Full Bathroom Remodeling in Des Moines, IA
Full bathroom remodeling means the whole room is planned at once: layout, plumbing, waterproofing, tile, vanity, lighting, ventilation, and fixtures. We handle complete remodels in Des Moines homes from Beaverdale to South of Grand, and across West Des Moines and Urbandale.
- Plumbing and electrical by Iowa-licensed plumbers and electricians
- Permits through the City of Des Moines Permit & Development Center
- One plan, one schedule
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Please call us at (515) 762-5534.
When a Full Remodel Makes Sense
Patching one piece at a time can cost more in the end. If the tub is failing, the vanity is too small, the fan does not clear steam, and the floor tile is cracked, replacing them one by one means tearing into the same walls over and over. A full remodel opens the room once, fixes what is hidden, and finishes everything to match.
It is also the right moment to change how the room works: a larger shower in place of a tub, a double vanity, a linen cabinet where a radiator once stood, or a toilet moved out of the line of sight from the door. We price each change separately so you can see what it adds and decide.
What a Full Remodel Includes
Layout
Fixture placement planned around how the room is used.
Rough-In
Drains, vents, supply lines, and circuits by Iowa-licensed plumbers and electricians.
Waterproofing
Continuous membrane in wet areas, flood-tested.
Finishes
Tile, vanity, lighting, glass, trim, and paint.
The Process
How a Full Remodel Runs
Consultation
We measure, inspect, and talk through goals and budget.
Design and Scope
Layout, finishes, and a written price and schedule.
Permit and Rough-In
Permit filed; rough-in inspected by the City of Des Moines Permit & Development Center when required.
Finish and Walkthrough
Tile, fixtures, and trim; we test everything with you.
Licensing and Permits in Iowa
Iowa splits a bathroom remodel by trade. Plumbing and mechanical work is licensed by the Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board under Iowa Code chapter 105. Electrical work is covered by the state electrical licensing and inspection program and the Electrical Examining Board. General remodeling needs Iowa contractor registration (Iowa Code chapter 91C). Our plumbing and electrical work is done by Iowa-licensed plumbers and electricians, and we are an Iowa-registered contractor.
When the work needs a permit, we file it with the City of Des Moines Permit & Development Center in the Argonne Armory Building, schedule the rough-in inspection before walls are closed, and give you a copy of the final approval. Permits are part of the estimate, not a surprise at the end.
Older Des Moines Bathrooms
Many homes around Drake and Highland Park still have early bathrooms with plaster walls, old drain lines, and a single small window over the tub. Opening those walls can reveal a soft subfloor, a drain without proper slope, or wiring that predates grounded outlets. We plan a contingency for exactly that and explain it in writing before work begins, so a discovery becomes a decision rather than a dispute.
Winters matter as well. With cold, dry Iowa winters with lows that often drop below 0 F, an exterior wall can carry cold straight into the room. We add insulation where the wall is open, keep supply lines on interior walls where possible, and size the exhaust fan so moisture leaves the house instead of settling into the ceiling.
Choosing Finishes That Last
Porcelain tile handles daily water and cleaning with little upkeep, and larger tiles mean fewer grout lines to scrub. A vanity with drawers stores more than one with doors. Good lighting usually means a fixture at the mirror plus an overhead light, and a quiet fan on its own switch or timer. Heated floors are a popular upgrade for a cold Iowa morning and are easiest to add during a full remodel, when the floor is already open.
We show you finish options at several price levels and are honest about where an upgrade makes a visible difference and where it does not. If the shower is the main concern, see our shower remodel page; if you are replacing a tub you rarely use, a tub-to-shower conversion may be the better fit.
Living Through the Project
We seal the work area with plastic, protect floors along the path in and out, and clean up at the end of every day. If it is your only full bathroom, we plan the order of work so the toilet is back in service as soon as possible and tell you up front how many days you will be without a shower. You will know who is coming each day and what they are doing. At the end, we walk through the finished room together, run every fixture, and leave care notes for the tile, grout, and glass.
Common Questions
Full Bathroom Remodeling Questions
When remodeling a bathroom, what comes first?
Planning comes first: layout, fixtures, and permits. On site, demolition is followed by plumbing and electrical rough-in, inspection by the City of Des Moines Permit & Development Center when required, then waterproofing, tile, and fixtures. Doing it in that order keeps work from being torn out twice.
Is remodeling a bathroom worth it?
It usually is when the room has water damage, failing fixtures, or a layout that no longer fits the household. A full remodel fixes hidden problems once. Because plumbing in Iowa must be done by work licensed through the Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board, it also brings old work up to current standards.
How long does a full bathroom remodel take?
Most full remodels take a few weeks once materials are on hand. The schedule includes rough-in inspection by the City of Des Moines Permit & Development Center and curing time for the shower membrane. You get the timeline in writing with your estimate, along with the dates we need your selections.
Get Started
Ready to plan the whole room? Book a free in-home estimate, or go back to the home page.