A full bathroom renovation takes your bath down to the studs and rebuilds it exactly the way you want it — new tub or shower, tile, vanity, lighting, and often a smarter layout. CJM Builders has delivered full bathroom renovations in North Reading, MA and the surrounding towns since 1992, handling every trade under one roof.
If your bathroom feels dated, cramped, or just worn out, a complete renovation is the one project that fixes everything at once. It is also part of our broader bathroom remodeling services in North Reading, which range from single upgrades to whole-room makeovers.
When Does a Full Renovation Make Sense?
A full renovation makes sense when more than one or two things are wrong with the room. If the tub is stained, the tile is cracking, the vanity is too small, and the fan barely works, replacing pieces one at a time costs more in the long run and never quite ties together.
Going down to the studs also lets us fix what you can’t see. In older North Reading homes, we routinely find hidden water damage under tubs, undersized framing, and wiring or plumbing that no longer meets Massachusetts code. Opening the walls means every one of those problems gets corrected once, and properly, instead of being tiled over.
What's Included in a Full Bathroom Renovation
Every project is tailored to your home, but a full renovation from CJM Builders typically covers:
- Demolition down to the studs and subfloor
- New tub, shower, or both — including shower and bathtub installation and tub-to-shower conversions
- Waterproofing, backer board, and new tile on floors and walls
- A new vanity, countertop, mirror, and storage
- Updated plumbing, lighting, ventilation, and GFCI-protected outlets
- Paint, trim, hardware, and final finishes
Because we manage carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and tile as one coordinated project, you deal with one team and one schedule — not four different subcontractors pointing at each other.
Renovating Bathrooms in North Reading's Older Homes
North Reading’s housing stock keeps us on our toes, and we like it that way. The capes, ranches, and split-levels built here during the 1950s and ’60s, including the converted lakeside cottages around Martins Pond, often have a single 5x7 full bath serving the whole house. Antique colonials near the town common bring their own quirks: out-of-square walls, sloping floors, and cast-iron drain stacks.
We renovate with those realities in mind. That can mean borrowing inches from a closet to widen a shower, replacing old galvanized supply lines while the walls are open, or leveling a floor before tile goes down. All plumbing and electrical work is performed by licensed professionals, as Massachusetts requires, and we pull every permit through the North Reading building department.
Our White Glove Five-Step Process™
CJM Builders runs every renovation through the same five steps, so you always know what’s happening and what comes next:
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Step 1: Survey
We start by surveying your space and your goals — measuring the room, understanding how your household uses it, and flagging anything hidden behind the walls.
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Step 2: Strategize
We design the layout and materials with you at our Design Center & Showroom on Main Street in North Reading.
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Step 3: Solidify
The plan is locked into a written estimate and timeline — no allowances that balloon later.
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Step 4: Secure
We pull permits and order materials before demolition starts, so your bathroom is never torn apart while we wait on a backordered tub.
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Step 5: Showcase
The project ends with a walkthrough where we test every fixture with you before calling the job done.
What to Expect: Timeline and Living Through It
Most full bathroom renovations take four to six weeks of construction, sometimes longer if walls move or custom materials have long lead times. You receive a written schedule before demolition begins, and we update you as each phase completes.
Living at home during the work is normal, especially if you have a second bathroom. We contain dust with sealed barriers, protect floors along the work path, and clean up at the end of every day. You will know who is in your home and what they are doing — every day, until the final walkthrough.
Financing Your Renovation
A full renovation is a significant investment, and we make it easier to plan for. Ask about 0% interest for 21 months (opens in a new tab) on your project through our financing partner, Hearth. We will walk you through the options when we put together your estimate.
Get a Free Estimate for Your Full Bathroom Renovation
Ready to stop patching an old bathroom and start over with one built right? Contact CJM Builders for a free, no-obligation estimate on a full bathroom renovation in North Reading, Andover, Middleton, Reading, Wakefield, Wilmington, and surrounding towns. Call (978) 649-7300 or visit our Design Center & Showroom to see materials in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a full bathroom renovation take?
Most full bathroom renovations take four to six weeks of construction once demolition starts. Layout changes, custom tile work, or long material lead times can extend that. CJM Builders gives you a written timeline with your estimate and orders materials before demo begins to avoid mid-project delays.
Can I stay in my home during a full bathroom renovation?
Yes — most of our clients do, especially when the home has a second bathroom. We seal off the work area to contain dust, protect floors along the route to the bathroom, and broom-clean the site daily so the rest of your home stays livable.
What does a full bathroom renovation cost in Massachusetts?
In the Greater Boston area, midrange gut renovations typically run $28,000 to $45,000, with smaller refresh projects starting lower and high-end work going higher. Size, materials, and any layout changes drive the number. We provide a free written estimate, and 0% financing for 21 months is available through Hearth.
Is it worth gutting a bathroom down to the studs?
In older homes, usually yes. Gutting the room lets us find and fix hidden water damage, replace aging pipes and wiring while walls are open, and waterproof correctly from the framing out. It costs more than a cosmetic refresh, but you avoid paying twice when hidden problems surface later.
