Sunrise has a lot of bathrooms that time forgot. The 1980s hall bath with the original tub and the cultured-marble vanity. The master bath with a garden tub nobody uses and brass fixtures from another era. The first question I always get: what's a bathroom remodel going to cost? The honest answer depends on the bathroom — but here's exactly what drives the number.
I'm Joe. I run Onel Construction out of Boca Raton. Fifteen years remodeling bathrooms across South Florida, and Sunrise's 70s-through-90s housing stock is exactly the kind of work I do best: solid homes whose bathrooms just need to catch up with the rest of the house.
What Drives the Cost of a Sunrise Bathroom Remodel
The dated tub. This is the Sunrise special — original tubs from the 80s and 90s, many of them stained, chipped, or just tired. A tub-to-shower conversion is my most common bathroom job for good reason: nobody uses the tub, and 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.
Original everything. A lot of Sunrise bathrooms are original to the house — original tile, original plumbing fixtures, original vanity. That's actually good news in one way: the scope is clear, and you're not paying to undo someone else's bad remodel. The budget question is how far you take it: refresh the surfaces, or gut it and build it right for the next thirty years. I'll walk you through both options honestly.
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, fewer grout lines, faster install. Intricate patterns cost more because they take longer. 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. Most Sunrise homes are on slab, so that concrete cutting is real work — sometimes the new layout is worth it, just know every foot of moved plumbing is real money.
Aging in Place — The Smartest Bathroom Money
Sunrise's suburban family homes are where aging-in-place upgrades make the most sense: 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. For you down the road, or for parents who are here now.
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 in Sunrise?
If we're touching plumbing or electrical — and on a real remodel, we are — yes. I pull permits on every job. The inspection protects you: it verifies the drain work, the electrical, the whole rough-in. On a drain reconfiguration I did in Delray Beach, we cut slab and rerouted a drain line — exactly the kind of work you want an inspector verifying.
A contractor who suggests skipping the permit is telling you he doesn't want anyone looking at his 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.
- 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 earn 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.
Related Services
- Kitchen Remodeling in Sunrise — that 80s/90s kitchen is probably next.
- Roof Replacement in Sunrise — the exterior to match the new interior.
- Bathroom Remodeling in Boca Raton — my main bathroom page, same straight process.
Sunrise Bathroom Remodeling FAQ
My bathroom is original to the house — late 80s. Gut it or refresh it?
Depends on condition and your plans. If the tile is solid, the plumbing works, and you like the layout, a refresh — new vanity, toilet, fixtures, re-grout, lighting — buys you a lot of update for modest money. If the tub is shot, the tile is failing, or you want a walk-in shower, gutting it is the honest answer. I'll tell you which one you're looking at when I see it.
Do I need a permit?
For plumbing or electrical changes, yes. I handle the whole process — you don't fill out a thing.
How long does a bathroom remodel take?
A straightforward hall bath is usually two to three weeks. A full master with a tub-to-shower conversion runs three to five. I'll give you a real timeline when I see the space.
Can you match the new bathroom to the rest of my house?
Yes — and it's one of the things I think about on every job. The bathroom should feel like it belongs in your house, not like a showroom that got dropped into it. We pick finishes that work with what you already have.
Let's Look at Your Sunrise 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 Sunrise and all of Broward County.
