The first question every Wellington homeowner asks me is the same one: what's a bathroom remodel going to cost me? Fair question — and I'll answer it straight: it depends on the bathroom, the plumbing, and what you want. But I can tell you exactly what drives the number, where the money goes, and how to think about your project before I ever set foot in your house.
I'm Joe. I run Onel Construction out of Boca Raton. Fifteen years remodeling bathrooms across South Florida — and Wellington is familiar territory. Bigger homes on bigger lots, family houses where the hall bath takes a beating, and a whole lot of master bathrooms built in the 90s and 2000s around a garden tub nobody has sat in for a decade.
What Drives the Cost of a Wellington Bathroom Remodel
The garden tub. This is my most common Wellington job. A big corner tub with jets that haven't run since 2012, eating four feet of floor space. Replacing it with a walk-in shower — bench, handheld wand, maybe a rain head — is the single best upgrade in these master suites. But it's real work: demo, drain reconfiguration, waterproofing, tile. Waterproofing is the whole job. A shower that isn't waterproofed properly is a mold farm behind pretty tile.
Tile scope. Wellington bathrooms run bigger than average, and tile is labor, not material. More square footage of tile means more hours setting it straight, cutting around fixtures, and grouting it clean. Bigger tiles, fewer grout lines, faster install. Intricate patterns cost more because they take longer. In a large master bath, that choice moves the number — 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. On single-story slab homes — which is most of Wellington — that concrete cutting is real work. Sometimes the new layout is worth it. Just know every foot of moved plumbing is real money.
Hall baths in family homes. A lot of Wellington work is the kids' bathroom — the one that gets used four times a day and shows it. These are smaller jobs, but they're the highest-impact-per-dollar rooms in the house when you have company over or you're thinking about resale down the road.
Aging in Place — The Smartest Bathroom Money
Wellington's family homes are exactly where aging-in-place upgrades pay off: walk-in showers with no curb to trip on, grab bars anchored to real blocking (not just screwed into drywall), comfort-height toilets, handheld shower wands, good lighting. Maybe it's for you down the road, maybe it's for parents who visit for the season.
This isn't just comfort — it's independence. A bathroom that works for you at 70 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.
Do I Need a Permit for a Bathroom Remodel in Wellington?
If we're touching plumbing or electrical — and on a real remodel, we are — yes, a permit is required. I pull them on every job. The inspection protects you: it verifies the drain work, the waterproofing approach, the electrical. On a drain reconfiguration I did in Delray Beach, we cut slab and rerouted a drain line — the kind of work you want an inspector looking at, not hoping for the best.
Some contractors will tell you permits are optional or slow things down. What they're really telling you is they don't want anyone inspecting their work. I pull the permit, I meet the inspector, and you get a job that's documented and done right.
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 Finance.
- Typical full remodels land in the low $200s–$300s/month with approved credit, rates as low as 4.49% APR.
- Garden-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.
Straight talk on numbers: the financing figures above are examples from Acorn's programs, not quotes — your actual payment depends on approved credit and the scope of your job. Material prices have moved with recent tariff increases, so don't treat any ballpark as a bid. The free estimate I give you in person uses current numbers.
Why Me and Not the Other Guy
I come out myself. No salesman, no estimator reading from a script. I look at your bathroom, I talk through it with you, and I price it.
One contractor, whole job. Onel Construction LLC is a licensed general contractor — CGC1511492. Plumbing, electrical, tile, glass, fixtures — I run it all. One phone number: (561) 462-9293.
Rated 5.0 stars from 24 Google reviews.
I tell you when you don't need me. If your bathroom needs a re-grout and a new toilet, not a gut job, I'll say so. I'd rather have you call me for the big job later than sell you one you don't need now.
Waterproofing isn't negotiable. Ask the other guy how he waterproofs. Then ask me. Hire whoever gives you the better answer — I'll live with the result.
Related Services
- Kitchen Remodeling in Wellington — kitchens and baths in one project.
- Roof Replacement in Wellington — protect the house you're investing in.
- Bathroom Remodeling in Boca Raton — my main bathroom page, same straight process.
Wellington Bathroom Remodeling FAQ
How long does a bathroom remodel take?
A straightforward hall bath usually runs two to three weeks. A full master suite with a tub-to-shower conversion, tile, and plumbing moves is closer to three to five. I sequence the job — demo, rough work, inspections, tile, fixtures — so there's always progress happening, and I'll give you a real timeline when I see the space.
Do I need a permit in Wellington?
For a real remodel with plumbing or electrical changes, yes. I pull the permit, coordinate the inspections, and build it into the schedule. It's paperwork, not a problem.
Can you keep my existing plumbing layout to save money?
Absolutely — and I'll tell you honestly when the existing layout is fine. Keeping the toilet, sink, and shower where they are is the single biggest cost control in a bathroom remodel. We spend the money on the finishes you'll actually see.
My master bath is huge but dated. Where should the money go?
The shower and the tile. That's where your eyes land and where the daily experience lives. A great walk-in shower with solid tile work and mid-range fixtures beats expensive fixtures on a cheap tile job every time.
Let's Look at Your Wellington Bathroom
Call or text (561) 462-9293. 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.
Onel Construction LLC — 7100 W Camino Real, Ste 302, Boca Raton, FL 33433. Licensed & insured, CGC1511492. Serving Wellington and all of Palm Beach County.
