Master Bathroom Renovation in Burlington: Costs, Timeline, and What to Expect

A master bathroom renovation is one of the highest-ROI projects you can take on as a homeowner. It’s also one of the most personal — you use the space every morning and every night. We recently completed a full master bathroom overhaul at a home in Burlington’s Drever Rd area that turned a dated, builder-grade ensuite into a proper spa-like retreat. The project took about four weeks from demo day to final walkthrough, and it’s a good example of what a high-end master bath renovation looks like from start to finish.

Here’s what went into it — and what you should expect if you’re planning your own.

What a Full Master Bathroom Renovation Includes

Every master bath is different, but when we say “full renovation,” we mean everything comes out and everything goes back in new. On this Burlington project, the scope included:

• Complete demo to studs — all existing tile, drywall, fixtures, and flooring removed
• Full plumbing rough-in — new supply and drain lines for the shower, tub, toilet, and double vanity
• Electrical rough-in — new circuits for in-floor heating, pot lights, towel warmer, and the smart bidet seat
• Curbless shower with a linear drain and frameless glass enclosure
• Freestanding soaker tub with a floor-mount tub filler
• Wall-hung toilet with a Geberit in-wall carrier and smart bidet seat
• Double floating vanity with vessel sinks and quartz countertop
• Large-format tile throughout the floors and shower walls
• In-floor radiant heating under all tile
• New linen closet built inside the bathroom footprint
• Conversion of an existing closet into a dedicated prayer room
• Pot lights, towel warmer, and all accessories

We pulled a permit through the City of Burlington before any work started. That’s not optional — it protects you at resale and ensures everything is inspected.

Cost Breakdown: What a Master Bathroom Renovation Costs in Burlington

Costs depend on scope, finishes, and how much structural or plumbing work is needed. Here’s how we break it down:

Basic Master Bath Refresh: $15,000 – $25,000

You’re keeping the existing layout and plumbing locations. New vanity, new toilet, new tile, fresh fixtures. This works when the room is in decent shape and you don’t need to touch framing or plumbing.

Mid-Range Full Renovation: $30,000 – $50,000

A full gut-and-rebuild with upgraded finishes. Walk-in shower with custom tile, heated floors, semi-custom vanity, new lighting. Most Burlington master bath renovations we do fall in this range.

High-End (Like This Project): $50,000 – $80,000+

This is where specialty fixtures and premium details push the budget. Here’s what drives costs at this level:

• Curbless showers require a custom shower pan with precise slope, a linear drain system, and a full waterproofing membrane (Schluter or equivalent). The labour and material cost is significantly higher than a standard curbed shower base.
• Geberit in-wall carriers for wall-hung toilets need a structural support frame built into the wall. The carrier alone runs $400–$800, plus the labour to frame it in.
• Frameless glass enclosures are custom-measured and fabricated after tile is complete. Expect $2,500–$5,000+ depending on size and configuration.
• Freestanding tubs with floor-mount fillers require rough-in through the subfloor, which adds plumbing cost versus a standard deck-mount or wall-mount filler.
• In-floor heating across a full master bath adds roughly $1,000–$2,000 including the thermostat.

The finish level on tile matters too. Large-format porcelain (24x48 or bigger) looks great and has fewer grout lines, but it requires a perfectly flat substrate and experienced installers. Cutting and handling large tiles is more labour-intensive than standard sizes.

The Curbless Shower: Why Everyone Wants One (and What’s Involved)

Curbless showers have gone from niche to mainstream. The appeal is simple: they look clean, they make the bathroom feel bigger, and they’re accessible for aging in place. In Burlington’s newer subdivisions — Alton Village, Palmer, even parts of Tyandaga — we’re seeing curbless requests on nearly every master bath renovation.

But a curbless shower isn’t just “leave the curb off.” It requires:

• A pre-sloped shower substrate — the entire shower floor must slope toward the drain at the right pitch. For a linear drain along one wall, the slope runs in a single direction, which is easier than a centre drain.
• A high-quality waterproofing membrane — Kerdi or a liquid-applied membrane over the entire shower area and up the walls. No shortcuts here. A failed waterproofing job will show up months later as moisture damage behind the walls.
• A linear drain — these sit flush with the tile and handle high flow rates. They also allow for large-format tile on the shower floor without excessive cuts.
• Frameless glass — most curbless showers are paired with frameless glass panels or enclosures. A framed door with a track would defeat the purpose.

Cost premium vs. a standard shower: Expect to pay $3,000–$6,000 more for a curbless setup versus a standard curbed shower with a prefab base. That covers the linear drain, substrate work, additional waterproofing, and the frameless glass. It’s a meaningful upgrade in both function and resale value.

For a broader look at bathroom renovation in Burlington, including mid-range options and hiring tips, we’ve written a separate guide.

Timeline: How Long Does a Master Bathroom Renovation Take?

Our Burlington project took approximately four weeks. Here’s how the timeline breaks down on a full master bath renovation:

Demo: 2–3 days Everything out — tile, drywall, fixtures, flooring. We protect the rest of the home with dust barriers and floor protection before swinging a single hammer.

Plumbing and electrical rough-in: 3–4 days New supply lines, drain relocations, shower valve placement, tub rough-in. Electrical for pot lights, in-floor heating, towel warmer, and any smart fixtures. This is also when the Geberit carrier gets framed in.

Inspection: 1–3 days (wait time) The City of Burlington needs to inspect rough-in plumbing and electrical before walls close up. Scheduling depends on the inspection office backlog. We coordinate this so there’s minimal dead time.

Tile: 5–7 days Large-format tile takes longer to install than standard sizes. Shower walls, shower floor, bathroom floor — it adds up. Grout and sealing need proper cure time before the next trades come in.

Fixtures, vanity, and glass: 3–4 days Toilet, vanity, tub, faucets, accessories, and the frameless glass enclosure (which is templated after tile and fabricated to fit). Final electrical connections for pot lights and heated floors.

Final inspection and walkthrough: 1 day The last inspection confirms everything is to code. We do a detailed walkthrough with the homeowner before handing over the space.

Total: approximately 4 weeks for a high-end master bath. Simpler renovations can be faster. Material lead times — especially for custom glass and specialty tile — are the most common cause of delays. We recommend selecting your tile and fixtures early so we can order before demo begins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for a master bathroom renovation in Burlington? Yes, if you’re doing any plumbing or electrical work beyond simple fixture swaps. A full renovation like this requires both a plumbing permit and an electrical permit through the City of Burlington. We handle the permit application as part of our scope. Skipping permits creates liability at resale and risks having uninspected work behind your walls.

Can I keep my existing layout to save money? Absolutely. Keeping plumbing in the same locations eliminates the cost of rerouting drain and supply lines, which can save $3,000–$8,000 depending on complexity. If your current layout works and you’re happy with where the shower, tub, and vanity sit, a refresh within the existing footprint is a smart way to get a high-impact result at a lower cost.

How do I choose the right tile for a master bathroom? For floors, go with porcelain — it’s durable, water-resistant, and available in sizes from 12x24 up to full slabs. For shower walls, large-format porcelain (24x48) gives a clean, modern look with minimal grout lines. Avoid natural stone in wet areas unless you’re committed to annual sealing. If you’re considering heated floors, check our flooring guide for more detail on material compatibility.

Ready to Plan Your Master Bathroom Renovation?

We renovate master bathrooms across Burlington, Oakville, Hamilton, and the surrounding area. Every project starts with a free in-home walkthrough where we assess the existing space, discuss your goals, and provide a detailed written estimate — no pressure, no obligation.

Request a free bathroom renovation estimate and we’ll get back to you within one business day.