Bathroom remodeling in Concord, CA

Bathroom remodeling in Concord, CA

Bathroom remodeling in Concord, CA often starts with an older bathroom: a tub-shower combination, a worn floor and a vanity that has outlived its finish. The City of Concord is explicit that it wants a permit for this work. Its information bulletin lists bathroom remodels and, separately, shower and tub enclosures, so even changing only the shower is on the list.

Decisions that shape a Concord bathroom

Replace the tub or keep it

Many owners of older homes want a walk-in shower in place of the tub. That changes the drain location, the valve and the framing around the base. If the tub stays, a reglaze or a new surround is a much smaller job, though a new surround is still an enclosure change.

What is behind the old tile

Old bathrooms often hide soft subfloor, rusted supply lines or drywall that was never meant to be wet. We open one area first and look. If the damage is there, repairing it is part of the job, because new tile over a bad base will not last.

Waterproofing and the pan

Tile does not stop water. The membrane or system behind it does, and the shower floor has to slope to the drain. We test the shower pan before any tile goes on, because a leak found afterward means tearing out finished work.

Fan, lighting and storage

A fan that vents outdoors protects the paint and drywall. Add a light over the shower if there is none, and think about storage before the vanity is chosen, since cabinet depth affects clearances.

What City of Concord publishes about bathroom permits

The Building Division and Permit Center of the City of Concord handle permits. The Building Division page points to its bulletin Work Requiring a Permit, for single-family homes and duplexes.

• Bathroom remodels are listedThe bulletin names bathroom remodels as work that needs a permit.
• Shower and tub enclosures are listedThey appear as their own item, apart from the remodel.
• Water heaters and windows are listedWater heater replacement and window replacement or retrofit also need permits, which matters when a bathroom window or heater is part of the job.
• Not a complete listThe bulletin says so itself.

The bulletin shows a revision date of 2018. Confirm that it is still current with the Permit Center before relying on it. Staff there are available without an appointment during normal hours, according to the city's page. We did not find a published review time and will not guess at one.

Why we do not skip the permit on a Concord bathroom

With bathroom remodels and enclosures named in plain terms, there is little to argue about. Plumbing and waterproofing are the parts of a house where inspection catches problems before they are hidden behind tile. Unpermitted work can also cause problems at sale or in an insurance claim, so we plan for the permit and write down who pulls it.

How our bathroom project runs

1. Free estimate and a look at plumbing, floor and walls.
2. Written scope that names who pulls the permit.
3. Permit application, checked against current city requirements.
4. Demolition, repairs, rough-in and inspection.
5. Waterproofing and pan test, then tile, vanity, fixtures and paint.

N. Abeyta Remodels is licensed and insured and based in Brentwood, and one team manages the project. See bathroom remodeling for the scope and remodeling in Concord for the town page. For the kitchen, see kitchen remodeling in Concord.

Nearby towns

We also remodel bathrooms in Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek and Antioch. See all of them on our service areas page.

Concord bathroom remodeling questions