Plenty of GTA homes still have their original 1960s bathroom: pink, avocado or mint-green tile, a built-in tub, and a floor that has outlasted three owners. These renovations are some of the most satisfying we do, because the before and after are so different. They also hold more surprises than a newer bathroom.
What is usually under there
- A mortar-bed floor. Original tile was often set in an inch or more of mortar over wire mesh. It is strong and heavy, and removing it is real work.
- Tile on plaster or mortar walls, not drywall. Walls come down to the studs and go back up with cement board and a waterproofing membrane.
- Cast iron drains and old galvanized supply lines that a plumber will often recommend replacing while the room is open.
- Board subfloors under the mortar bed, which need plywood and an uncoupling membrane before new tile.
- Floors out of level once the mortar bed is gone.
Why it takes longer than a newer bathroom
Demolition alone can take a full day or more. Then the room is rebuilt from the framing out: new subfloor, levelling, waterproofing, then tile. A complete renovation of a 1960s bathroom usually runs two to three weeks once the plumber and electrician are scheduled in.
Is the original tile ever worth keeping?
Sometimes. A well-set 1960s floor that is flat and uncracked can be a feature, and some owners love the colour. But you can’t add waterproofing behind old wall tile or a membrane under an old floor, so if the shower is part of the job, the tile around it has to come out.
Plan the layout while it is open
These bathrooms are often small. While the walls are open is the time to consider a larger shower in place of the tub, a niche between the studs, or moving the vanity. See how bathroom renovations differ by the age of the home and our bathroom renovation page.
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 home at no cost.