Bathroom Remodel Cost & Process in New Jersey

A powder room refresh (vanity, toilet, flooring, paint, mirror) runs $8,000-$15,000 in our market. No plumbing relocation, minimal demo, fast turnaround.

A full hall bath remodel (tub/shower, vanity, toilet, tile, flooring, lighting, exhaust fan) typically runs $22,000-$40,000 depending on tile selection and whether the tub is staying or being replaced with a shower.

A primary suite bathroom remodel — larger footprint, walk-in shower with glass enclosure, freestanding tub, double vanity, heated floors — runs $45,000-$85,000+ depending on square footage and finish level.

Adding a bathroom where none existed (converting a closet, finishing a basement) adds significant plumbing rough-in cost since you're running new supply and waste lines, often $15,000-$25,000 above a standard remodel of comparable finish level.

Tile and waterproofing account for a bigger share of a bathroom budget than most people expect — often 25-35% of the total. A properly waterproofed shower pan with a Schluter or similar system, cement board, and quality porcelain or natural stone tile isn't optional if you want the room to last 20 years without a leak into the ceiling below.

Plumbing fixtures and rough-in are the next major cost driver. Moving a toilet flange or relocating a shower drain even 2 feet requires breaking the slab (if on grade) or accessing joists from below, which adds $2,000-$6,000 depending on access.

Custom glass shower enclosures run $1,200-$3,500 installed depending on size and hardware finish — a frameless enclosure with heavy 3/8-inch glass costs meaningfully more than a framed sliding door but transforms the look of the room.

Ventilation is a code requirement that's easy to overlook in a budget: NJ code requires proper exhaust fan CFM rated to the room's square footage, vented to the exterior (not just into the attic), which prevents the mold and moisture issues that plague older bathrooms.

It starts with design and selections — tile, vanity, fixtures, and layout — followed by ordering long-lead items like custom vanities or specialty tile, which can take 3-6 weeks to arrive.

Demo typically takes 1-2 days for a standard bathroom: removing the old tub/shower, vanity, toilet, and flooring down to the subfloor. Because it's such a small, enclosed space, dust containment is critical, and we seal off the work area from the rest of the house.

Plumbing and electrical rough-in follows, including any relocations, then a township inspection before we close up walls. Waterproofing the shower/tub surround comes next — this is the step that determines whether the room holds up for 5 years or 25.

Tile installation is typically the longest single phase, taking 5-10 days depending on pattern complexity (a simple subway tile shower goes faster than a herringbone floor with a mosaic niche). Vanity, toilet, fixtures, mirror, and lighting installation close out the project, followed by a final walkthrough.

A powder room refresh: 2-3 weeks total. A full hall bath remodel: 4-6 weeks. A primary suite remodel with a custom shower and double vanity: 6-9 weeks. These timelines assume no unexpected issues behind the walls — which brings us to the next point.

Homes built before the 1980s in Bergen, Essex, and Union County frequently have galvanized supply lines that are due for replacement, cast iron waste lines with scale buildup, and subfloor rot around the tub/shower from decades of small leaks that were never caught until the tile came off.

We build a contingency line into every bathroom remodel quote for exactly this reason — typically 10-15% of the project cost — so that if we find rotted subfloor or corroded pipe, there's already a plan and budget for it instead of a surprise change order mid-project.

Every bathroom is different based on age of the home, existing plumbing location, and finish goals. GDL Solutions has remodeled bathrooms throughout Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Hudson, Morris, and Union counties and can give you an accurate number after seeing the actual space. Call (646) 736-8756 or email info@godolsolutions.com.