A full bathroom remodel, down to the studs

What going down to the studs includes

The exact list depends on what we find once the walls are open, and the contract says how changes are handled if the drain turns out worse than expected. The usual scope looks like this:

• Demolition and haul-away of tile, fixtures, drywall and damaged subfloor
• Drain, vent and supply line changes inside the bathroom
• New circuits for lighting and outlets, and a vented exhaust fan
• Cement board or a waterproofing membrane behind every wet wall
• Tile, vanity, toilet, shower valve and trim, glass, paint

Why older Simi Valley drains decide the scope

In the 1960s to 1980s houses around Texas Tract and Rancho Simi, the drain under the bathroom is frequently the original cast iron. Cast iron rusts from the inside, narrows, and eventually cracks along the bottom where you cannot see it. A bathroom full of new tile sitting on a failing drain is the most expensive mistake in this kind of remodel.

Before pricing a full remodel in an older home we look at how the drain behaves and, where it makes sense, recommend a camera inspection of the line. If it needs replacing, the cheapest time to do it is while the floor is already open, and it is covered under the same permit as the rest of the work.

Choices that set the schedule

Most delays on a full remodel come from decisions, not construction. A shower that waits on a tile order or a glass door that cannot be measured yet holds up everything behind it.

Inspections you should expect

A permitted full remodel gets inspected while the walls are still open, so the inspector can see the pipe, the wiring and the shower waterproofing, and again at the end. The City's FY 2024-25 schedule lists a general inspection service charge of $75.78 per inspection on top of the $171.24 line for interior, non-structural renovation with plumbing, mechanical and electrical work. The City adjusts its fees with inflation, so expect the current figures to be somewhat higher.