Why Bathroom Renovations Are the Most Requested Job We See
If there's one renovation that Kamloops homeowners consistently underestimate — both in cost and in the value it delivers — it's the bathroom. Kitchens get more attention in the design press, but bathrooms are used multiple times a day by every person in the house. They show their age earlier, they're among the most technically complex rooms to renovate, and a well-executed bathroom update consistently ranks among the highest returns of any home improvement project.
At Hodder Construction, bathroom renovations are one of the most common jobs we're called in for — everything from a simple refresh of fixtures and tile in an ensuite to full gut-to-studs rebuilds that move plumbing, replace subfloor, and reconfigure layouts for better function. Here's a realistic look at what bathroom renovations cost in Kamloops in 2026, where the money goes, and how to plan a project that comes out the way you pictured it.
The Three Tiers of Bathroom Renovation in Kamloops
Like almost every renovation category, bathroom work spans a wide range depending on scope, quality of finishes, and what surprises are hiding behind the walls. Here's how the tiers break down in Kamloops in 2026:
Surface refresh: $8,000–$18,000. New fixtures (toilet, vanity, faucet), fresh tile on the shower surround or floor, updated lighting, paint, and mirrors — with no changes to plumbing rough-ins or layout. This is the right approach when the bones are solid and you mainly want the room to look and feel current. It's also the tier where DIY-partial projects are most realistic: a homeowner can often handle demo, painting, and simple fixture swaps, calling in trades only for plumbing and electrical connections.
Mid-range renovation: $18,000–$40,000. Full tile replacement including waterproofing behind it, new tub or dedicated shower enclosure, new vanity cabinetry and countertop, in-floor heating, updated electrical (GFCI, exhaust fan, possibly added circuits), and potentially minor layout adjustments within the existing rough-in locations. This is where most Kamloops bathroom renovations land, and it's the tier where professional project management makes the most difference in outcome.
Full renovation or master suite upgrade: $40,000–$80,000+. Moving plumbing rough-ins to change the layout, expanding the room footprint, adding a freestanding tub alongside a walk-in shower, custom tiled shower enclosures with frameless glass, heated tile floors, floating vanities with integrated lighting, custom millwork, steam shower, or any combination of high-end finishes and scope changes. These projects treat the bathroom as a genuine design feature of the home rather than a utility room, and the results — done well — reflect it.
Where the Money Goes: A Typical Bathroom Budget Breakdown
Understanding how a bathroom renovation budget breaks down helps you make smarter decisions about where to invest and where to pull back.
Tile and waterproofing: 20–30%. Tile is one of the most visible components of any bathroom renovation, and it's also one of the most consequential. Poor waterproofing behind tile is the source of most serious bathroom failures — water intrusion that damages framing, subfloor, and eventually the room below. On any renovation that touches the shower or wet areas, we use a continuous waterproofing membrane (Schluter KERDI or similar) rather than traditional tar paper or cement board alone. The material cost difference is modest; the long-term protection is significant.
Plumbing rough-in and fixtures: 20–25%. This covers moving or extending supply and drain lines (if needed), installing a new toilet, vanity faucets, shower valve and trim, tub spout, and any in-floor heating rough-in. Fixture quality varies enormously — a toilet ranges from $300 to $2,500+, and shower valves from $200 to $1,500+ before trim. Budget-conscious choices here save real money without visible compromise; premium choices here often are noticeable every day.
Vanity, countertop, and millwork: 15–20%. The vanity is often the visual anchor of a bathroom. Stock vanities from local suppliers start around $600–$1,200 for a 36–48 inch unit; semi-custom options run $1,500–$4,000; fully custom built-in millwork can reach $6,000–$15,000 for a substantial master bathroom. Stone or quartz countertops are now standard in mid-range and up renovations, typically $500–$1,200 for a bathroom application.
Electrical: 8–12%. This includes GFCI outlets at all wet locations (code requirement), updated exhaust ventilation (a surprising number of older Kamloops homes have bath fans that vent into the attic rather than outside — not to code), lighting upgrades, in-floor heating thermostat, and any panel work required for new circuits. Don't skip proper exhaust ventilation; it's the cheapest insurance against mould problems.
Labour and project management: 20–25%. This is the tile setter, plumber, electrician, drywaller, painter, and whoever is coordinating them so they show up in the right sequence. Sequence matters enormously in bathroom renovations — rough plumbing before subfloor, subfloor before tile, tile before fixtures, fixtures before trim — and getting it wrong means a trade has to come back, which adds cost and delay.
Contingency: 10–15%. Bathrooms in older homes have a strong tendency to reveal water damage, outdated wiring, or subfloor rot once the walls come down. A 10–15% contingency isn't pessimism; it's an accurate accounting of how older Kamloops housing stock typically behaves.
Permits: What You Actually Need
Many Kamloops homeowners assume a bathroom renovation — especially a like-for-like fixture replacement — doesn't need a permit. That's partially true, but the line is worth knowing clearly.
No permit required: Replacing a toilet, vanity, faucet, light fixture, or exhaust fan in the same location with no changes to plumbing rough-ins or electrical circuits. Simple like-for-like swaps.
Building permit required: Any work that moves plumbing rough-ins, relocates a wall, changes the bathroom's footprint, or involves structural modifications. Also required if you're converting a closet or other space into a new bathroom.
Plumbing permit required: Even without a building permit, if a licensed plumber is extending or rerouting supply or drain lines, a plumbing permit is required in the City of Kamloops.
Electrical permit required: Adding circuits, upgrading panels, or installing in-floor heating typically requires a permit and inspection.
The practical takeaway: a genuine renovation almost always involves at least a plumbing or electrical permit, if not a full building permit. Working with a licensed contractor who pulls permits protects you — the homeowner — when it comes time to sell, and ensures the work passes inspection.
Layout: The Decisions That Are Hard to Change Later
Most bathroom layout decisions are set by where the existing plumbing rough-ins are located, and changing them is expensive enough that most renovations work within the existing layout. But if you're doing a significant renovation anyway, it's worth having a conversation about layout before the walls come down.
A few layout changes that often are worth the plumbing cost:
- Separating the toilet from the tub/shower in a standard "three-piece" bathroom — relocating the toilet to its own wall section with a knee wall — improves privacy and makes the space feel larger.
- Adding a dedicated shower enclosure where there was only a tub-shower combo, or vice versa, changes how the room functions and who uses it comfortably.
- Enlarging the vanity wall by stealing a few inches from an adjacent closet can turn a cramped single-sink layout into a proper double-sink configuration — a meaningful quality-of-life change for couples sharing a primary bathroom.
These changes require opening more wall surface, adjusting drain and supply lines, and sometimes engaging a plumber and framer together. But if the walls are coming down anyway, the incremental cost of a smart layout change is far smaller than doing it as a standalone project later.
Common Upgrades Worth the Investment in Kamloops
In-floor heating. One of the most consistently appreciated upgrades, especially given Kamloops winters. A heated tile floor mat for a standard bathroom costs $500–$1,500 in materials and a modest amount in labour to set in the tile adhesive. The running cost is low (it's typically only on while in use via a programmable thermostat). Homeowners who install it almost universally say it's worth it.
Proper exhaust ventilation. Not glamorous, but critical. An undersized or improperly terminated bath fan is the primary cause of bathroom mould problems in Kamloops homes. A properly sized, quiet HRV-connected or exterior-vented fan ($200–$600 installed) extends the life of your renovation significantly.
Walk-in shower vs. tub. If your home has another tub (or if you genuinely don't use the one in this bathroom), replacing a tub-shower combo with a tiled walk-in shower often improves both function and resale appeal. The shift toward large walk-in showers continues to dominate Kamloops renovation design in 2026 — frameless glass enclosures with large-format tile or slab surrounds are consistently among the most requested finishes we see.
Storage built-ins. A recessed medicine cabinet, a niche in the shower wall, or a built-in linen cabinet within the bathroom footprint — these solve real problems without adding square footage.
Getting the Most Out of Your Budget
A few choices that consistently stretch bathroom renovation dollars further:
- Decide on tile before you demo. Tile lead times can run 4–8 weeks for special orders. Choosing tile early means it's on-site when the setter arrives, not the other way around.
- Stay in the same footprint. The most expensive thing in a bathroom renovation is moving a drain line. Every decision that doesn't require it saves money.
- Invest in quality rough-in work, moderate on finishes. A $90 toilet performs identically to a $600 toilet and is invisible to guests. Waterproofing and drain quality are not visible and matter enormously. Spend accordingly.
- Don't over-specify for the neighbourhood. A $70,000 primary bathroom renovation in a $600,000 home recovers value differently than the same spend in an $800,000 home. Know your market before going to the top of the range.
- Book trades early. In 2026, good tile setters and plumbers in Kamloops are booking 6–10 weeks out. The projects that go smoothly are the ones where trades are scheduled before demo begins, not after.
Working With Hodder on Your Bathroom Renovation
Bathroom renovations are technically demanding, heavily sequenced, and sensitive to what's behind the walls — which is exactly the type of project where having an experienced general contractor coordinate the trades makes the most difference. Hodder Construction has been renovating bathrooms across Kamloops and the Thompson Okanagan for more than 40 years. We know the local trades, the permit process, and the housing stock — and we've seen most of what hides behind tile and drywall in Kamloops homes built from the 1960s through today.
Whether you're planning a modest refresh or a full primary suite transformation, we're happy to walk through your space, understand your priorities, and give you a realistic number before you commit. [Request an estimate at hodder.ca/estimate](https://www.hodder.ca/estimate) and let's start the conversation.