Renovating a Condo Bathroom

A condo renovation is a serious undertaking; it involves plenty of steps including careful preparation and planning. Since you’re dealing with a tight space, likely sandwiched in between neighbours, any renovation in your condo will need to take others into consideration.

Looking specifically at the bathroom, there are many possibilities and limitations when it comes to redesigning and renovating this space different from those doing home renovations.

Luckily, when it comes to renovating your condo’s bathroom, we’ve got you covered. Here are some things to consider before diving headfirst into the renovation as well as some ideas for taking on your bathroom renovation. 

How to renovate a condo bathroom

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What rules should you follow?

Before you start ripping up the tiled floors or replacing your shower, it’s important to know your building's rules when it comes to renovating. Most condos have a board that determines the regulations for many aspects of daily life as well as making changes to your condo itself, and this will generally include almost any form of renovation. Aspects of your renovation that could be delegated by the board are as follows:

• Days and times renovations can take place;

• Materials that are allowed in the building;

• Which elevator or staircase can be used;

• Rules on contractor hiring.

In some instances, you will need a permit on top of written approval from the board. In any case, it’s crucial to know the logistics of renovating your condo ahead of time. Otherwise, you may be left with a major headache when it comes to scheduling, outsourcing work or the renovation itself.

Bear in mind that confirming these logistical aspects ahead of time will keep you in the good graces of both the board and your neighbours. It’s also important to mention that due to the logistics of renovating in a condo, the process may be slower than if you were renovating your own home. When it comes to drawing up a timeline, try and be as realistic as possible about this aspect.

Why are you renovating?

When you move into a condo, it’s common for fixtures, finishes, and appliances to be brand new. Of course, this doesn’t mean you’re going to be happy with these features. But cosmetic reworks and touch-ups aren’t the only reason for a renovation. You may be looking to change the layout of your bathroom, the flooring, the style of shower and so on.

With this in mind, before you start taking apart your bathroom, it’s important to check in with yourself with regards to who you’re renovating for. You’ll need to determine if you’re renovating for resale, rental or for your own comfort. You could potentially be renovating for all three of these reasons. More often than not, a renovation will lead down only one of these roads, and thus, the process will be different. 

Bathroom specifics in condos

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Even though the bathroom is likely the smallest room in your condo, it’s one of the most important. Regardless of your reason for the renovation, the restrictions and limitations of the available space in a condo bathroom can be a challenge to work with. If you’re struggling to know how to approach this, we’d suggest working with an expert to maximize this space. If you’re looking for some direction, let’s consider some of the specifics of this space and things you may be thinking about:

The shower or sink may be features you’re interested in renovating. It’s important to bear in mind that moving either of these could be impossible, as the water system or pipes may not be able to be moved. If either of these appliances is your main focus, make sure to check in with your board regarding the specifics. The shower may be taking up a significant amount of space in the room and appear overbearing. Instead of moving it, consider other ways that you could open up the space. You may want to install a glass door in place of a shower curtain or experiment with minimal features such as a sleek faucet or a waterfall showerhead.

Changing the colour or materials in your condo bathroom is another excellent way to renovate without making any large-scale changes, and for the most part, small-scale renovations should be approved by your condo board. If not already present, you may consider incorporating natural materials into the bathroom, such as stone or wood.

When it comes to the toilet, you may simply be looking to upgrade the model or opt for something modern. In most cases, moving the placement of the toilet will be difficult. Again, if you’re dead set on rearranging the bathroom, do check in with your board before you physically move any of the features in order to avoid serious headaches later.

We also suggest that you check out our checklist for bathroom renovation projects, as this article contains a ton of information and comes with a document you can use to organize your project.