Full-Scope Bathroom Contractors Near Me in South Florida
Homeowners searching for Bathroom Remodeling Near Me in South Florida, FL typically find crews that handle tile or paint but can’t pull a building permit or move a drain line. A true full-scope bathroom contractor holds a Florida CGC license, manages every trade under one contract, and delivers a finished, inspected space without handing you a list of additional subs to coordinate. If you’re planning a real renovation, not a surface refresh, call (844) 665-0162 for a free estimate and permit-ready scope.
South Florida’s bathroom market looks crowded until you scratch the surface. Miami-Dade and Broward counties are packed with specialty license holders, tile crews, painting contractors, and handyman operations advertising “bathroom remodeling.” Most can’t legally touch plumbing, relocate a toilet, or pull the building permit that structural and electrical work requires. The homeowner often becomes the de facto general contractor by default, juggling separate plumbers, electricians, and inspectors while assuming liability they’d never knowingly take on.
Why Most “Bathroom Remodelers” Aren’t Actually Bathroom Contractors
Florida licensing draws a sharp line that many homeowners don’t discover until they’re mid-project. A specialty contractor, tile installer, or cabinet company can legally install finishes. They cannot, under a single contract, relocate plumbing rough-in, add GFCI circuits, modify structural walls, or close out a building permit that covers all trades. That requires a Certified General Contractor, CGC, licensed through the Florida DBPR.
We’ve walked into too many Coral Gables and Hollywood jobs where a tile crew opened walls, found galvanized plumbing from the 1960s, and simply tiled around it. The homeowner paid twice, once for the cosmetic work and again for us to gut, replumb, and rebuild properly. Raymond Estevez, our owner, grew up in Hialeah watching his uncle rebuild houses block by block. He learned early that shortcuts in wet rooms always surface eventually, usually with mold behind the new tile.
Here’s what separates a full-scope bathroom contractor from the fragmented alternatives you’ll find searching bathroom contractors near me:
- Single permit, single contract: One CGC license covers structural, plumbing, electrical, and finish work, no gaps, no homeowner-as-GC liability.
- In-house trade coordination: Licensed plumbers and electricians work under our supervision, not pulled from a Craigslist list you have to vet yourself.
- Material accountability: We specify brands like KraftMaid and Wellborn cabinetry, Cambria and Silestone countertops, so you know what’s going in before demolition starts.
- Inspection scheduling: We call rough plumbing, electrical, and final inspections, not you, and we don’t close walls until they pass.
The alternative, hiring a tile crew and self-coordinating trades, makes you the general contractor under Florida law. That means you carry the workers’ comp and liability exposure if a plumber’s apprentice gets injured on your property. Most homeowners don’t realize this until it’s too late to unwind.
What Full-Scope Bathroom Remodeling Costs in South Florida
How much does a Bathtub Replacement Cost in South Florida, FL run with a licensed general contractor? Most projects we build fall between $9,000 and $28,000, depending on scope, material tier, and whether we’re moving plumbing or working within existing walls. Small bathrooms with fixture swaps and surface updates trend toward the lower end. Full gut renovations with relocated drains, custom showers, and imported tile climb toward the upper range.
| Project Type | Price Range | Typical Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Small Bathroom Remodel | $5,000-$12,000 | Fixture replacement, surface refresh, no plumbing relocation |
| Standard Bathroom Remodel | $9,000-$28,000 | Gut renovation, possible plumbing move, mid-tier materials |
| Walk-In Shower Installation | $4,500-$12,000 | Custom pan, glass enclosure, tile or solid surface walls |
| Tub-to-Shower Conversion | $3,500-$10,000 | Remove tub, install shower base, waterproofing, finish |
| Shower Replacement | $3,000-$8,500 | Like-for-like swap or minor layout change |
| Bathroom Vanity Installation | $800-$3,000 | Single or double vanity, countertop, faucet set |
South Florida’s coastal climate affects these numbers directly. We spec moisture-resistant backer board, mold-preventing waterproofing membranes, and exhaust ventilation sized for our humidity loads. A bathroom that survives August in Fort Lauderdale needs different detailing than one in Orlando or Tampa. We build for that reality, not a catalog photo.
Our Bathroom Remodeling page breaks down material tiers and brand options in more detail. On this page, we’re focused on what you should verify before signing any contract in this market.
How to Vet a Bathroom Contractor in South Florida: A Three-Item Checklist
Can I verify if a bathroom contractor is properly licensed in Florida? Yes, and you should before any deposit changes hands. The DBPR license lookup takes two minutes. Here’s what we tell neighbors in Hialeah, clients in Aventura, and anyone who calls us after a bad experience elsewhere:
Verify the license type, not just the number. A “CBC” or “CRC” is a residential or general contractor. A “SPT” or “CPT” is a specialty tile or painting license. For a full bathroom remodel involving plumbing, electrical, and structural work, you need a CGC or CBC. Anything less and you’re either limiting scope or assuming liability.
Check active permit history through the county portal. Miami-Dade and Broward both maintain searchable databases. A contractor with recent, varied permit history is actively building. One with gaps or only fence permits may be borrowing a license or inactive. We maintain active permits across all seven service categories we offer, from bathroom remodeling to roofing to ADU construction.
Demand a written scope that names the permit number. Vague proposals with no permit plan are a red flag. Our scopes specify which trades we permit, which inspections we schedule, and what brands we install. You choose the brand, we handle the build. That’s how a professional operation works.
A contractor with established accounts at KraftMaid, Wellborn, Cambria, and Silestone is operating at a volume and credit level that transient crews can’t match. It’s not snobbery, it’s a proxy for business longevity. We’ve seen too many “contractors” disappear after deposit, leaving homeowners to chase a disconnected cell number.
Why Single-Source Accountability Matters for Your Bathroom Project
What happens when something goes wrong mid-remodel? With fragmented contractors, you get circular blame. The tile crew points to the plumber. The plumber says the electrician moved his rough-in. The electrician’s voicemail is full. We’ve inherited these messes in Pembroke Pines, Davie, and throughout Broward, usually after a homeowner has already paid twice and still has an unfinished bathroom.
One contractor, every phase. That’s the model we built Groundwork around. Raymond Estevez runs this company with the same discipline he learned at Miami Dade College’s School of Engineering and Technology, sharpened over two decades building through hurricane seasons and code cycles. He’ll tell you straight: “Do it right the first time or you’ll do it twice, and the second time always costs more.” We’ve found that homeowners who’ve done their homework appreciate the directness. They don’t want cheerleading, they want a bathroom that passes inspection and stays dry.
Our full-scope capability extends from driveway to roofline, but bathrooms and Bathtub Replacement projects are where the trades converge most densely. Plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, tile, ventilation, finish carpentry, all in 50 square feet. Coordinating that through separate contractors is a project management job most homeowners didn’t sign up for.
FAQs
Search the Florida DBPR license database for “Certified General Contractor” or “Certified Building Contractor” status, then confirm active permit history in your county’s building portal. Call (844) 665-0162 and we’ll verify our license and current permits directly, no runaround.
Separate trades often appear cheaper upfront but cost more once you factor in rework, permit penalties, and the liability you assume as the de facto general contractor. A single licensed contractor carries general liability and workers’ comp across every trade, and coordinates inspections without billing you for project management. For most South Florida homeowners, the bundled approach saves money and headaches.
A full bathroom remodel with a licensed general contractor in South Florida typically ranges from $9,000 to $28,000, with small bathrooms or surface-only updates starting around $5,000 and luxury gut renovations with custom materials reaching the upper end. Call (844) 665-0162 for a free estimate based on your specific layout and material choices.
We manage licensed plumbers and electricians as part of our in-house project team, all under our CGC license and insurance. You sign one contract, we coordinate every trade, pull every permit, and schedule every inspection. That’s what full-scope bathroom contracting means in Florida.
Ready to Talk Scope?
If you’re tired of contractor estimates that leave out half the work, or crews that can’t explain how your permit gets closed, call (844) 665-0162. We’ll walk your job site, define the full scope in writing, and give you a free estimate with real numbers, real brands, and a real permit plan. One contractor, every phase. Built to spec, not to convenience.
Written by Raymond Estevez, Owner & General Contractor, Groundwork Construction Co. of South Florida at Groundwork Construction Co. of South Florida, serving South Florida, FL.