Bathroom Remodeling in Westport, CT: Full Gut Renovation, 4 Weeks

Jennifer's master bathroom was original to the house. Harvest gold fixtures, 4-inch ceramic tile on the walls, and a tub-shower combo that hadn't been used in years because the tub was worn and the layout felt too small to work in. The bathroom was functional in the most minimal sense, but it had not been updated since the home was built.

The 1960s-era waterproofing was the more serious issue. Original construction from that period used materials and techniques that don't hold up by today's standards. Moisture had been working against that bathroom for decades. Any proper renovation had to address the waterproofing completely, not just cover over it.

Jennifer wanted a walk-in shower with a modern tile profile, a double vanity, and a bathroom that felt like it belonged in the rest of her home. The goal was clear. The path to get there required a full gut to the studs and a rebuild from the inside out.

We pulled the permit through the Westport Building Department before demolition began. The full gut exposed the framing and allowed us to inspect the subfloor condition and confirm the scope of the waterproofing work needed.

The rebuild sequence:

• Cement board substrate on all shower walls and the floor
• RedGard membrane waterproofing layer over cement board
• Large-format tile in the walk-in shower, set to pattern
• Frameless glass panel enclosure for the shower
• Rainfall showerhead and hand shower on separate valves
• New double vanity with quartz top and undermount sinks
• Porcelain tile floor throughout
• New recessed lighting, vanity mirror, exhaust fan with humidity sensor
• All fixtures and trim installed and inspected

Because Jennifer was living in the home throughout the project, we sequenced the work carefully. The main-floor powder room was available as a backup and she never went without a functioning bathroom. Four weeks from demolition to completion.