Compare Minneapolis bathroom estimates before the next freeze. Call (855) 215-7855 or describe your project once and participating local pros send Risk-Free Estimates. No obligation.
What bathroom remodeling services are available in Minneapolis?
Participating Minneapolis pros handle full remodels of original bungalow bathrooms, upstairs and attic bathrooms, basement bathroom additions, walk-in showers, tub-to-shower conversions, heated floors and accessibility upgrades. The two most common requests in the city are a full gut of the 1920s hall bath, with the cast-iron stack replaced while the walls are open, and a new three-quarter bath in the basement.
Full bathroom remodels. The classic Minneapolis job: gut the original hall bath in a 1920s bungalow, replace the cast-iron stack and galvanized supply with PVC and PEX, insulate the exterior wall properly for the first time, and rebuild with a layout that fits how the house is used now. Participating pros who work South Minneapolis know these rooms by heart.
Upstairs and attic bathrooms. Story-and-a-half homes in Standish, Ericsson and Northeast often got an upstairs bathroom in the 1950s or 1970s that was never insulated or vented properly. Remodeling one means dealing with knee walls, roof slope, a long drain run, and the exhaust path to the outside.
Basement bathrooms. Adding or finishing a basement bath is more common in Minneapolis than in most cities, because finished basements are how a 1,200-square-foot bungalow becomes a family home. Below-grade drains, ejector pits, egress and radon considerations all come into the estimate.
Walk-in showers and tub-to-shower conversions. Popular in the 1950s and 1960s ramblers of Kingfield, Armatage and Lynnhurst, where an original tub gives way to a shower with a bench and grab-bar blocking. Heated floors are the most requested add-on in the city, and for good reason.
Shower-to-tub conversions. Families in Linden Hills and Fulton who inherited a stall shower from a previous owner and now have a toddler.
Bath liners and surrounds. A sound tub with a rough finish in a duplex or rental can be fitted over in a day.
Vanity, toilet and faucet replacement, floor tiling, accessibility. Comfort-height toilets, hand-held sprays, slip-resistant tile and blocking for future grab bars. For a seated option, see walk-in tubs.
Why are Minneapolis bathrooms different?
Minneapolis bathrooms answer to the cold. Supply lines in exterior walls freeze, warm moist air from an upstairs bathroom feeds ice dams, winter air is dry enough to shrink grout and summer humid enough to grow mildew, and the frost line puts basement drains well below the sewer. Most pre-1940 homes still have their original cast iron and galvanized pipe.
The cold, and the walls that face it. Supply lines in an exterior wall of a 1920s house are one January away from freezing. Remodels move plumbing to interior walls where they can, and insulate and air-seal the exterior wall properly where they cannot. A bathroom window on the north side is a thermal hole; many remodels downsize or replace it with a well-insulated unit.
Ice dams and the upstairs bath. The brown stain on an upstairs bathroom ceiling is usually an ice dam, not a roof leak. The real cause is warm, moist bathroom air reaching a cold roof deck. A remodel fixes the air sealing and vents the exhaust fan through the roof or gable, not into the attic, where it feeds the dam.
Dry winters, humid summers. Winter indoor air is so dry that wood and grout shrink; summer is humid enough to grow mildew. Materials and sealants have to tolerate both, and a good exhaust fan on a timer or humidity sensor matters more here than almost anywhere.
Cast iron, galvanized and plaster. Most pre-1940 homes still have their original cast-iron drain stack and galvanized supply lines, both near the end of their life. Walls are lath and plaster, which means more dust and more careful demolition than drywall.
Basements and the frost line. The frost line is 42 inches, so basement plumbing is well below grade and often needs an ejector pump. Older basements also have fieldstone or block walls that need moisture management before any finished bathroom goes in.
Permits. Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development issues building, plumbing and electrical permits. Plumbing and electrical in Minnesota are done by trade professionals who hold state credentials, and the pro who runs the job coordinates them.
How much does a bathroom remodel cost in Minneapolis, and how long does it take?
A mid-range full remodel of an original Minneapolis bungalow bathroom typically runs $15,000 to $30,000, including stack and supply replacement, and a tub-to-shower conversion $7,000 to $15,000. A new basement bathroom usually lands between $18,000 and $35,000 when an ejector pump is needed. Conversions take two to five working days, full remodels three to five weeks, and basement bathrooms three to six.
- Tub-to-shower conversion: $7,000 to $15,000, two to five working days.
- Full remodel with stack and supply replacement: $15,000 to $30,000, three to five weeks.
- New basement bathroom with ejector pump: $18,000 to $35,000, three to six weeks.
- Electric heated floor under tile: a few hundred dollars in materials plus labor, the most requested add-on in the city.
- Permit: City of Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development. The pro pulls it and coordinates the plumbing and electrical trades.
Which Minneapolis neighborhoods do we hear from most?
Longfellow, Nokomis and Standish, 1920s bungalows with original hall baths. Northeast Minneapolis, from Audubon Park to Windom Park, with its mix of bungalows and story-and-a-half homes. Kingfield, Armatage and Lynnhurst, post-war ramblers ready for walk-in showers. Linden Hills and Fulton, where additions and second bathrooms are the request. Powderhorn and Corcoran, duplexes and rentals that need durable, fast work.
How does the bathroom remodel process work in Minneapolis?
The process has four steps: a consultation that includes the exterior wall, the stack and the attic path if the bathroom is upstairs, written estimates compared side by side, construction, and a final walkthrough with the fan tested. Winter is a fine time to start; schedules open up and the house stays heated throughout.
- Consultation. Submit the form or call. Participating pros that serve your Minneapolis zip code visit, measure, check the stack and supply lines, and look at the exterior wall and attic path if the bathroom is upstairs.
- Design and estimates. Written estimates with scope, materials, insulation and ventilation details, and a schedule. Compare them side by side.
- Construction. Conversions take two to five working days. Full remodels in older homes run three to five weeks when the stack is replaced. Basement bathrooms vary with the drain situation.
- Final walkthrough. Fixtures run, fan tested, permit inspections closed, then final payment.
Compare written estimates from participating Minneapolis pros. Call (855) 215-7855 or request Risk-Free Estimates.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a bathroom remodel cost in Minneapolis?
Estimates in the Minneapolis area typically run $15,000 to $30,000 for a mid-range full remodel of an original bungalow bath, including stack and supply replacement, and $7,000 to $15,000 for a tub-to-shower conversion. A new basement bathroom with an ejector pit is its own range. Written estimates from more than one pro are the way to know.
Can a bathroom be remodeled in winter?
Yes, a Minneapolis bathroom can be remodeled in winter, and many are, because pros' schedules open up. The house stays heated, materials acclimate indoors, and the exhaust vent work through the roof is planned for a dry day.
Why does my upstairs bathroom ceiling stain every winter?
Almost always an ice dam fed by warm bathroom air leaking into the attic. A remodel that air-seals the ceiling and vents the fan outside usually ends it. If the roof deck is damaged, that gets handled too.
Are heated floors worth it here?
Heated bathroom floors are worth it in Minneapolis more than almost anywhere. Electric mats under tile cost a few hundred dollars in materials and change how the room feels for five months of the year. Ask for a programmable thermostat so it is warm before you get up.
Do I need a permit?
Yes for plumbing, electrical or structural changes. The City of Minneapolis issues them and the pro pulls them. A straight fixture swap generally does not require one.
Can I add a bathroom in my basement?
Usually yes, a basement bathroom can be added to a Minneapolis home. It depends on where the main drain exits the house and whether an ejector pump is needed. The pro will check during the consultation; it is one of the most common Minneapolis requests.