Bathroom Remodeling

Bathrooms get used hard. Hot showers every morning, kids splashing water everywhere, steam loosening grout year after year. At some point, the tile starts looking worn out, the vanity feels small, and you walk in thinking, ok, it might be time.

Construction Management & Design has provided professional bathroom remodeling services across Portland since 1996. Same license number the whole time, CCB #112648, verifiable at oregon.gov/ccb. Some of those projects were quick refreshes. Others were full demolition jobs where we took the space down to the studs and rebuilt from there. Either way, the process stays clear from the first walkthrough to the day we hand back the keys.

What a Bathroom Renovation Actually Involves

A real bathroom remodel covers more than swapping out a vanity and calling it done. We look at the existing plumbing, wall framing, floor beneath, and ventilation. If anything behind the wall is failing, we catch it before the tile goes back up. That part matters because mold problems in Portland bathrooms often start small and go unnoticed for years before anyone notices.

Most projects move through the same general phases. Design conversations with Colleen Mihalik first, where she pulls together the bathroom layout, finish samples, and fixture options. Then demolition. Then, rough in the new plumbing and electrical work. City inspectors from the Bureau of Development Services come out at required stages, and we schedule those, sit through them, and handle any follow-ups. After that, drywall, tiling, paint, vanity installation, new fixtures, and a final walkthrough. Miles Koessler is responsible for overseeing it all. A typical bathroom renovation takes 3 to 6 weeks once construction starts, depending on the scope and permit timing.

Walk In Showers, Soaking Tubs, and What Fits Your Space

Plenty of homeowners ask about walk in showers right out of the gate. The frameless glass look is popular, accessible entries are popular, and folks who plan to stay in their house long-term often want a curbless design with grab-bar support built into the wall framing.

Other clients want to keep a bathtub. A new tub paired with a separate shower stall makes a primary bathroom feel more spacious without adding square footage. A standalone soaking tub against a marble accent wall, for instance, reads modern without going over budget. Smaller bathrooms tend to work best with a tub shower combo, especially if resale is a concern later.

We help you figure out which setup makes sense for the room you already have. No pushing a layout you do not want, and no upsell pressure on fixtures that do not fit the space.

Quality Materials That Hold Up Over Time

Portland weather is rough on bathrooms. Humidity stays high through the wet season, and low-grade finishes show it faster than people expect. Cabinet doors warp. Grout cracks. Cheap hardware ages badly, and refinishing it later costs more than getting it right the first time.

Our material recommendations lean toward durable options that age well. Use porcelain tile instead of ceramic in areas with heavy moisture exposure. Solid surface or quartz countertops on the vanity. Solid cabinet box construction rather than particle board. Brass or stainless fixtures are recommended because they last. We have suppliers we trust, and we walk you through samples before anything gets ordered.

The Bathroom Layout Question

Occasionally, the previous bathroom layout works fine, and we can rebuild within those bones. Other times it does not, and the only fix is to rethink the whole footprint. Many older Portland homes were built with a single bathroom tucked into a corner, plumbing in a spot that limits everything else.

Changing the layout costs more because new plumbing must reroute drain lines, vent stacks, and supply runs. The payoff is real, though. A bathroom that flows properly, with the toilet out of sight of the doorway and the vanity placed where it makes sense, ends up far more functional day-to-day. We sketch options during design so you can see the tradeoffs before committing.

Permits, Plumbing, and Inspections

Most bathroom remodeling work in Portland needs a permit. Anything involving new plumbing, electrical changes, or moving walls falls under the Bureau of Development Services. We handle the permit applications. You do not need to call the city or schedule inspections yourself.

This is where hiring a professional contractor is worthwhile. Unpermitted bathroom work shows up later when you sell the house, and lenders or buyers can flag it. Our work is inspected at the appropriate stages by city officials, and the paperwork stays in your project book at the end.

Budget, Cost Ranges, and Where the Money Actually Goes

Bathroom remodel costs in Portland generally range from 15,000 to 60,000 dollars or more, depending on the scope. A cosmetic upgrade with new fixtures, paint, and a fresh vanity sits at the lower end. A full gut renovation with layout changes, new plumbing, custom tiling, and high-end finishes pushes the cost into the upper range. Walk in showers with custom glass, marble work, and heated floors push the number up quickly.

Where does the money actually go? Across the industry, a typical bathroom budget breaks down roughly like this.

Labor and trade coordination is usually the largest line item
Plumbing rough-in and new fixtures
Tile and grout work, especially with marble or large-format tile
Vanity, countertop, and hardware
Electrical updates, ventilation fans, and lighting
Permits, inspections, and project management

We provide you with a written estimate before any demolition begins. We document changes as we go, so the final invoice does not come as a surprise to anyone. That part of the project is on us, not on you, to chase down.

Why Portland Homeowners Hire Us for Bathroom Work

A few reasons come up over and over. The in-house design support from Colleen means you are not chasing a separate designer. Miles being the single point of contact through the whole project means no finger-pointing between trades. Nearly 30 years of bathroom work in Portland means we already know what to expect inside older walls.

We also bring a portfolio worth looking at. Multiple Street of Dreams wins for Best Kitchen, Best Master Suite, and Best House sit on the Construction Management & Design resume, plus the HBA Excellence Award for new construction over $2 million. The Houzz rating is 5 out of 5. None of that guarantees a perfect bathroom project, but it shows we have done the work.

Ready to Talk About Your Bathroom?

If you are thinking about a bathroom renovation, the next step is simple. Call (503) 655-2198 or email miles@cmdesigns.net. The first consultation is free and happens at your house. We walk through the space, talk about what you want, and put together a written estimate with no obligation.

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