Bathroom Remodeling Across Washington State

What is different about bathrooms in Washington?

Washington has two bathroom climates. West of the Cascades, Seattle and Tacoma stay damp from October through May and the exhaust fan is the whole conversation: sized for the room, ducted outside, on a humidity sensor. East of the mountains, Spokane is dry, cold and hard-watered, and the conversation is scale, frozen pipes and basements.

The housing is old on both sides. Craftsmans and Victorians from 1900 to 1930 dominate Seattle's Wallingford and Ballard, Tacoma's North End and Spokane's South Hill, each with one original bathroom, a cast-iron stack and galvanized supply. Full remodels replace the plumbing while the walls are open, and the state energy code sets ventilation requirements for permitted work.

Water could not be more different. Seattle's Cedar and Tolt rivers and Tacoma's Green River are among the softest supplies in the country, so glass stays clear and the only caution is soft water's effect on old pipe. Spokane's aquifer runs 9 to 15 grains, and softeners and coated glass are standard.

Basements are common everywhere, and finishing one with a bathroom is the most frequent addition in all three cities. Seattle and Tacoma hillside lots often have daylight basements; Spokane's are full-depth with stone walls in the older neighborhoods.

Typical estimates: $13,000 to $50,000 for a mid-range full remodel, with Spokane at the low end, Tacoma in the middle and Seattle at the top; $6,000 to $20,000 for a tub-to-shower conversion. Permits come from each city; Seattle's can take several weeks.

Bathroom remodel guides for Washington cities

Each guide covers the housing stock, climate, water, permits, typical costs and timelines, and the neighborhoods participating pros hear from most.

• Seattle, WA

  Eight damp months a year, fans that vent into attics, very soft water and bungalows over unfinished basements.

• Tacoma, WA

  Seattle's moisture in older houses at a lower price, daylight basements on the hillsides and conversions on a military move timeline.

• Spokane, WA

  The dry side of Washington: hard aquifer water, cold winters and old Craftsmans over full basements.