What the plumbing costs in a bathroom renovation
The plumbing portion of a Metro Vancouver bathroom renovation typically runs $3,500–$12,000 — usually 15–25% of the total project budget. The single biggest factor is whether fixtures stay in their existing positions or move.
These are market ranges for Metro Vancouver, not a quote. They’re here so you can plan and compare, and they’re reviewed quarterly.
What it costs
What decides where in the range you land
The most expensive single decision. Drains need fall, and on a concrete slab or in a condo that ranges from difficult to impossible. Ask before designing the layout around it.
Drain relocation plus, potentially, venting.
Wall-mounted taps, wall-hung toilets, freestanding tub fillers and thermostatic valves each need specific rough-in. Choose fixtures before rough-in, not after — this is the most common sequencing mistake in bathroom renovations and it's an expensive one.
Joists give you room to run and re-route. A slab doesn't.
If we open the wall and find Poly-B, Kitec or galvanized, that's a decision point — and the cheapest moment you'll ever have to deal with it.
Strata approval, scheduled building shut-off, elevator booking, noise hours.
Straightforward now, a real job later.
What people ask us
What percentage of a bathroom renovation is plumbing?
Typically 15–25%.
Can I move the toilet?
Sometimes — it depends on drain fall and floor construction.
Do I need a permit?
Generally yes where fixtures move or lines change.
Do you supply the fixtures?
Either. We'll install what you've bought or supply from our suppliers.
Got a quote you want checked?
Send it to [email protected]. We’ll tell you whether it’s fair, including when it is — and if the quote you already have is the one to take, we’ll say so.
