Full Bathroom Remodeling in Lakes by the Bay, FL - Scope, Timeline, and Cost
A full bathroom remodeling in Lakes by the Bay strips the room to studs and rebuilds it with new layout, plumbing, electrical, finishes, and fixtures. Most projects take 3 to 5 weeks from permit approval to final inspection, with the demolition and rough-in phases consuming the first 10 to 14 days. In the 33189 market, you’re typically looking at $9,000 to $28,000 depending on whether you’re keeping the existing footprint or moving walls and plumbing. Call (844) 665-0162 and we’ll walk through your specific layout and give you a written estimate.
How we run a full bathroom remodel from start to finish
We’ve done enough of these in Lakes by the Bay to know where the surprises hide. Here’s the actual sequence we follow, what happens when, and what you’ll need to decide at each stage.
Stage 1: Demolition and discovery (2-3 days)
We pull everything - vanity, tub or shower surround, toilet, flooring, drywall down to the studs. In Lakes by the Bay homes built between 1987 and the mid-1990s, this is where we find the real condition of what’s behind the walls. Older cast-iron drains, galvanized supply lines, and single-wrap hurricane straps in pre-Andrew homes aren’t uncommon. We document it all with photos and sit down with you before proceeding.
Stage 2: Rough plumbing, electrical, and structural (3-5 days)
If you’re keeping the toilet, sink, and tub or shower in their current locations, this stage moves fast. Relocate any of them and we’re opening floors, sometimes cutting concrete slab to reroute drains - a significant cost driver in this area given the shallow water table and FEMA flood-zone requirements that govern much of 33189. Electrical gets brought up to current Miami-Dade code, including GFCI protection, dedicated vent-fan circuits, and proper exhaust routing. You’ll decide on final fixture locations and lighting layout here; changes after this point get expensive.
Stage 3: Insulation, cement board, and waterproofing (2-3 days)
Wet-area waterproofing is non-negotiable in South Florida’s humidity. We use cement board with liquid-applied or sheet membrane systems in shower and tub surrounds, extending waterproofing to the full wall height in steam-shower applications. Floor prep happens now - self-leveling compounds if needed, especially in older slabs that have settled.
Stage 4: Tile, flooring, fixture install, and trim (5-10 days)
The visible work. Tile layout gets finalized with you on-site before any cuts happen. We install the vanity, connect plumbing fixtures, hang mirrors and lighting, and set toilets. Custom cabinetry or special-order items can extend this window. This is also when we coordinate the final plumbing and electrical inspections.
Stage 5: Final inspection, punch list, and completion (1-2 days)
Miami-Dade requires a final building inspection for permitted bathroom work involving plumbing or electrical changes. We schedule it, address any corrections immediately, and walk the space with you item by item. You’re not signing off until it’s right.
The material and configuration choices that shape your remodel
Full bathroom remodeling means you’ll make a dozen decisions that affect cost, durability, and daily use. These are the ones that move the number most:
- Vanity cabinet grade: Stock boxes from big-box stores run $400-$1,200. Semi-custom lines like KraftMaid or Wellborn start around $1,800 and let you adjust widths, depths, and interior configurations. Fully custom built-ins can exceed $4,000 but solve odd wall lengths or specific storage needs.
- Countertop material: Cultured marble and basic quartz surfacing hit the budget end at $40-$70 per square foot installed. Engineered quartz from Cambria, Silestone, or Caesarstone runs $75-$140 installed depending on edge detail and slab thickness. Natural stone like marble or granite varies widely by availability.
- Shower/tub configuration: Keeping a tub-shower combo is your most space-efficient option. A separate walk-in shower and freestanding tub demands more square footage and roughly doubles the wet-area waterproofing and tile labor. Curbless entries require precise floor recessing - possible in slab homes but more involved.
- Tile selection: Ceramic wall tile at $3-$8 per square foot keeps costs controlled. Large-format porcelain ($8-$18) reduces grout lines and reads more contemporary. Natural stone requires sealing and ongoing maintenance that many homeowners underestimate.
- Plumbing fixture tier: Name-brand pressure-balance valves and trim from Moen, Delta, or Kohler in their standard lines perform reliably for 15+ years. Moving to thermostatic valves, digital controls, or designer finishes adds $800-$2,500 to fixture costs alone.
What full bathroom remodeling costs in Lakes by the Bay, FL
| Cost factor | Low-end range | High-end range |
|---|---|---|
| Full bathroom remodel, same footprint | $9,000 | $16,000 |
| Full bathroom remodel with plumbing relocation | $15,000 | $22,000 |
| Full bathroom remodel with structural changes, custom cabinetry, premium surfaces | $20,000 | $28,000 |
Five variables push you toward the top or bottom of that range. Square footage matters - a 5×8 hall bath simply has less surface area than a 10×12 primary bath. The condition of existing plumbing is huge; replacing accessible copper is quick, chasing galvanized through a slab is not. Moving fixtures to new walls adds rough-in labor and often requires engineering review in Miami-Dade’s high-velocity hurricane zone. Material grade multiplies fast - the difference between a $900 vanity package and a $3,200 one is just one decision. Finally, permit scope affects timeline and cost; any structural modification triggers plan review that standard cosmetic permits skip.
Our written estimates itemize labor, materials, permit fees, and a line for contingency on older homes where we suspect hidden conditions. We don’t bury markup in vague allowances.
What Lakes by the Bay homes do to this job
The housing stock here shapes nearly every full bathroom remodel we take on. Lakes by the Bay was built almost entirely in the late 1980s and early 1990s, which puts it directly at the fault line of Hurricane Andrew. We regularly work on two distinct categories of homes: original construction permitted under the older South Florida Building Code, and post-Andrew rebuilds or heavy renovations that had to meet the dramatically tightened NOA standards.
In pre-1993 homes, we find under-engineered roof-to-wall connections that don’t affect the bathroom directly but signal the overall construction era we’re dealing with. More relevant to our work: older cast-iron drains, non-GFCI electrical circuits, and sometimes original fiberglass tub-shower surrounds that have cracked from decades of thermal cycling in unconditioned wall cavities. The shallow water table throughout this planned community - those man-made lakes are everywhere, and Biscayne Bay sits just to the east - means any slab cutting for drain relocation risks water intrusion. We plan for dewatering and coordinate with Miami-Dade’s flood-zone permitting requirements that cover much of 33189.
Post-Andrew rebuilds are generally more straightforward. Updated electrical, copper or PEX plumbing, and slabs that were re-poured to current standards. But even within the same street, we’ve seen both types. We never assume.
Homeowners in Lakes by the Bay often pair a full bathroom remodeling project with exterior work once they realize the age of their roof framing or window systems. It’s common for us to scope Roof Repair in Lakes by the Bay or Roof Replacement & Installation in Lakes by the Bay while we’re already coordinating permits and inspections for the interior job. One contractor handling both keeps timelines aligned and eliminates the finger-pointing between separate crews.
Serving Lakes by the Bay, FL - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in our Lakes by the Bay service 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 Lakes by the Bay
Most full bathroom remodeling projects in Lakes by the Bay take 3 to 5 weeks from permit approval, with 10 to 14 days for demolition through rough-in and the remainder for finishes and inspections. Miami-Dade’s permit review adds 1 to 3 weeks before work starts, which we handle for you. Call (844) 665-0162 and we can check current turnaround times.
Yes, if you’re moving plumbing, electrical, or structural elements - which a full remodel almost always does. Miami-Dade County requires permits for plumbing and electrical changes, and any wall modification needs structural review in this high-velocity hurricane zone. We pull permits as part of our standard process and schedule inspections.
Absolutely, and it’s the single biggest way to control cost. Keeping the toilet, vanity, and tub or shower in their existing locations eliminates slab cutting, drain rerouting, and the engineering review that plumbing relocation triggers in flood-zone areas like 33189. We design around your current footprint whenever budget is a priority.
A full bathroom remodeling project includes complete demolition to studs, new or relocated plumbing and electrical, waterproofing, new surfaces throughout, and all new fixtures and lighting. It’s distinct from a partial update - say, replacing a vanity and toilet while keeping the existing shower - which is closer to our Bathroom Remodeling in Lakes by the Bay scope. Full remodels are what you need when the layout doesn’t work, the plumbing is failing, or you’re preparing the home for long-term use.
We warranty our workmanship on full bathroom remodeling projects, and the materials we install carry their own manufacturer warranties - typically 10 years to lifetime on plumbing fixtures, depending on brand and line. We register warranties with manufacturers on your behalf and document everything in your project closeout packet. For specifics on your selected fixtures, ask during the estimate.
Ready to talk through your full bathroom remodel?
We’ll come to your home for Bathroom Remodeling, measure the space, check what’s behind the walls if possible, and deliver a written estimate with itemized costs and a realistic timeline. No pressure, no deposit required to review the proposal. Call Groundwork Construction Co. at (844) 665-0162 or reach out through our site to schedule your free on-site consultation.
Written by Raymond Estevez, Owner at Groundwork Construction Co., serving Lakes by the Bay and South Florida homeowners.