Bathroom Remodel in the Denver Metro Area
We remodel bathrooms in Wheat Ridge, Lakewood, Arvada, Westminster, Thornton, Littleton and much of Denver. Fieldnote Custom Renovations is an insured remodeling company, and our own crew does most of the work. That crew answers for your bathroom from the first day of demo to the last item on the punch list.
Most of what makes a bathroom last sits behind the tile, where you will never see it, so that is where this page spends most of its time.
What a bathroom remodel includes
Every job starts with a walk through the room and a written scope. The wet area usually falls into one of three types:
- Tub replacement. The old tub and surround come out, and a new tub and tiled walls go in.
- Curbed shower. This is a tiled shower with a low step at the entry, often built where a tub used to be.
- Curbless shower. This is a tiled shower you walk straight into, with no step. The slope to the drain has to be built into the floor, so we plan it at the framing stage.
Around the tub or shower, a full remodel can include demolition, framing changes, new plumbing and electrical in the walls, waterproofing, drywall, floor and wall tile, the vanity and countertop, doors and trim, and the final fixtures and hardware.
'Your estimate is itemized. Materials are listed apart from the selections and finishes you choose, and each finish has a link, so you can see exactly what is in the number.'
The order we build in
A bathroom works as a system, and each layer depends on the one under it. That is why we build in the same order every time.
- Demo. The old finishes come out.
- Framing. Walls, niches and benches get built, and blocking goes in. Blocking is solid wood set inside the wall wherever something heavy will be fastened later, like a grab bar, a glass door or a vanity.
- Electrical and plumbing roughs. New pipes, valves and wiring go in while the walls are still open.
- Waterproofing and floors. The shower gets its waterproof layer, and we test that layer before anything covers it.
- Drywall.
- Tile.
- Trim and doors.
- Cabinets. The vanity is set.
- Countertops.
- Punch and finish trim. We go through the room item by item and close out the list.
A free estimate starts with a visit. We walk the bathroom with you, then send a written, itemized estimate with a full scope document. Call (720) 805-7368 or use the form.
A flood test on every shower, before tile
Tile and grout are not waterproof. The layer under the tile is what keeps water out of your walls and floor, so we test it. Before any tile goes on, we plug the drain, fill the shower pan with water and check that the level holds.
If there is a leak, we find it at that point, while the fix is still a patch to the waterproofing. The same leak found after tile shows up later as a stain on a ceiling or a soft spot in the floor, and tile has to come out to reach it. That is why we flood test every shower we build.
Photos inside the wall, with a tape measure
Before the walls close, we photograph the blocking, the pipes and the waterproofing with a tape measure in the frame. Once the drywall and tile are up, nobody can see that work again, so the photos are the record that it was done. They also show where things sit to the inch, and copies are available upon request. That matters years later, when someone wants to mount a towel bar on solid wood or needs to know where a pipe runs before drilling.
Mitered tile corners
Wherever tile wraps an outside corner, like the edge of a niche, a bench, a curb or a tub deck, the cut edge of the tile has to be dealt with. The common way is a metal or plastic trim strip that caps the edge. The other way is a miter, where the edge of each tile is cut at an angle so the two pieces meet in a point at the corner.
We miter tile corners. What you see is the tile itself turning the corner, with one thin line where the two pieces meet. No strip of a different material runs along the edge, and the color and pattern of the tile carry around the corner.
Bathroom Gallery
Our completed projects: modern tub swaps, custom tile, and vanities.
What customers say
"There were no surprises or hidden costs. He was totally transparent."
Margie R., Wheat Ridge
Common questions about bathroom remodeling
How long does a bathroom remodel take?
The length of a bathroom remodel depends on the size and scope of your project. We give you the timeline with your estimate, and if a date moves, we tell you the new date and the reason.
What is a shower flood test?
A flood test checks a shower's waterproofing before tile covers it. The drain is plugged, the pan is filled with water, and the water level is watched for a drop. Fieldnote flood tests every shower it builds in the Denver metro area.
What is a mitered tile corner?
A mitered tile corner is an outside corner where both tiles are cut at an angle on the edge so they meet in a point. It takes the place of a metal or plastic trim strip. Fieldnote miters tile corners.
What happens if you find a problem behind the wall?
Older bathrooms can hide rot or worn-out plumbing. Rot can be a simple repair or major work, depending on where it is and what it affects. We photograph what we find and send you a written change order to approve before that work is done.
How do you keep the rest of the house livable during the work?
We section off the work areas and set up dust containment. The site plan changes with the scope of the project.
Do you help with tile and fixture selections?
Yes. Selections and finishes are listed on your estimate, each with a link. If you want custom finishes, we can bring in a designer we work with.
Bathroom remodels in Wheat Ridge, Lakewood, Arvada and nearby
We take bathroom remodels in Wheat Ridge, Lakewood, Arvada, Westminster, Thornton and Littleton, and in Denver neighborhoods such as Highland, Sunnyside and Platt Park. We also work in Highlands Ranch, Aurora and Parker. We have remodeled bathrooms in Denver, Westminster and Wheat Ridge.
If you are not sure whether you are in our area, send us your zip code and we will tell you, or check the list.