What to know before you start
A bathroom is a small room with a lot of water in it. The parts that matter most, like the shower pan, the waterproofing and the fan duct, end up hidden behind tile and drywall. When they're done wrong, the damage shows up later in a ceiling or a subfloor.
DougCO Builds writes those details into the scope before anyone bids. Our estimator measures the room, checks the floor for soft spots, notes where the drains and vents run, and draws a plan if fixtures are moving. Contractors then price the same bathroom, and DougCO Builds walks the job with you and the builder at milestones and at the end.
What the job includes
- Demolition down to the studs or subfloor where needed
- Subfloor repair where water has softened it
- Shower pan, waterproofing membrane and backer board
- Tile for floors, shower walls and niches
- Vanity, sink, faucet, toilet and mirror
- Tub, shower valve and glass enclosure
- An exhaust fan vented outdoors, with a timer or humidity switch
- Ground-fault protected outlets, lighting and paint
What we scope
Tub-to-shower conversion
Replacing an unused tub with a walk-in shower, often with a bench, a niche and a glass door.
Primary bath remodel
A full redo of the main bathroom: double vanity, larger shower, freestanding tub, new tile and lighting.
Hall and kids' baths
Durable tile, a tub-shower combo and storage for a bathroom that gets heavy daily use.
Accessible bathrooms
Curbless or low-curb showers, grab bars with solid blocking, wider doors and comfort-height toilets for aging in place.
Powder rooms
A half-bath refresh with a new vanity, toilet, lighting and wall finish.
What drives the cost
Every project is different, so your True Bid prices yours line by line after the site visit. These are the things that move the price most.
- Moving fixtures
- Relocating a toilet, shower drain or vanity means cutting into floors and rerouting drain lines.
- Tile choices
- Large-format tile, natural stone, mosaics and detailed patterns take more labor and create more waste than standard tile.
- Shower design
- A curbless shower, multiple heads or a steam unit cost more than a standard shower with one valve.
- Glass
- Frameless glass is heavier and pricier than a framed door or a curtain rod.
- Hidden damage
- Rot or mold under an old tub or toilet only shows up once the floor is opened.
- Fixture grade
- Faucets, valves, vanities and tubs run from basic to designer, and the same layout can price very differently.
Permits and HOAs in Douglas County
Replacing a vanity, toilet or faucet in the same spot often doesn't need a permit. Moving drains, adding a shower or running new circuits usually does. Incorporated towns, including Castle Rock, Parker, Lone Tree, Castle Pines and Larkspur, issue their own permits. Highlands Ranch, Franktown, Sedalia and other unincorporated areas go through Douglas County's Building Division. Requirements vary, so check with your building department.
Plumbing and electrical work should go to Colorado-licensed plumbers and electricians. In a home built before 1978, painted walls and trim may contain lead, and the EPA requires lead-safe certified contractors for work that disturbs it.
Built for Douglas County
Colorado's dry air helps a bathroom dry out between showers, but it doesn't make up for a bad fan. The fan should vent all the way outside, not into the attic, where warm, wet air can frost on the roof sheathing in winter and drip back down when it thaws.
Front Range cold snaps can freeze supply lines that run through exterior walls. If a new shower or vanity sits on an outside wall, ask how the pipes will be routed and insulated. Low humidity also dries out caulk and grout, so plan on checking and resealing them now and then.
How DougCO Builds runs your project
- Tell us about itSend the basics through the project form. We call to set up a site visit.
- One site visitOur estimator measures, photographs what's there and talks through what you want.
- Your True BidYou get a written, line-by-line scope and a budget before any contractor sees the job.
- Contractors bid on the same scopeVetted local contractors bid without your contact details. You compare the bids side by side.
- We manage it with youWe check insurance and licensing before work starts, then walk the job at milestones and at the finish.
Questions to ask before you hire
- What waterproofing system will you use in the shower, and will you flood-test the pan?
- Where does the exhaust fan vent, and is it sized for the room?
- What happens to the price if you find rot or mold under the floor?
- Who handles the plumbing and electrical, and are they licensed in Colorado?
- Are the lead times for glass, tile and the vanity built into the schedule?
Bathroom Remodeling questions
Do I need a permit to remodel a bathroom?
Cosmetic work like a new vanity or toilet in the same spot often doesn't. Moving drains, adding a shower or running new circuits usually does. Your town or Douglas County issues it, depending on where you live, and your contractor pulls it.
Should I convert my tub to a shower?
It depends on how you use the room and who might live in the house later. Families with young kids often want a tub, so many homeowners keep one tub in the house and convert the other. We can scope both options.
Can I stay in the house while the bathroom is remodeled?
Yes, if you have another working bathroom. If it's your only one, ask the contractor how long the toilet will be out and whether they can keep it working through most of the job.
What is a curbless shower?
A shower with no step at the entry, so the bathroom floor runs straight into it. It takes careful floor framing and slope to keep water where it belongs, so it's easier to plan during a full remodel than to add later.
