Bathroom Renovation Services
Bathroom Renovation in Naperville, IL
Full-gut bathroom renovations done by a Naperville-only crew — waterproofing first, written line-item prices, permits handled.
What a Full Bathroom Renovation Actually Involves
People use “renovation” and “remodel” interchangeably, but when contractors say renovation they usually mean a full gut: the bathroom comes down to the studs and gets rebuilt properly — new plumbing rough-in, new electrical, a real waterproofing system, new tile, new fixtures, new everything. That’s different from a cosmetic refresh (paint, mirror, fixtures), and it’s the right call when the bathroom is 20–30 years old or has hidden problems.
Across Naperville we see the same story in Ashwood Park colonials, Cress Creek split-levels, and 90s two-stories in Tall Grass and Brookdale: the bathroom looks fine on the surface, but behind the tile there’s greenboard instead of a waterproofing membrane, a shower pan with no pre-slope, or galvanized supply lines that are half-closed with scale. A renovation fixes what’s behind the walls, not just what’s in front of them.
Our renovation process, in order
- Assessment and honest scope. We look behind access panels, check the subfloor around the toilet and tub, and tell you whether you need a full gut or whether a smaller project would do. If a refresh is enough, we’ll say so.
- Written line-item price. Demolition, plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, tile, vanity, fixtures, glass — every line on its own, before you sign. Illinois requires a written contract on jobs over $1,000, and we provide the consumer-rights pamphlet with it.
- Permits. A full renovation affects plumbing and electrical, so it needs a Residential Addition/Alteration Permit through Naperville’s Civic Access portal. We file it, meet the inspector, and handle corrections.
- Demolition and rough-in. Down to studs, then licensed plumbers and electricians run new supply, drains, venting, circuits, and exhaust fan ducting.
- Waterproofing. Membrane on shower walls, sealed seams, sloped pan, flood-tested before a single tile goes down. This is the step cheap jobs skip — and the reason their showers leak in five years.
- Tile, fixtures, glass, paint. Finished in order, with daily cleanup and dust barriers the whole way.
How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost in Naperville?
Honest 2026 ranges for our market. Your written quote will be specific to your bathroom, but these bands tell you what to expect:
01
Hall Bath Refresh — $8,000–$18,000
New vanity, toilet, fixtures, re-tiled tub surround, paint. Plumbing stays where it is. A tight, well-scoped project.
02
Mid-Range Full Renovation — $20,000–$45,000
Gut to the studs, waterproofed shower system, tile floor, quartz vanity top, new lighting and exhaust fan. Where most Naperville hall baths land.
03
Primary Suite — $30,000–$60,000+
Curbless or walk-in shower, double vanity, heated floors, custom glass. Larger footprint, more tile, more plumbing.
04
Layout Changes — ~$80,000+
Moving the toilet or shower drain means opening floors and re-running plumbing. That’s the line where the budget doubles.
What drives the price
The three biggest cost drivers, in order: labor, tile work, and moving plumbing. Tile alone often runs $7,000+ installed on a full bath. A curbless shower adds roughly $3,000–$4,000 over a standard pan. The fixtures people stress over — a $1,000 tub, a $2,000 vanity — are the smaller lines on the invoice. Naperville’s 8–17 grains-per-gallon hard water is another factor we plan for: we spec hard-water-rated fixtures and valves so scale doesn’t eat your new bathroom in three years.
Renovating in Naperville: Permits, Codes, and Older Homes
Naperville enforces the 2024 IRC/IBC/IEBC and the 2023 NEC (with local amendments) on plans submitted since April 2026. For a renovation that touches plumbing or electrical, expect the city to want to see the work at rough-in before walls close. That’s normal and we schedule around it — typical permit approval runs 1–3 weeks, and we file the day you sign.
Older Naperville homes add their own surprises: cast-iron drains, galvanized supply lines, ungrounded wiring, and bathrooms added without permits in the 70s and 80s. We budget a contingency line for what we find when walls open, and we show it to you in writing before demolition — not as a surprise change order after.
Timeline
A hall-bath renovation typically takes 2–3 weeks; a primary suite 3–5 weeks, longer if the layout moves. If it’s your only bathroom, we sequence the work so you have a working toilet and sink every night — in writing, in the contract.
Bathroom Renovation FAQs
What’s the difference between a bathroom renovation and a remodel?
In practice, “renovation” usually means a full gut down to the studs with new plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, and finishes. A “remodel” can mean anything from a cosmetic refresh to a full gut. When you call us, we define the scope in plain terms on the written quote so there’s no ambiguity.
Do I need a permit to renovate my bathroom in Naperville?
If the work affects plumbing, electrical, or structure — which a full renovation does — yes. Naperville requires a Residential Addition/Alteration Permit filed through the city’s Civic Access portal. Cosmetic-only work (paint, mirror, swapping a faucet) generally doesn’t. We handle the permit for you.
How long will my bathroom be out of commission?
Plan on 2–3 weeks for a hall bath and 3–5 weeks for a primary suite. For single-bathroom homes, we restore a working toilet and sink each night and schedule the no-water days around you.
Will you find mold or bad plumbing behind the walls?
Sometimes — especially in 70s–90s Naperville homes with original showers. We check what we can before demolition, carry a written contingency for hidden conditions, and photograph everything we find so you see it too.
Can I live in the house during the renovation?
Yes. Dust barriers, floor protection, HEPA vacuuming, and a full daily cleanup keep the rest of the house livable. Most of our clients are working from home or have kids in District 203/204 schools — we schedule noisy demolition around school hours on request.
Do you warranty the work?
Every renovation carries a written warranty — ask us for the current terms when you call. Materials carry their manufacturer warranties, and we register them for you.
Get a Written Price for Your Renovation
One call. An honest assessment of what your bathroom actually needs. A written line-item price within 48 hours of the visit.
Naperville Bathroom Remodeling · 1704 Quincy Ave, Naperville, IL 60540 · Open 7 days a week, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM