Bathroom Remodeling in Aurora IL - A Bathroom That Works for Your Family Again

A bathroom remodel often starts because something stopped working, not because the color got boring. Here are some problems worth fixing:

Grout that keeps turning black no matter how hard you scrub. Tile that sounds hollow or moves when you step on it. A tub that's chipped, stained, or just too hard to climb into. A shower door that leaks onto the floor every single day. A fan that hums but doesn't pull out the steam, so the mirror fogs and the paint starts to peel.

Then there are the layout problems. One sink for two people getting ready at the same time. No place to put towels. A toilet squeezed so close to the vanity that you bump your knee. A door that swings into the tub.

And some problems are about the people using the room. A parent is moving in. Your knees don't like stepping over a tub wall anymore. You'd like to stay in your house for a long time and want the bathroom to keep up with you.

Soft spots in the floor near the toilet or tub are worth a closer look soon. They can mean water has been getting under the surface for a while. A remodeler can open things up and tell you what's going on before you pick tile or fixtures.

Write your list down before anyone comes out. Note what you like about the room, too. A remodeler can't read your mind, and a clear list of must-haves and nice-to-haves makes quotes much easier to compare side by side.

A bathroom remodel can be as small as new tile and a vanity or as big as gutting the room to the studs and moving the plumbing. Here are the main kinds of bathroom projects.

Shower Remodeling is for homes that already have a stand-up shower that's worn out or never worked well. Think old fiberglass stalls, cracked tile walls, and leaky doors. Options include a new tiled shower, a larger walk-in, or a curbless design where the floor runs straight in. You keep the shower, you just get a much better one.

Tub-to-Shower Conversion is for the tub you rarely use. Lots of hall baths and primary baths have a tub that mostly holds shampoo bottles. A conversion takes the tub out and puts a walk-in shower in that same spot. It often makes a small room feel bigger.

Accessible Bathroom Remodeling is for families planning ahead. It covers grab bars set into solid backing, showers with a low curb or no curb at all, comfort-height toilets, wider clear space, and lever handles that are easy to turn. Some people do this for a parent moving in. Others do it so they can stay in their own home longer.

Many projects mix these together. A full remodel might pair new flooring and a double vanity with a new shower. If you're also thinking about the kitchen, see our kitchen remodeling page. If the bathroom you want is downstairs, our basement remodeling page covers what that involves.

Aurora has two very different kinds of houses, and that shapes what a bathroom remodel looks like. Census figures show about 1 in 7 homes here was built before 1940, while about 4 in 10 date to the 1990s and 2000s.

In the older homes, bathrooms tend to be small, with old pipes behind the walls and a few layers of paint on the trim. The City of Aurora's remodel application asks about paint in homes built before 1978. If work will disturb painted surfaces past a small amount, the city requires an EPA Lead-Safe Certified contractor. Ask about this up front if your house is that old.

In the newer subdivisions, the bones are usually fine. The issue is more often builder-grade finishes: a fiberglass tub surround, a single sink, and a small shower that's starting to leak around the base.

Permits apply either way. The city lists interior remodels as work that needs a permit, and says plumbing work may require one too. Its remodel application asks for floor plans and plumbing riser diagrams, so moving a toilet or shower is more than a weekend swap. The city's own advice is not to start or schedule work until you've confirmed whether a permit is required. Agree in writing on who pulls the permit, and you can always check with the city.

Townhomes are common in Aurora too, about 1 in 6 homes in the city. If you live in one, check your HOA rules before work starts. Some associations want to sign off on a remodel, especially when it involves shared walls or plumbing lines.

Start by telling us about your project: what room, what's wrong with it, and roughly what you want. The quote is free, and there's no obligation to hire. You can read more on our How It Works page.

Before you sign anything, do your own checking. Ask whether the remodeler meets the City of Aurora's contractor licensing requirements, since the city won't issue a permit until they do. Ask for proof of insurance. Get the deal in writing. Illinois law says a written contract is required before work over $1,000, and it must show the total cost and the business name and address.

Homeowners in nearby towns can get a free quote too. See our full list of service areas.

Getting more than one quote is smart. The Illinois Attorney General suggests getting several written estimates. Watch out for anyone who wants cash, full payment before work starts, or a check made out to someone else.