Budgeting · 5 min read
Bathroom renovation budget checklist
What a bathroom renovation costs in Ontario: waterproofing, ventilation, subfloor, fixtures, and the line items that blow a 2026 budget.
Bathrooms are small, which makes them feel cheap to renovate. They are not. A bathroom concentrates plumbing, electrical, ventilation, waterproofing, and tile work into a few square metres, and every one of those trades has a minimum call-out cost.
Work through this checklist before you ask for quotes
- Demolition and disposal, including the bin
- Subfloor inspection and repair allowance
- Waterproofing membrane in wet areas
- Plumbing valves, drains, and any relocation
- Exhaust fan ducted to the exterior, not the attic
- Electrical: GFCI protection, lighting, heated floor circuit
- Tile, grout, trims, and niche detailing
- Vanity, counter, sink, taps, toilet, and accessories
- Paint, trim, and door
- Contingency of at least 15 percent
Decide early whether the layout moves
Keeping fixtures where they are is the difference between a straightforward renovation and a plumbing project. Moving a toilet in particular usually means opening the floor to reroute the drain and vent, which affects structure, schedule, and cost.
Do not shortcut ventilation
An undersized or badly ducted fan causes mould, peeling paint, and failed grout. It is one of the cheapest line items in the project and one of the most expensive to fix later.