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Bathroom Renovation in Kitchener-Waterloo

We renovate bathrooms across Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge from our Waterloo office — main bathrooms, ensuites, powder rooms and new basement bathrooms. One team handles demolition, plumbing, waterproofing, tile and finishing, with licensed trades and permits where your project needs them.

Below you’ll find two Kitchener-Waterloo bathrooms — one rebuilt from the studs, one transformed with new wainscoting, paint and fixtures — and what local homeowners said about the work.

Get a free estimateSee before & after
Kitchener-Waterloo bathroom renovation with glass walk-in shower, floating vanity and wall-hung toilet

Local Waterloo office

Site visits, estimates and the build are handled by our Kitchener-Waterloo team.

Waterproofing first

A continuous membrane on every wet wall and shower floor before any tile goes up.

Permits handled

We apply to the City of Kitchener, Waterloo or Cambridge and book the inspections.

Bathroom before renovation with curtain shower, pedestal sink and dark floor tile
Same bathroom after renovation with glass walk-in shower, floating vanity and wall-hung toilet
BeforeAfter
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Recent project in Kitchener-Waterloo

Full Bathroom Renovation in Kitchener-Waterloo

Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario

This dated bathroom had a curtain shower, a pedestal sink and worn floor tile. We took the room down to the studs and subfloor and rebuilt it as a modern spa-style bathroom with a glass walk-in shower, a wall-hung toilet and a floating vanity.

Drag the slider to compare the room before and after, then scroll through the build to see what goes on behind the tile.

  • Gutted to the studs and subfloor
  • Wall-hung toilet on an in-wall carrier
  • Glass walk-in shower with built-in niches
  • Cement board and sloped mortar shower base
  • Liquid waterproofing membrane on all wet walls
  • Large-format porcelain tile on walls and floor
  • Floating vanity, LED mirror and pot lights

How we built it — behind the tile

  1. Bathroom gutted to the studs with an in-wall carrier for a wall-hung toilet and new drain lines in the subfloor1

    Demolition & plumbing rough-in

    Walls and floor opened up, new drain and supply lines run, and an in-wall carrier installed for the floating toilet.

  2. Framing and structural backing around the in-wall toilet carrier with cement board going up2

    Framing & structural backing

    Solid framing and backing so the wall-hung toilet, vanity and glass shower are anchored securely.

  3. Shower walls in cement board with a built-in niche and a sloped mortar shower base checked with a level3

    Cement board & shower base

    Cement board on the shower walls, a recessed niche framed in, and a mortar base sloped to the drain.

  4. Liquid waterproofing membrane on shower walls and membrane across the bathroom floor4

    Waterproofing

    A continuous waterproofing membrane on the shower walls and across the floor before any tile goes down.

  5. Large-format grey porcelain tile installed on bathroom walls with a tile levelling system5

    Tile installation

    Large-format porcelain set with a levelling system for flat, tight joints on the walls and floor.

  6. Completed bathroom with floating vanity, LED mirror, wall-hung toilet and glass walk-in shower6

    The finished bathroom

    Glass walk-in shower, floating vanity with LED mirror, wall-hung toilet and new pot lights.

Bathroom before the refresh with beige walls, no wainscoting and a toilet under the window
Same bathroom after the refresh with White Dove walls, Hale Navy board-and-batten wainscoting and brushed gold accents
BeforeAfter
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Another Kitchener-Waterloo project

Beige to Board-and-Batten: A Bathroom Refresh in Kitchener-Waterloo

Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario

This bathroom worked, but it felt plain: light beige walls, builder baseboards, dated chrome fixtures and a bare window. The owners wanted a custom, designer look without the cost, dust and downtime of tearing it out.

We started by protecting the floor and fixtures, then repainted the whole room. Walls and ceiling went from beige to Benjamin Moore White Dove in a satin finish. The door and window casing got White Dove in a pearl finish, a touch shinier, so the trim reads crisp and stands up to handling and steam.

Next came board-and-batten wainscoting on every wall. A laser level set one level height around the room, and every batten was spaced equally from wall to wall. The top rail is taller than the bottom boards for a heavier cap. We replaced the old baseboards, added a small moulding at the floor, filled and sanded every joint, and painted it all Benjamin Moore Hale Navy in satin.

To finish, everything was switched to brushed gold: the faucet, door handles and privacy lock, the shower system, curved curtain rod, bidet sprayer, towel bar, toilet paper holder, garbage bin, toilet brush and hanging shower caddy. A new toilet, new pot light, new window blinds and a new exhaust fan complete the room.

  • Floors and fixtures fully protected
  • White Dove satin on walls and ceiling
  • White Dove pearl on door and window casing
  • Board-and-batten on every wall, laser-level layout
  • Taller top rail, new baseboards and moulding
  • Wainscoting in Hale Navy satin
  • Brushed gold fixtures and accessories throughout
  • New toilet, pot light, window blinds and exhaust fan

Paint and finishes

Walls and ceiling
Benjamin Moore White Dove, satin
Door and window casing
Benjamin Moore White Dove, pearl
Wainscoting, baseboards and moulding
Benjamin Moore Hale Navy, satin
Fixtures and accessories
Brushed gold throughout

How we did it, step by step

  1. Bathroom floor covered wall to wall with protective paper and taped edges1

    Protect everything first

    Before any paint is opened, the floor is covered wall to wall and taped at every edge, and the toilet, tub and vanity are masked off.

  2. White Dove paint being rolled on the bathroom walls with the floor protected2

    White Dove, top to bottom

    The beige is gone. Walls and ceiling are rolled in Benjamin Moore White Dove satin, which wipes clean in a bathroom. The door and window casing get White Dove in pearl, a slightly shinier finish that keeps the trim crisp.

  3. Laser level on a tripod projecting a level line around the bathroom walls3

    Laser-level layout

    A laser level sets one dead-level height around the whole room, then every batten is marked out at equal spacing so the panels line up wall to wall.

  4. New white board-and-batten wainscoting installed around the toilet and tub4

    Board-and-batten installed

    The wainscoting goes up on every wall: a top rail, then evenly spaced vertical battens between the rail and the base.

  5. Close-up of the wide top rail and battens of new board-and-batten wainscoting5

    A taller top rail, filled and sanded

    The top board is deliberately taller than the bottom boards for a heavier, more finished cap. Every joint and nail hole is filled with wood filler and sanded smooth, so no gaps or seams show once it is painted.

  6. New baseboard and small bottom moulding along the bathroom wall, taped for paint6

    New baseboards and moulding

    The old baseboards came off. New baseboards and a small moulding along the bottom finish the panels cleanly at the floor.

  7. Painter’s tape outlining the wainscoting along the cap rail and door casing7

    Crisp tape lines

    Tape goes along the top rail and the casings so the Hale Navy and White Dove meet in a sharp, straight line.

  8. Bathroom wainscoting freshly painted Hale Navy around the toilet8

    Hale Navy wainscoting

    The wainscoting, baseboards and moulding are painted Benjamin Moore Hale Navy in satin, a deep blue that grounds the room against the White Dove walls.

  9. Close-up of Hale Navy painted wainscoting panels, top rail and baseboard9

    Finish detail

    Smooth, even coats into every panel edge, along the top rail and down to the new baseboard.

Tour the finished bathroom

A closer look at each part of the room once the paint was dry and the new fixtures, lighting and accessories were in. Every metal finish is brushed gold, so the whole room matches.

  • New toilet against Hale Navy board-and-batten with brushed gold bidet sprayer, toilet paper holder, towel bar, garbage bin and toilet brush

    New toilet, bidet and gold accessories

    A new toilet with a brushed gold bidet sprayer, toilet paper holder, towel bar, garbage bin and toilet brush, all set against the navy panels.

  • Evenly spaced Hale Navy battens, wide top rail and new baseboard beside the floor register

    Even spacing, wall to wall

    Every batten is equally spaced, the top rail is taller than the base, and the new baseboard ties it into the floor.

  • New pot light in the ceiling above a window with new cellular blinds and White Dove pearl casing

    New pot light and window blinds

    A new pot light brightens the toilet end of the room, and new blinds give privacy while still letting daylight through. The casing is White Dove in pearl.

  • White Dove satin walls and ceiling with window casing and framed art

    White Dove walls and ceiling

    White Dove satin on the walls and ceiling keeps the room bright above the dark wainscoting.

  • Bathroom ceiling with new exhaust fan, pot light and brushed gold curved curtain rod

    New exhaust fan and curtain rod

    A new exhaust fan clears steam quickly to protect the fresh paint. The curved shower curtain rod is brushed gold to match.

  • Brushed gold shower system with handheld shower, valve trim and tub spout over the bathtub

    Brushed gold shower system

    The old chrome is replaced with a brushed gold shower system: shower head with handheld, valve trim and tub spout.

  • Brushed gold two-tier corner shower caddy hanging on grey tile

    Matching shower accessories

    Hanging shower caddies in the same brushed gold keep bottles off the tub ledge and match the fixtures.

  • Brushed gold vanity faucet with brushed gold door handles reflected in the mirror

    Faucet, door handles and lock

    A brushed gold faucet at the vanity, with brushed gold door handles and a matching privacy lock, seen here in the mirror.

  • Vanity with new brushed gold knobs and faucet beside the Hale Navy wainscoting

    Vanity hardware to match

    New brushed gold knobs carry the same finish across the vanity.

Watch the project

The transformation in 40 secondsFrom beige walls to Hale Navy board-and-batten: every step, then the reveal.
Full walkthrough of the finished bathroomWalk through the whole room: vanity, wainscoting, toilet wall, pot light and blinds, ceiling and the brushed gold shower.
Setting the line with a laser levelThe laser marks one level height around the room before a single board goes up.

Popular bathroom projects in Kitchener-Waterloo

  • Tub-to-shower conversions with a tiled walk-in shower and glass
  • Wall-hung toilets on an in-wall carrier
  • Floating vanities, LED mirrors and pot lights
  • Ensuite upgrades with freestanding tubs and double vanities
  • New basement bathrooms, including drains and venting
  • Large-format porcelain tile on walls and floors
  • Bathroom refreshes: new wainscoting, paint and fixtures without demolition

Bathrooms in Kitchener-Waterloo homes

Waterloo Region’s homes range from 1960s bungalows and 1970s backsplits in neighbourhoods like Stanley Park, Forest Heights and Lakeshore to newer builds in Doon South, Clair Hills and Laurelwood. Older homes often hide galvanized supply lines, cast-iron stacks or tile set straight onto drywall; newer homes usually have builder-grade fibreglass showers that are ready for tile and glass.

We open the walls, show you what we find, and plan the bathroom around the house you have — so the surprises are dealt with before the tile goes up, not after.

Planning for hard water

Most of Waterloo Region’s tap water comes from groundwater and is hard, which leaves scale on shower glass, tile and fixtures. We recommend an easy-clean coating on the glass, fixtures with replaceable cartridges, and tile and grout that wipe clean. If you have a water softener, we plan the new plumbing around it.

Bathroom permits in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge

Replacing a vanity, toilet or tub in the same spot usually doesn’t need a permit. Adding a bathroom, moving drains or vents, or changing walls generally does, and each city issues its own. We prepare the drawings, apply to the right city and book the plumbing inspections.

Reviews

Reviews from Kitchener-Waterloo homeowners

5.0

8 Google reviews

  • We had an amazing experience working with Canvas Build Incorporation, owned by Waqas Malik, on our bathroom renovation. Waqas truly brought my dream bathroom to life and transformed our space into something even more beautiful than I had imagined! … We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend you to anyone looking for quality workmanship and a beautiful renovation.

    Ranim A.

    Bathroom renovation · via Google

  • They completely transformed our space by renovating our kitchen, replacing all the cabinets, demolishing a wall and installing a structural beam to create a beautiful open-concept layout. … What we appreciated most was his honesty and transparency. The pricing was very reasonable, and everything was done according to our agreed budget with no surprise costs or added expenses.

    Jaafar S.

    Main floor & kitchen renovation · via Google

  • Had my laundry area redone with them and they did an incredible job — great finish and immaculate organization by their team!

    Mufaddal A.

    Laundry room renovation · via Google

Reviews powered by Google

FAQ

Bathroom Renovation in Kitchener-Waterloo: FAQs

Can’t find your answer? Call or send us a message — we’re happy to help.

How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Kitchener-Waterloo?

It depends on the size of the room, whether plumbing moves, and the shower, tile and fixtures you choose — a refresh with paint, wainscoting and new fixtures costs far less than a full gut renovation. We visit, measure and send a written, itemized quote at no cost.

How long does a bathroom renovation take?

Most full bathrooms take about 3 to 5 weeks on site, depending on the tile work and whether plumbing moves. Choosing fixtures, vanity and glass before demolition is the best way to avoid delays.

Do I need a permit for a bathroom renovation in Kitchener or Waterloo?

Not usually for replacing fixtures in the same locations. Adding a bathroom, moving drains or vents, or structural changes generally need one from the City of Kitchener, Waterloo or Cambridge. We confirm what applies and handle the application.

Can you add a bathroom to my basement?

Yes. A new basement bathroom needs drains and venting and a plumbing permit. If the fixtures sit below the sewer line, a sewage ejector pump may be needed. We plan the layout around your existing plumbing to keep the cost down.

Which areas do you serve for bathroom renovations?

Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, plus Guelph, Elmira, Baden, New Hamburg, Breslau and Ayr.

Contact

Get a free bathroom renovation estimate in Kitchener-Waterloo

Tell us a little about your project. We’ll reply within one business day to book a free site visit.

Free, no-obligation estimate. We reply within one business day.

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