Bathroom Remodeling in San Diego
Custom bathroom remodels designed, built, and project-managed by one in-house team — with a line-by-line scope, a real waterproofing system behind the tile, and a clear timeline from demo to your final walkthrough.
A recent IL Total master bath in Encinitas — honed slate tile, a walnut floating vanity, and a glass walk-in shower.
A bathroom is small, but it’s the room where shortcuts cost the most. Everything happens behind the tile — the waterproofing, the valve work, the drain relocation — and once the tile is up, you can’t see whether it was done right until a leak shows up a few years later. The bids you collect can read the same on the surface and hide very different work underneath. We do it differently: before any demo, you get a scope that spells out every layer we install and every finish you’re buying, so the number you approve is the number you plan around.
Why homeowners choose IL Total for their bathroom
Waterproofing done the right way
We build showers with a real moisture system — hot mop or cement backer board with a Red Guard membrane, a properly sloped pan, and sealed seams — not painted “green board.” It’s the part you’ll never see and the part that decides whether your bathroom lasts.
A scope that prevents surprise change orders
Demo, framing, plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, tile, vanity, fixtures — every stage is written out and split into what we include and what you purchase. No vague one-page estimate that grows once the wall is open.
Design, permits and build under one roof
Layout, 3D design, permits and inspections, and the construction itself are handled by one accountable team — one contract, one point of contact, no finger-pointing between a designer, a plumber, a tile setter and a GC.
What’s included — and what you buy
This is where most homeowners get burned. Here’s how a standard IL Total bathroom splits out. Your exact scope is tailored at your consult, but the structure stays the same.
| We include (labor & rough materials) | You purchase (finish materials) |
|---|---|
| 3D design & new-layout plan, approved before demo | Wall, floor & shower tile |
| Custom vanity — designed, supplied & installed (or we install your retail vanity) | Tub and/or shower valve & trim |
| Demolition, dust protection & haul-away | Toilet |
| Rough plumbing — rough-in valve & diverter, drain relocation, tub set, angle stops, P-traps | Faucet(s) & vanity top/sink (if not custom) |
| Rough electrical — LED recessed lights, exhaust fan vented outside, vanity sconces, outlets | Mirror or medicine cabinet |
| Full waterproofing system — hot mop / cement board / Red Guard, sloped shower pan & walls, niche | Bathroom accessories (towel bars, hooks, TP holder) |
| Shower, pan & floor tile install, edge trim; drywall repair, paint & baseboards | Light fixtures & exhaust fan unit |
| Finish-fixture install & testing; permits, inspections, portable toilet & dumpster, cleanup | Glass shower enclosure (we coordinate a glass specialist) |
We deliver and install everything in the left column, the vanity included — so you’re not coordinating a separate cabinet vendor on the side. Two honest notes: we don’t fabricate custom glass shower enclosures, so we bring in a trusted glass specialist and coordinate it into the schedule; and for the finishes you buy, you get a material list with realistic budget figures up front so there are no blind spots.
We shop the finishes with you — at contractor pricing
Choosing tile, a vanity top, fixtures and a faucet that all work together is where most homeowners feel lost, so you don’t do it alone. We take you through the design showrooms in Miramar in person and help you pick everything. And we don’t mark those materials up — you pay our direct contractor pricing, which is often 10–20% below retail. That saving frequently offsets a meaningful part of the labor difference between us and a cheaper bid.
A recent Encinitas master bath, before to after
A dated master bathroom in Encinitas, taken down to the studs and rebuilt — including the waterproofing system we put behind every shower, which is the part you can’t see in a finished photo.
Our bathroom remodel process
The same sequence every time — it’s what keeps the waterproofing sound and the project on schedule.
- Design & layout. We plan the new bathroom (3D for layout changes) and confirm fixtures and finishes. Nothing is demolished until you approve it.
- Demolition & protection. The path to the bathroom is covered; old tile, vanity, fixtures and tub/shower come out and get hauled away.
- Framing. Pony walls, the shower curb and pan, a recessed niche, and grab-bar backing are framed to the new design.
- Rough plumbing, electrical & exhaust. Valves, drains and the tub are set; recessed lights, sconces and an exhaust fan vented outside are run and inspected.
- Waterproofing. Hot mop or cement board with a Red Guard membrane and a sloped pan — tested before any tile goes up.
- Tile. Shower walls, pan, niche and floor are tiled, grouted and trimmed.
- Drywall, paint, baseboards & vanity. Walls are finished and painted; your vanity and top are set and connected.
- Finish fixtures & walkthrough. Toilet, mirror, lighting and accessories go in, every fixture is tested, and we walk the finished bathroom with you.
How long it takes
Most standard San Diego bathroom remodels run roughly 3–5 weeks of on-site work once your finish materials are on hand. Waterproofing and tile are the time-critical phases — the membrane and pan have to cure and pass before tile, and that step isn’t worth rushing. Bathrooms that move the layout, relocate plumbing, or enlarge the shower add time. We give you a realistic, project-specific schedule at your consult rather than a number that slips the moment we start.
What it costs — and why we’re not the cheapest
Bathroom pricing swings widely with tile, the vanity, fixtures, and how much plumbing moves, so an honest number comes from your actual scope, not a web page. What we can tell you is why our bid usually lands above the lowest one: it includes a real waterproofing system instead of painted green board, a detailed scope that protects you from change-order creep, a custom vanity, code-correct plumbing and electrical, permits and inspections, and one team that carries the project end to end. On materials we push the other way — you buy your finishes at our contractor pricing, not retail, which claws back part of the difference. A cheaper bid often gets to its number by thinning out the waterproofing and leaving build items off the page — then adding them back once the work has started. We’d rather show you the whole number now. Bring us the other estimate and we’ll walk you through exactly where the difference is.
Get a real number for your bathroom
Tell us what you want to change and we’ll put together a clear scope, a realistic budget, and a timeline — no vague estimates, no pressure.
Bathroom remodeling — frequently asked questions
What’s included in your bathroom remodel, and what do I buy myself?
How long does a bathroom remodel take in San Diego?
How do you waterproof the shower?
Why does your bathroom remodel cost more than the other contractor I spoke to?
Do you install glass shower doors?
Do you handle permits and inspections?
Keep exploring
Note: Scope, timeline and pricing vary by project, layout and finish selections. The ranges on this page are typical for San Diego bathroom remodels and are confirmed for your home in a free consult — they aren’t a quote. IL Total Design & Build, licensed San Diego design-build contractor, CSLB #1058676.