Bathroom Renovation in North York
Full remodels, wet rooms, and ensuite builds.
Many North York houses from the 1950s and 60s were built with a single bathroom, so a bathroom renovation in North York is as often about finding room for a primary ensuite or a basement bath as it is about new tile. Space planning, drain routes and venting come first; the finishes follow once those are solved.
Plan on $15,000 to $25,000 to redo the original hall bathroom and $35,000 to $60,000+ for a new primary ensuite finished with custom tile, heated floors and frameless glass. Much of that money goes into the parts you stop seeing once the tile is grouted: the membrane, the drain slope and skilled tile labour. Our mechanical partner, Fred Shik, brings two decades across mechanical engineering and project management to plumbing and ventilation design. For district-wide permit context, see the North York area guide.
| Standard bathroom | $15,000–$25,000 (Toronto 2026) |
|---|---|
| Primary ensuite | $35,000–$60,000+ with custom tile, heated floors and frameless glass |
| Permit needed | Installing or modifying plumbing, such as new drains or relocated fixtures |
| No permit needed | Repairing or replacing plumbing fixtures in their existing locations |
| Backwater valve subsidy | 80% of cost up to $1,600 per device; building permit required |
What's included
- —Tile and waterproofing
- —Custom vanities
- —Plumbing rough-in and fixtures
- —Heated floor installation
- —Glass enclosures
Adding an Ensuite to a North York Bungalow or Split-Level
In a North York bungalow, an ensuite usually comes from borrowed space: a closet, part of a hallway or a slice of a third bedroom. The deciding factor is the drain route, because a toilet needs a large drain and a vent that can reach the main stack without cutting joists in the wrong place. Split-levels often put bedrooms over a garage or crawlspace, which can make drain routing easier but insulation and freeze protection more important. If the house is getting a second storey, the ensuite belongs in the addition design; see home additions in North York.
Plumbing, Waterproofing and Venting in Older North York Homes
Many post-war bathrooms were tiled over mortar beds or plaster, so we strip to the studs and rebuild with a continuous waterproofing membrane in showers and around tubs. Original supply lines and cast-iron drains are replaced while the walls are open, and exhaust fans are ducted to the exterior rather than into the attic. A basement bathroom adds another layer: a backwater valve protects it from sewer backup, needs a building permit, and qualifies for the City subsidy of up to $1,600 per device. Our bathroom renovation cost guide shows where the budget goes.
Condo Bathroom Renovations in North York Centre
The condo towers along Yonge Street in North York Centre bring a different set of constraints. Drains connect to shared stacks that cannot move, a leak can damage the unit below, and the condominium corporation typically requires approval, insurance and set working hours before work starts. A City permit is needed if plumbing is modified, though replacing fixtures in place does not require one. In these units we concentrate on waterproofing details, curbless or low-curb showers where the slab allows, and quiet, well-ducted ventilation that clears humidity without disturbing neighbours.
How your project runs
- 01Design and tile selection
- 02Permits if required
- 03Demolition
- 04Waterproofing and tile work
- 05Fixture installation and finishes
Bathroom Renovations cost in North York
A bathroom renovation in Toronto runs about $15,000–$25,000 for a standard bathroom, and $35,000–$60,000+ for a full primary ensuite with custom tile, heated floors, and frameless glass. Waterproofing and tile labour are where the durability — and much of the cost — lives. Pricing in North York tracks the wider GTA market.
Get a free estimate for your North York project, or see the full Toronto renovation cost guide.
Plan your North York project
- Building & renovating in North York→
- Bathroom Renovation Cost in Toronto (2026): Real Prices→
- Building Permits in Toronto (2026): What Needs One, Costs and Timing→
- Committee of Adjustment in Toronto: A Homeowner's Guide (2026)→
North York neighbourhoods we serve
We deliver bathroom renovations throughout North York, including:
Recent Nexon Build projects
Completed work from across Toronto and York Region — the same team, contracts and standards we bring to North York.
Common questions
Can I add a basement bathroom in a North York house without a pump?+
Only if the new fixtures can drain by gravity to the sewer connection. In many North York houses the main drain leaves below the basement floor, so a toilet and shower can drain naturally; where it exits higher, a sewage ejector pump is needed. Either way, new drains need a building permit, and we recommend a backwater valve, which the City subsidizes up to $1,600 per device.
Does a North York condo bathroom renovation need a City permit?+
Only when plumbing is modified. Replacing a vanity, toilet or shower valve in its existing location does not need a building permit in Toronto, but moving a drain or adding a fixture does. Separately, your condominium corporation will have its own approval process, often with insurance and working-hour rules, and we handle that paperwork alongside any City permit.
Will a curbless shower work in an older North York house?+
Often, but it takes structural work. A curbless shower needs the floor recessed so water slopes to the drain without a step, which in a wood-framed post-war house means lowering, sistering or reframing joists under the shower area rather than simply notching them. On a basement slab, the concrete is cut and re-poured. We assess the floor framing before quoting, so the price reflects the real work.
How much does bathroom renovations cost in North York?+
A bathroom renovation in Toronto runs about $15,000–$25,000 for a standard bathroom, and $35,000–$60,000+ for a full primary ensuite with custom tile, heated floors, and frameless glass. Waterproofing and tile labour are where the durability — and much of the cost — lives. Pricing in North York tracks the wider GTA market.
Do you handle permits for bathroom renovations in North York?+
Yes. We manage the full permit process with City of Toronto (Toronto Building & Committee of Adjustment), including any variance or zoning review your North York project requires.
How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Toronto?+
About $15,000–$25,000 for a standard bathroom, and $35,000–$60,000+ for a full primary ensuite with premium tile, heated floors, and glass.
How long does a bathroom renovation take?+
A standard bathroom renovation takes 3–5 weeks. A full primary ensuite build can take 6–10 weeks.
Why does waterproofing matter so much?+
It's what keeps water out of your framing and the rooms below for decades. We install proper membranes and inspect the waterproofing before any tile goes on — it's the step you never see but always rely on.
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