub surround retile | New backer and waterproofing, wall tile | 3–4 days |
| Full tiled shower | Membrane, sloped base, niche, full-height tile | 4–7 days |
| Full gut renovation | Everything, plus vanity, toilet and fixtures | 2–3 weeks |
What moves the number
Subfloor condition. This is the single biggest unknown. In 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 full bathroom, labour is the biggest share, then materials including tile, then 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 it is one of the biggest single cost jumps in a bathroom.
- Choose a mid-range porcelain. On a small bathroom floor the difference between a basic and a mid-range porcelain is small. Real marble costs more to buy and commits 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 with general liability insurance.
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.