Condo Bathroom with Tub Yaletown, Vancouver
A dated condo bathroom rebuilt around a new alcove tub, with frameless glass, large-format tile, a floating vanity and matte black fixtures.
- New alcove tub
- Frameless glass
- Large-format tile
- Strata approval
Project story
A dated condo bathroom rebuilt around a new tub and frameless glass
The bathroom in this Yaletown condo still had its original tub, tile and vanity. The owners wanted a clean, modern room that kept a bathtub but felt larger and was easier to keep clean.
QUAY took the room back to the walls and installed a new alcove tub, with Dense-Shield board and a waterproofing membrane behind the tile. Large 12x24 tile now runs across the levelled floor and up the walls, and a frameless glass screen replaced the shower curtain.
Matte black fixtures tie the room together: a rain shower and hand shower, a black faucet on the floating vanity and a black-framed mirror. A new fan, recessed lights and a vanity light finish the room.
The bathroom was renovated together with the kitchen in the same suite, with strata approval handled by QUAY. A few changes to the vanity plumbing, mirror and splash tile were priced and approved in writing during the build.
What we did
- Strata renovation request and WorkSafeBC clearance
- Demolition back to the walls
- New alcove bathtub
- Dense-Shield board and waterproofing membrane
- Floor levelling
- 12x24 tile on the floor and walls
- Frameless glass tub screen
- Matte black rain shower and hand shower
- Floating vanity with integrated top and black faucet
- Black-framed mirror and vanity light
- New toilet, fan and recessed lights
- Accessories, baseboards and paint
Before and after
From original finishes to a clean, modern bathroom
Bathroom contract: about $21K + GST
Before, the room had its original tub and surround, a shower curtain and a vanity that sat on the floor. The finishes were tired and the layout gave little open floor.
We kept the same layout, so the drains stayed where the building's plumbing allows, and changed everything else. The floating vanity and frameless glass open up the floor and the sightlines, which makes a small condo bathroom feel noticeably bigger.
- Same layout, every finish replaced
- Shower curtain swapped for frameless glass
- Floor-standing vanity swapped for a floating one
- Large-format tile with fewer grout lines
- Matte black fixtures throughout
The tub
BeforeAfterThe vanity
Before
AfterThe new bathroom
Large-format tile, frameless glass and matte black
Behind the tile, the tub walls are built with Dense-Shield board and a waterproofing membrane, so the wet area is protected before a single tile goes up. The floor was levelled first so the 12x24 tile sits flat with tight joints.
The frameless glass screen keeps water in without closing off the tub, and the matte black rain shower and hand shower are easy to use for both bathing and showering.
A floating vanity with an integrated top keeps the floor clear, with a black-framed mirror and vanity light above.
- 12x24 floor and wall tile
- Dense-Shield and waterproofing membrane
- Frameless glass tub screen
- Matte black rain and hand shower
- Floating vanity with integrated top
- Black-framed mirror and vanity light
- New fan and recessed lights
Project video
Walk through the finished suite
Our post-construction video shows the finished bathroom and the kitchen we expanded in the same Yaletown condo.
See the kitchen on its own page: Yaletown condo kitchen expansion.
Strata and schedule
Renovating a bathroom in a Yaletown condo
QUAY prepared the strata renovation request, which the strata approved in October 2024, and supplied a WorkSafeBC clearance. Elevator use was limited to four-hour bookings between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., so demolition, debris removal and deliveries were planned around those windows.
Construction started in November 2024 on a 17-working-day schedule for the bathroom and kitchen together. A few changes came up along the way, including vanity plumbing, a new mirror and extra splash tile, and each was priced and approved in writing before the work was done.
Planning one? See our condo bathroom renovations and bathroom renovation contractors in Vancouver.
How the build went
- Strata approval and WorkSafeBC clearance
- Hallway, elevator and suite protection
- Demolition back to the walls
- Plumbing and electrical rough-in
- New tub, Dense-Shield and waterproofing
- Floor levelling and tile
- Vanity, toilet, fixtures and glass
- Paint, final clean and handover
The neighbourhood
Bathroom renovations in Yaletown condos
Many Yaletown condos still have their original bathrooms. Keeping the existing layout and drain locations, while replacing every finish, is usually the fastest and most cost-effective way to update one in a concrete high-rise.
By the seawall
This suite is a short walk from David Lam Park and the False Creek seawall.
Strata rules planned in
Elevator bookings, work hours and paperwork are confirmed with the strata before work starts.
Another Yaletown bathroom
Nearby in Gastown
See the two Gastown loft condo bathrooms.
Planning your own? See our guide to bathroom renovation costs.
FAQ
Condo bathroom questions
Common questions from Vancouver condo owners planning a bathroom renovation.
How much does a condo bathroom renovation cost in Vancouver?
The bathroom portion of this Yaletown project was about $21,000 before GST under the signed contract, before a few approved changes to the vanity plumbing, mirror and splash tile. It was renovated alongside the kitchen in the same suite. Most complete bathroom renovations with QUAY fall in a $25K–$45K+ planning range, depending on size and finishes.
Can I keep a bathtub in a modern condo bathroom?
Yes. Here we installed a new alcove tub with a frameless glass screen instead of a curtain, and a rain shower and hand shower, so the room works for both baths and showers.
Do I need strata approval to renovate my condo bathroom?
Almost always. Most Vancouver stratas ask for a written renovation request, proof of insurance and a WorkSafeBC clearance, and set rules on work hours and elevator use. QUAY prepares the paperwork and plans the work around the building's rules.
How long does a condo bathroom renovation take?
This bathroom and the kitchen were planned together on a 17-working-day schedule, starting in November 2024. A typical condo bathroom on its own is about 10 working days on site once strata approval is in place.
How do you waterproof around a tub?
We install a cement-based backer board such as Dense-Shield and a waterproofing membrane on the tub walls before tiling, so the wall behind the tile stays dry even if water gets through the grout.
Is the work warrantied?
Yes. Every QUAY renovation is backed by a 365-day workmanship warranty, and manufacturer warranties are passed on to you.
Planning a condo bathroom renovation in Vancouver?
We handle the strata paperwork, demolition, waterproofing, tile and every trade, managed start to finish by one QUAY team.