The bathroom is the smallest room in the house and somehow the one where everything can go wrong. Water, tile, plumbing, electrical — all packed into fifty square feet. It's skilled work, and it shows when it isn't.
I'm Joe. I run Onel Construction here in Boca. Fifteen years remodeling bathrooms across South Florida — hall baths, master suites, condo bathrooms, aging-in-place conversions. Here's the straight talk on what it costs, what drives the price, and how to get it done right.
What Drives the Cost of a Bathroom Remodel
Tub-to-shower conversions. This is my most common bathroom job, and for good reason. Nobody uses the tub. A walk-in shower with a bench is safer, easier to clean, and looks better. But it's real work — demo the tub, reconfigure the drain, waterproof everything, tile it right. Waterproofing is the whole job. A shower that isn't waterproofed properly is a mold farm behind pretty tile.
Tile. Tile is labor, not material. The fancy imported tile isn't what costs you — it's the hours of setting it straight, cutting around fixtures, and grouting it clean. Bigger tiles mean fewer grout lines and faster installs. Intricate patterns cost more because they take longer. That's the trade-off, and it's worth knowing before you fall in love with a mosaic.
Moving plumbing. Keep the toilet, sink, and shower where they are and the price stays sane. Move the toilet across the room and you're cutting slab, rerouting drain lines, and pulling extra permits. Sometimes the new layout is worth it. Just know that every foot of moved plumbing is real money.
Fixtures and finishes. Vanity, toilet, faucets, lighting, mirror, glass enclosure. You can spend a little or a lot here — the range is enormous. I'll tell you where the money shows and where it doesn't. A great tile job with mid-range fixtures beats cheap tile with expensive fixtures every time. Put the money where your eyes land.
Aging in Place — The Smartest Bathroom Money
A lot of my bathroom work is making bathrooms safer for people who plan to stay in their homes. Walk-in showers with no curb to trip on. Grab bars that are actually anchored to blocking, not just screwed into drywall. Comfort-height toilets. Handheld shower wands. Good lighting.
This isn't just comfort — it's independence. A bathroom that works for you at 70 is a bathroom that works for everyone at every age. And a curbless walk-in shower looks modern, not medical. If you're remodeling anyway, building in accessibility costs very little extra and pays back every single day.
The Waterproofing Lecture (Worth Reading)
I'm going to be blunt: most bathroom failures I get called to fix are waterproofing failures. Somebody tiled over drywall. Somebody skipped the waterproof membrane. Somebody caulked instead of grouting and grouted instead of caulking.
Water always wins against shortcuts. My showers get proper waterproofing systems — membrane, sealed corners, sloped pans, the whole thing — before a single tile goes up. It's the part you'll never see, and it's the most important part of the job. Ask any contractor bidding your bathroom exactly how they waterproof. If he stumbles on the answer, don't hire him.
Condos and HOAs
Boca Raton is condo country, and condo bathrooms come with rules: work hours, noise restrictions, elevator scheduling, waterproofing documentation the HOA wants on file. Water work in a condo affects the unit below you, so buildings take it seriously — and so do I. I've navigated plenty of HOA approval processes. Bring me the building's requirements and I'll build the plan around them.
What It Costs — Honestly
I price every bathroom in person — I need to see the space, the plumbing, and what you want before I give you a number. Here's what I can tell you now:
- Small refreshes can finance from $120/month with approved credit through Acorn.
- Typical full remodels land in the $200s–$300s/month range, with rates as low as 4.49% APR with approved credit.
- Tub-to-shower conversions, tile scope, and plumbing moves are what move the number.
Free in-home estimate. I'll look at the bathroom, we'll talk through options, and you'll get a real price — not a guess.
Why Onel Construction
Twenty-five years. Licensed and insured — CGC1511492. I run the whole job: plumbing, electrical, tile, glass, fixtures. One contractor, one phone number — (561) 462-9293. I come out myself, I price it in person — and if something isn't right, you call me direct: (561) 462-9293.
Rated 5.0 stars from 24 Google reviews.
Boca Raton first, all of Palm Beach County, Broward for the right job.
Related Services
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- Hurricane Windows in Boca Raton — storm protection explained straight.
Bathroom Remodel Questions I Hear a Lot
Do I need a permit for a bathroom remodel?
Yes — plumbing and electrical work always need one, and I pull them. Any contractor who tells you permits are optional on a bathroom is telling you who he is.
How long does a full bathroom remodel take?
Once we start, figure two to three weeks of actual work for a full remodel. Tub-to-shower conversions are usually quicker. I'll give you a real schedule when I see the space.
Can we still use the house during the remodel?
Yes — you'll just be down one bathroom while we work. Most of my customers plan around that for a couple of weeks. Dust control and daily cleanup are part of the job.
What's the one thing I shouldn't cheap out on?
Waterproofing. It's the part you'll never see, and it's the difference between a shower that lasts decades and a mold farm behind pretty tile. Ask every bidder exactly how they waterproof — if he stumbles, don't hire him.
Let's Look at Your Bathroom
Call or text (561) 462-9293 — or reach me through https://onelconstruction.com. Free in-home estimate. I'll tell you what it needs, what it'll cost, and whether you even need a full remodel or just the right fixes.
*Prices on this page are averages from recent jobs — I set them before the latest round of tariff-driven material increases, so treat them as ballparks, not quotes. Your free in-home estimate always uses current numbers. — Joe*