2 Oct 2026
Bathroom Remodeling in Miami: What Drives the Price, the Timeline and the Permit
A bathroom remodel in South Florida can mean two very different jobs. One is a refresh on the existing lines: new vanity, toilet, faucet, mirror, lighting and paint, with the plumbing staying where it is. The other is a full remodel: the room stripped to the studs, a tub turned into a walk-in shower, new tile on the walls and floor, and sometimes plumbing moved to a new layout. Knowing which one you are planning answers most of the questions about price, schedule and permits before anyone gives you a number.
The short answer
- Price is driven by the scope (refresh vs. full remodel), the tile area and tile type, whether plumbing or electrical moves, and the fixtures you choose. Every Gold Hands bathroom quote is written line by line — demolition, waterproofing, tile, vanity and fixtures, glass, paint — so you can see what each part costs.
- Timeline: a refresh on existing lines is usually a matter of days. A full remodel with a tiled shower takes longer because waterproofing and tile need curing time, and permitted work adds inspections.
- Permit: moving plumbing or electrical, changing the layout or anything structural needs one. In our case those permits are pulled and the work performed under our Florida-licensed general contractor partner. A cosmetic update on existing lines usually needs none.
What actually moves the price
1. Scope. Swapping a vanity, toilet and faucet on existing connections is the smallest version of a remodel. Converting a tub to a walk-in shower is a different job: the tub comes out, the drain may need to move, the walls are rebuilt and waterproofed, and the floor is sloped to the drain.
2. Tile. Tile is usually the biggest labor line. The area matters, but so does the tile itself — large-format porcelain needs a flatter wall and floor, natural stone needs sealing, and small mosaics take longer to set and grout. A niche or a bench adds detail work.
3. What's behind the wall. In older South Florida homes we often find soft drywall behind a tub surround, rusted supply lines or a subfloor that needs leveling. A good quote names these risks up front instead of discovering them as change orders.
4. Fixtures and glass. You can supply your own vanity, faucets and shower glass, or have us source them. Either way, materials are listed separately from labor so the comparison is honest.
How long it takes, honestly
We don't quote a universal number of days because it depends on the job, but the sequence is predictable:
- Demolition and debris removal.
- Rough work: any plumbing or electrical changes, framing for a niche or bench, new backer board.
- Waterproofing of the shower walls and floor — the step that decides whether a shower lasts in Miami humidity.
- Tile and grout, with curing time before the shower is used.
- Fixtures, glass, paint, then a walkthrough against the quote.
If the project needs a permit, inspections happen between these steps, and your schedule includes them.
Condo bathrooms
Many Miami and Broward condo associations require an approval before work starts, a certificate of insurance, set work hours and sometimes elevator reservations for debris removal. Send us your association's rules with the photos — we plan the job around them, and insurance certificates are available on request.
Getting a real quote without a site visit
Send photos of the whole room (including the ceiling and the floor), rough dimensions, and a short list of what stays and what goes. That is enough for a line-item quote on most bathrooms. Estimates are free by phone or from photos.
See the bathroom remodeling service page, the pages for your area such as Kendall or Hollywood, or call (786) 788-8714.