The most common question we get before a bathroom remodel estimate: "What's this going to cost?" The honest answer is that it depends — but not in a vague, dodge-the-question way. There are real factors that move the price, and understanding them helps you have a more productive conversation with any contractor you hire.
These ranges reflect what we see on jobs in the Sanford, Lake Mary, Heathrow, and Winter Park areas of Central Florida as of 2026. National averages from home improvement sites tend to understate Florida costs. Labor rates, material shipping, and the specific challenges of working with slab foundations here are all real factors.
Tier 1: The Cosmetic Refresh ($8,000–$15,000)
This is a bathroom that keeps its basic layout — no plumbing relocation, no wall moves — but gets new tile, new fixtures, and a fresh look. Think: retile the shower walls and floor, replace the vanity, swap the toilet, and update the lighting.
What is included at this level:
- Demo of existing tile (shower walls and floor)
- New waterproofing system (GoBoard or Schluter KERDI) and shower tile installation
- New shower floor mud bed and tile
- New vanity and mirror (owner-supplied or allowance)
- Toilet replacement
- Basic lighting swap (no panel work)
What is typically not included: glass enclosure, custom niches, heated floor, any plumbing relocation, or structural work. If you add a frameless glass enclosure, budget an additional $1,500–$3,500 depending on size and configuration — we coordinate with a licensed glass company.
The range widens based on tile selection. A standard 12x24 porcelain is priced into the lower end. Book-matched marble slabs or large-format 24x48 panels push toward the top of this tier or above it.
Tier 2: Full Primary Bath Remodel ($25,000–$45,000)
This is the most common scope we see: a primary bathroom that gets fully reimagined. New layout, possibly a walk-in shower replacing a tub, dual vanity, heated floor, frameless glass, and a cohesive tile package throughout.
What this typically involves:
- Full demo including tub removal and disposal
- Plumbing rough-in adjustment for new shower footprint (licensed plumber, coordinated separately)
- Custom mud-bed shower floor or curbless tile drain
- Full waterproofing system on shower walls and floor
- Large-format wall and floor tile throughout
- Dual vanity with custom or semi-custom cabinetry
- Heated floor system under tile
- Frameless glass shower enclosure (coordinated with glass company)
- New fixtures, towel bars, hardware
The tile budget alone on a primary bath at this level often runs $4,000–$9,000 in materials, depending on the square footage and tile selection. The tile portion of the labor — shower tile, floor tile, and any feature walls — is a significant part of the overall cost.
Tier 3: Premium Primary Suite ($50,000–$90,000+)
At this level you are typically looking at a significant footprint change — expanding into an adjacent closet or bedroom, adding a wet room or steam shower, using premium natural stone or book-matched panels, custom millwork, and high-end plumbing fixtures.
This scope almost always involves a general contractor or project manager to coordinate the structural work, permitting, and multiple trades. Our role in a project like this is the tile and waterproofing — which is substantial, but it is one part of a larger coordination effort. We work well in GC-led projects and can also help homeowners understand what to look for when hiring one.
What Moves the Number
Understanding the variables helps you plan realistically:
- Plumbing relocation: Moving a drain or supply line in a slab-foundation home (which most Central Florida homes have) means saw-cutting the slab, relocating the pipe, and patching. That alone can add $2,000–$5,000 before any tile work begins.
- Demo unknowns: When we open a wall or floor, we sometimes find problems — failed waterproofing, water-damaged framing, out-of-plumb walls that require significant build-out. We price what we can see and document anything that changes.
- Glass: Frameless glass is one of the most visible upgrades and one of the most variable cost items. Simple single-panel: $1,200–$2,000. Large walk-in with fixed panels and door: $2,500–$5,000+. We coordinate with licensed glass installers; we do not self-perform glass.
- Tile selection: A standard 12x24 rectified porcelain in a 60-square-foot shower might cost $400 in material. A book-matched calacatta marble for the same space could be $4,000+. Both take similar labor; the materials swing wildly.
- Schedule: Occupied homes with one bathroom have different scheduling constraints than vacation homes or new construction. We account for this in our planning.
Why Low Quotes Are Usually Missing Scope
We occasionally lose bids to quotes that are significantly lower than ours. Sometimes the competing contractor is just more efficient. More often, a low quote is missing scope: no waterproofing system specified, demo is not included or is capped, haul-off is extra, or the tile allowance assumes a budget tile that the homeowner has not yet priced.
When you get multiple estimates, ask each contractor to walk you through what is included line by line. A real written estimate for a bathroom remodel should specify the waterproofing brand and system, demo scope, substrate type, and tile allowance (or confirmation that it covers the owner-supplied tile you have chosen). See our post on what should be in a tile installation estimate for the full breakdown.
What Is in Our Written Estimate
When we provide an estimate for a bathroom remodel in Sanford, Lake Mary, Heathrow, or Winter Park, the document includes:
- Demo scope with haul-off specified
- Substrate preparation and any floor-leveling work
- Waterproofing system specified by brand (GoBoard, Schluter KERDI, or liquid membrane — not "waterproofing")
- Layout plan for tile, including pattern and starting point
- Tile materials (either specified or with a per-square-foot allowance)
- Setting materials specified (thinset brand and type for each substrate/tile combination)
- Grout type and color specified
- Trim, edge, and transition details
- Schedule with milestones and expected completion
- Payment schedule (we do not ask for more than 30% upfront)
- Warranty terms
If a quote you receive does not cover most of these items, you are comparing different scopes of work — not different prices for the same job.
Getting a Real Number
The only way to get an accurate number for your specific project is to have someone walk the space in person. We offer free in-home estimates with no obligation. We come to your home, see the existing conditions, discuss what you want, and provide a written estimate within a few days.
If you are in Sanford, Lake Mary, Heathrow, Winter Park, or the surrounding Central Florida area, reach out to get on our schedule. We have 15+ years of tile experience and give every estimate the same level of detail we would want if we were hiring someone ourselves.