Full Bathroom Remodeling in Three Lakes: Scope, Timeline, and What You’ll Pay
Full bathroom remodeling in Three Lakes strips the room to studs and builds back with new layout, plumbing, electrical, finishes, and fixtures. Most projects we run in the 33186 area take 3 to 5 weeks from permit approval to final inspection, depending on whether you’re keeping the existing footprint or moving walls and drains. For a complete gut renovation, homeowners in Three Lakes typically invest between $9,000 and $28,000. Call (844) 665-0162 and we’ll walk your specific space, same week.
How We Handle a Full Bathroom Remodel, Start to Finish
We’ve learned that homeowners stay sane when they know what’s happening Tuesday versus what’s happening in week four. Here’s how we sequence a typical full bathroom remodeling project in Three Lakes.
Stage 1: Demo and rough assessment (Days 1-2)
We remove everything down to the studs and slab, then expose the plumbing stack and electrical runs. This is where we confirm what the walls hid: galvanized supply lines, ungrounded outlets, or previous water intrusion behind the tub surround. You’ll decide now whether to relocate the toilet, expand the shower footprint, or add a second vanity. Moving anything at this stage costs far less than deciding later.
Stage 2: Rough plumbing, electrical, and framing (Days 3-8)
Licensed trades run new supply and drain lines, pull dedicated circuits for heated floors or towel warmers if you’ve spec’d them, and frame any new soffits or partition walls. In Three Lakes, this stage often reveals the real condition of cast-iron drains or aluminum wiring common in 1970s-1980s builds. We flag it immediately; you choose the fix before drywall closes it in.
Stage 3: Inspection and dry-in (Days 9-12)
Miami-Dade requires rough inspections for plumbing and electrical before insulation and wallboard. We schedule these back-to-back to avoid downtime. Once cleared, we hang cement board in wet areas, apply waterproofing membrane, and set tile layout. Your tile pattern and grout color decisions lock in here.
Stage 4: Finish carpentry, tile, and fixture set (Days 13-22)
Flooring goes in, wall tile gets laid, cabinets and countertops are templated and installed. We set toilets, hang doors, install glass enclosures, and connect fixtures. Paint follows. This is the stage where material lead times hurt most, especially if you’ve chosen a custom vanity or imported tile. We order these items at contract signing, not at Stage 4.
Stage 5: Final inspection, punch, and close (Days 23-35)
Miami-Dade’s final building inspection checks for code compliance, GFCI protection, exhaust venting, and proper fixture installation. We walk the space with you, note any touch-ups, and handle them within 48 hours. The permit closes, and you get your completed project folder with inspection records and material warranty cards.
The Material and Layout Choices That Drive Your Full Bathroom Remodeling Project
Every decision below moves your number and your daily experience. We don’t spec products to convenience; you choose the grade and we build to it.
- Vanity cabinets: Stock boxes from big-box retailers run $800-$2,000 installed. Semi-custom lines like KraftMaid or Wellborn let you adjust depth, add drawer banks, and select hardwood fronts, typically $2,500-$5,500. Full custom built-ins with furniture feet and interior organizers can exceed $7,000. The honest trade-off: stock gets you done faster; custom uses every inch of a quirky Three Lakes bathroom layout.
- Countertops: Cultured marble and basic quartz start around $40 per square foot. Engineered quartz from Cambria runs $75-$120 per square foot but carries a lifetime limited warranty and resists etching from the hard Miami-Dade water that degrades natural stone sealers. We see Cambria spec’d most often in master baths where homeowners are tired of resealing every 18 months.
- Shower systems: A fiberglass or acrylic surround installs in a day and costs $1,200-$3,000. Tiled showers with cement board, waterproofing, and porcelain or ceramic tile run $4,500-$9,000. Natural stone tile climbs higher and demands more maintenance. Your water chemistry in Three Lakes, heavy with calcium and magnesium, etches natural stone faster than engineered surfaces.
- Flooring: Luxury vinyl plank handles moisture well and installs over existing subfloor at $3-$8 per square foot. Porcelain tile at $5-$12 per square foot lasts decades but feels colder unless you add electric radiant heat, another $8-$15 per square foot. We wire for this during Stage 2; retrofitting later means tearing up finished floors.
- Fixtures and hardware: Builder-grade chrome sets cost $150-$400. Name-brand pressure-balance valves and finishes like brushed nickel or matte black run $600-$1,800 per fixture location. The mechanical difference is real: cheap cartridges fail in 3-5 years with Three Lakes water hardness; quality valves last 15+.
What Full Bathroom Remodeling Costs in Three Lakes, FL
| Project Component | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Full bathroom remodeling (complete gut, standard layout) | $9,000 - $16,000 |
| Full bathroom remodeling with layout changes, premium materials | $16,000 - $28,000 |
| Plumbing relocation (toilet, shower, or vanity move) | $1,500 - $4,500 |
| Electrical upgrade (panel work, dedicated circuits) | $800 - $2,500 |
| Permit and inspection fees, Miami-Dade | $400 - $900 |
Five variables push your project to the low or high end of that $9,000-$28,000 range. First, bathroom size: a 5×8 hall bath versus a 10×12 master with double vanity and separate water closet. Second, existing condition: homes near Three Lakes’ retention ponds sometimes show slab moisture or prior leak damage that demands subfloor repair. Third, moving plumbing or walls: every relocated drain or supply line adds rough-in labor and inspection cycles. Fourth, material grade: the difference between a $1,200 acrylic shower and a $7,000 tiled walk-in with frameless glass is real and visible. Fifth, permit scope: Miami-Dade’s HVHZ requirements can trigger additional structural review if your remodel touches load-bearing walls or window replacements.
A written estimate from Groundwork includes demo, disposal, rough and finish trades, materials you’ve selected, permit fees, and final inspection coordination. It does not include your tile, fixtures, or vanity if you choose to supply them yourself, though we strongly recommend we procure to maintain warranty chains and NOA compliance.
Why Three Lakes Specifically Changes How We Approach This Job
Three Lakes sits in Miami-Dade County’s High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, the strictest building code jurisdiction in the country. That doesn’t just affect your roof and windows; it affects how we permit and inspect every full bathroom remodeling project here.
The homes we work on most in the 33186 corridor were built between the 1970s and early 1990s, before Hurricane Andrew rewrote the code. Many still have original aluminum windows, non-impact sliding doors to patios, and roof-to-wall connections that don’t meet current HVHZ standards. When a full bathroom remodel includes window replacement or structural wall modification, Miami-Dade requires those elements to meet HVHZ product standards with active Notice of Acceptance numbers. We’ve seen out-of-county contractors spec beautiful windows that sat in a warehouse for three months because they lacked the right NOA documentation.
The flat, limestone terrain and high water table around Three Lakes also matter for any work that breaks slab. If you’re expanding a shower footprint or adding a freestanding tub that needs floor reinforcement, we often hit groundwater within the first 8-12 inches of excavation. We plan for sump pumping and rapid-set concrete to keep the schedule intact. The porous Miami oolite beneath provides solid bearing once we reach it, but getting there without flooding the work area takes foresight that crews unfamiliar with South Florida flatland routinely underestimate.
Finally, many Three Lakes communities operate under HOA architectural review boards that require material samples and contractor insurance certificates before work begins. We submit these packets as standard practice; skipping this step can cost you two weeks waiting for board approval after you’ve already torn out your only bathroom.
Serving Three Lakes, FL - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Three Lakes area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked - Full Bathroom Remodeling in Three Lakes
Most complete gut renovations finish in 3 to 5 weeks from permit approval, assuming no layout changes or backordered materials. Call (844) 665-0162 for a timeline based on your specific bathroom and material choices.
Yes. Miami-Dade County requires permits for any plumbing, electrical, or structural work, which a full remodel always involves. We handle submittal, NOA verification, and inspection scheduling as part of our project management.
Absolutely. Keeping the existing “wet wall” location is the single biggest cost control in full bathroom remodeling. You’ll still get new everything, just in the same footprint, which typically lands in the lower half of our $9,000-$28,000 range.
Full bathroom remodeling in Three Lakes means complete demo to studs, new layout if desired, and all-new systems and finishes. Our Bathroom Remodeling in Three Lakes page covers the full vertical including smaller projects, while Bathroom Remodeling explains how our crew approaches every bath project across South Florida. Homeowners in Three Lakes often pair a full bath remodel with exterior work; we frequently coordinate timing with Roof Repair in Three Lakes or Roof Replacement & Installation in Three Lakes so you’re not living through two separate construction cycles.
We warranty our workmanship for one year, and the materials you select carry their own manufacturer warranties, typically 5 years to lifetime depending on the brand. We register these warranties in your name and deliver the documentation at project close.
Ready to Talk Through Your Full Bathroom Remodeling Project?
We’ll walk your Three Lakes bathroom, measure the space, check existing conditions, and deliver a written estimate with real material options from our 50+ brand partnerships. No deposit required to schedule. Call (844) 665-0162 or request your free on-site consultation this week.
Written by Raymond Estevez, Owner at Groundwork Construction Co., serving Three Lakes and South Florida homeowners with full-scope residential construction.