Bathroom Renovations

Bathroom Renovations in
Brantford, Paris & Brant County

Full gut renovations and targeted refreshes — proper waterproofing, tiled showers, in-floor heating and all trades managed by one crew.

Bathroom renovation Brantford — ensuite glass shower by HandKind Construction

Gut vs. Refresh

A bathroom renovation in Brantford can mean very different things depending on what you're starting with. Sometimes a dated bathroom needs a cosmetic refresh — a new vanity, updated fixtures, fresh tile over a sound subfloor — and that's entirely appropriate if the structure beneath is solid.

Often, though, a bathroom that looks tired on the surface has deeper problems underneath: water damage behind the tile, a failed shower pan, subfloor rot from years of slow leaks, or drywall installed directly in a wet environment with no waterproofing membrane behind it. Those problems don't go away with a new vanity top.

HandKind handles full bathroom renovations in Brantford, Paris and across Brant County. We assess what's actually there before we write a scope, so you're not quoted for a refresh and then surprised mid-project when we find rot behind the shower wall. Our estimates are based on reality, not best-case assumptions.

What's Included

Everything in a HandKind
bathroom renovation

01

Demolition & Assessment

We strip to studs, remove the tub or shower unit, and assess subfloor condition, drain stack integrity and any framing that's been compromised by moisture. What we find at demo determines exactly what comes next — and we document it so there are no surprises on the invoice.

02

Waterproofing Systems

We install Schluter KERDI membrane on shower walls and DITRA uncoupling membrane on tiled floors as standard. These systems protect the framing from moisture intrusion and give tile work the movement tolerance it needs to stay crack-free for years — not months.

03

Tiled Showers

Large-format tile, built-in niches, linear and centre drains, and custom bench seating are all part of what we design and build in-house. We handle the full installation from substrate to grout — no separate tile crew that's never seen your project before arriving on day one.

04

In-Floor Radiant Heating

Electric mat systems installed under tile add real comfort with minimal cost premium — typically $800–$1,500 added to a bathroom project. We plan thermostat placement, run the electrical rough-in, and set the mat before tile goes down. It's the kind of finish you'll notice every morning in a Brantford winter.

05

Ensuite vs. Main Bath

Ensuites typically prioritise a custom shower, double vanity and clean, private finishes. Main baths serve multiple people and usually need a tub-shower combo that works for kids and guests alike. We scope each project for its actual use — not a one-size template applied regardless of who's using the room.

06

Vanity, Fixtures & Storage

Plumbing rough-ins, vanity installation, medicine cabinets, towel bars and hardware are co-ordinated and installed as part of the project. We work with your selections or help you source them — and we track lead times so a backordered vanity doesn't stall the rest of the build.

Our Standard

Waterproofing is where
we don't compromise

The majority of bathroom failures we see when we gut an older space come down to one thing: inadequate waterproofing. Tile was set directly on drywall. A shower pan was hot-mopped once and never properly sloped. Cement board was installed but joints were never taped or sealed. The tile looks fine for a few years, then the framing quietly saturates, and what looked like a $15,000 renovation turns into a $40,000 structural repair.

For any bathroom renovation in Brantford we take on, Schluter systems are our baseline — not an upgrade. KERDI on every shower wall, DITRA under every tiled floor. These aren't upsells. They're the minimum standard for work we're willing to put our name on and stand behind when a homeowner calls us five years later.

  • Schluter KERDI waterproof membrane on all shower walls
  • Schluter DITRA uncoupling membrane on tiled floors
  • Pre-sloped shower bases — no flat pans
  • Cement board or Schluter KERDI-BOARD substrate throughout
  • All penetrations and corners fully sealed before tile

Recent Work

Before & after —
Brantford & Brant County

Before photo coming

Before

Ensuite renovation — glass shower after

After

Ensuite Renovation · Paris, Ontario

Glass Shower & Custom Tile

Full gut renovation — original fibreglass surround and subfloor removed. Schluter KERDI system throughout, large-format tile, frameless glass enclosure, double vanity and in-floor heating.

Before photo coming

Before

Main bath renovation — wainscoting and black fixtures after

After

Main Bath Renovation · Brantford, Ontario

Wainscoting & Black Fixtures

1970s main bath gut — original 4×4 wall tile and cast iron tub removed. New tub-shower combo with full waterproofing, painted wainscoting, new vanity and matte black fixtures throughout.

Local Knowledge

What we know about older
Brantford & Paris bathrooms

The bulk of our bathroom renovation work in Brantford and Paris happens in homes built between the 1950s and 1980s — and these homes have a very specific set of characteristics that newer-build renovations simply don't present.

Cast iron tubs are one of the first things we assess. They're heavy, but they're also often in excellent structural condition after 60 years. If the enamel is sound and the homeowner wants to keep it, we can work around it. If the tub is staying, the surrounding tile work still needs to be stripped and done correctly — a new surround installed over old greenboard is just deferring the same problem.

The 1960s tile layouts we find most often in Brantford — 4×4 ceramic tile set directly on drywall with no waterproofing behind it, mosaic tile floors over bare concrete — were standard practice at the time. They've lasted 50+ years in some cases, but once water gets behind them, the damage compounds quickly. We find it when we demo, document it, and address it properly before the new substrate goes in.

Paris, Ontario homes add another variable: tighter bathroom footprints in older heritage builds, original cast-iron drain stacks that need adapters, and occasional knob-and-tube wiring that has to be dealt with before we can rough-in a new bathroom circuit. These aren't dealbreakers — they're just things an experienced Brantford bathroom renovation contractor knows to look for before the scope is written.

Common Questions

Bathroom renovation
Brantford — FAQs

What does a bathroom renovation cost in Brantford?

A bathroom renovation in Brantford typically ranges from $15,000 to $50,000 or more. A cosmetic refresh — new vanity, toilet, fixtures and paint — starts around $8,000–$15,000. A full gut renovation with a tiled shower, in-floor heating, new plumbing rough-in and custom tile typically runs $20,000–$35,000. A full ensuite with a freestanding tub, custom glass shower and high-end finishes starts at $35,000 and up. HandKind provides detailed line-item quotes before any work begins — no vague allowances.

How long does a bathroom renovation take in Brantford?

A standard full gut bathroom renovation in Brantford takes 3–5 weeks from demolition to handover. A main bathroom with no layout changes typically runs 2–3 weeks. A full ensuite with custom tile, a glass enclosure and in-floor heating takes 4–6 weeks. Material lead times — especially tile, vanities and glass — are the biggest variable, and we track them before work starts so they don't delay your project mid-build.

Do I need a permit for a bathroom renovation in Brantford?

Most bathroom renovations in Brantford — including full gut-and-rebuild projects that replace tile, fixtures and a vanity in the same footprint — do not require a building permit. A permit is required if the renovation adds a new bathroom that didn't previously exist, relocates plumbing to a new location, or involves structural changes. HandKind advises on permit requirements during the estimate and handles all applications when needed.

Get Started

Ready to plan your
bathroom renovation?

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