Bathroom Remodeling in Spokane, Washington

What bathroom remodeling services are available in Spokane?

Participating Spokane pros handle full remodels of Craftsman and Victorian bathrooms, basement bathroom additions, walk-in showers, tub-to-shower and shower-to-tub conversions, water softener installation alongside the remodel, upstairs bathroom additions, bath liners, fixture replacement, floor tiling and accessibility upgrades. The most common Spokane job is the original bathroom in a pre-1930 house gutted and rebuilt with the stack and supply replaced. The most common addition is a basement bathroom under a South Hill or Shadle home.

Full bathroom remodels. The Craftsman or Victorian bathroom on the South Hill, in Browne's Addition, the Perry District or Garland: open the plaster, replace the cast-iron stack and galvanized supply, update the wiring, insulate the exterior wall, add an exhaust fan that vents outside, and rebuild with finishes that handle scale. In the Shadle, North Side and Spokane Valley ranches it is a dated hall bath brought current.

Basement bathrooms. Spokane homes have full basements, and finishing one is how a 1,200-square-foot bungalow grows. A new bathroom below grade means an ejector pump where the drain sits below the sewer, moisture control, egress and ventilation.

Walk-in showers and tub-to-shower conversions. Requested in Shadle, the North Side, Spokane Valley and the retirement-heavy South Hill, and by anyone planning to stay in a house with basement stairs. Benches, hand-held sprays, grab-bar blocking and heated floors. Coated glass is standard because of the water.

Water softeners. Many Spokane remodels bundle a whole-house softener because the new glass and fixtures scale within months. The pro coordinates it while the walls are open.

Upstairs bathrooms. Story-and-a-half homes across the older neighborhoods got an upstairs bathroom at some point, usually uninsulated and vented into the attic. Remodeling one means knee walls, roof slope and a vent path to the outside.

Shower-to-tub conversions, bath liners, fixture replacement, floor tiling, accessibility. Comfort-height toilets, slip-resistant porcelain, reinforced grab bars. For a seated bathing option see walk-in tubs.

Why are Spokane bathrooms different?

Spokane bathrooms contend with hard aquifer water, cold winters that freeze exterior-wall plumbing, dry summers that shrink grout and caulk, old cast iron and galvanized pipe in most pre-1940 homes, and a full basement under nearly every house. Scale is the daily problem; the age of the plumbing is the expensive one.

Hard water. Spokane's aquifer water runs roughly 9 to 15 grains per gallon depending on the well. Glass spots within days and aerators clog. Softeners, coated glass, brushed or matte finishes and ceramic-disc valves are the Spokane standard.

The cold. Supply lines in exterior walls freeze in January; remodels move them inboard and insulate and air-seal the wall. Upstairs bathroom air that reaches a cold roof deck feeds ice dams; the fan is ducted through the roof or gable.

Dry summers. Humidity is low from June through September, so mold is a smaller worry than on the wet side of the state, but wood, grout and caulk shrink. Flexible sealants at every joint and a fan on a timer are standard.

Old materials. Cast-iron stacks, galvanized supply, knob-and-tube wiring and plaster on lath are standard in pre-1940 homes. Pre-1978 painted trim falls under the EPA's renovation rules when disturbed.

Basements. Full-depth, often with stone or block walls in the older neighborhoods. Basement drains usually sit below the sewer, so an ejector pump is routine, and moisture control comes first.

Permits. The City of Spokane Development Services Center permits plumbing, electrical and structural work inside city limits. Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Cheney and Airway Heights issue their own; unincorporated areas permit through Spokane County.

How much does a bathroom remodel cost in Spokane, and how long does it take?

A mid-range full remodel of an original Spokane bathroom typically runs $13,000 to $27,000, including stack and supply replacement, and a tub-to-shower conversion $6,000 to $14,000. A new basement bathroom with an ejector pump usually lands between $14,000 and $28,000, and a whole-house softener adds $1,500 to $4,000. Conversions take two to five working days and full remodels three to five weeks.

• Tub-to-shower conversion: $6,000 to $14,000, two to five working days.
• Full remodel with stack and supply replacement: $13,000 to $27,000, three to five weeks.
• New basement bathroom with ejector pump: $14,000 to $28,000.
• Upstairs bathroom under the roofline with insulation and a roof vent: $15,000 to $30,000.
• Whole-house water softener installed with the remodel: $1,500 to $4,000.
• Permit: City of Spokane Development Services inside city limits; Spokane Valley and the county issue their own. The pro pulls it.

Which Spokane neighborhoods do we hear from most?

The South Hill, from Manito to Rockwood and Cannon Hill, Craftsmans and Tudors with original bathrooms. Browne's Addition and West Central, Victorians and apartments being brought back. The Perry District and Garland, bungalows with basements to finish. Shadle and the North Side, 1950s ranches ready for walk-in showers. Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake just outside the city, 1970s to 2000s homes with primary baths to update.

How does the bathroom remodel process work in Spokane?

The process has four steps: a consultation that checks the stack and supply, the exterior wall and the basement drain, written estimates compared side by side with the hard-water choices spelled out, construction, and a final walkthrough with the fan tested. Winter is a normal time to remodel in Spokane. Allow six to nine weeks of calendar time for a full remodel once you choose a pro.

1. Consultation. Submit the form or call. Participating pros that serve your Spokane zip code visit, measure, check the stack and supply, and look at the exterior wall and the basement or attic path depending on the plan.
2. Design and estimates. Written estimates with scope, materials, hard-water choices, insulation and ventilation details, and a schedule. Compare them side by side.
3. 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.
4. Final walkthrough. Fixtures run, fan tested against the outside, permit inspections closed, then final payment.

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