The bathroom
finally on the list.

What is a "bathroom update" at 848?

A bathroom update is the project where you keep the layout you have — same toilet location, same tub or shower footprint, same plumbing rough-ins — and refresh everything the eye can see. That usually means a new vanity and top, a new mirror, fresh lighting, a new faucet and toilet, refreshed tile or a new tile surround, paint, and hardware. It is the highest-leverage project in a Michigan home: two to seven days of work that transforms the most-used 40 square feet in the house.

Why an update instead of a full remodel?

Because most of the time the existing layout is fine. The bathroom feels dated, not broken. Moving plumbing across a wall doubles or triples a budget and adds weeks to a timeline. If your layout works, an update gets you 80% of the visual change for 30% of the cost. We will tell you honestly when the layout does need to change — and when it does not.

Who is the best bathroom contractor near me in Hastings?

The one who can do the in-scope plumbing, the in-scope electrical, the drywall, and the tile under one crew. Most homeowner bathroom projects stall because three different subs need to be scheduled across two weeks. We run the whole update with one crew and coordinate the licensed sub only when a permit-bearing change requires it.

What we handle as a single update

• Vanity removal and replacement, top and faucet included
• Mirror swap or framed-mirror upgrade
• Vanity lighting and exhaust fan replacement
• Toilet replacement (round to elongated, standard to comfort height)
• Faucet and shower trim swap
• Tub-to-shower conversion (when plumbing supports it)
• Tile surround replacement and waterproofing
• Flooring refresh (LVP, tile)
• Drywall patch where old fixtures pulled paper
• Paint, hardware, and accessory install

Tub-to-shower conversion

One of the most requested projects in Barry County the last two years. The catch is the plumbing rough-in: most homes built before 1980 have a 1.5-inch tub drain where a shower wants a 2-inch drain. We pull the tub, inspect the rough-in, run new drain if needed, install a waterproof pan, frame the new curb, waterproof walls with Schluter Kerdi or comparable, set tile or a solid-surface surround, install a new valve and head, and rebuild the threshold. Most conversions are five to seven working days.

What it costs and how long it takes

A vanity-and-fixtures update with paint is typically two to three working days. A tile surround replacement adds another two to four days depending on tile lead time and the substrate underneath. A tub-to-shower conversion is closer to a full week. We send a written line-item quote — vanity, mirror, lighting, faucet, toilet, labor, demo, haul — and we don't add anything to it without your sign-off.

The waterproofing question — the hidden 30%

The most consequential decision in any tile-surround bathroom is the one no one can see: the waterproofing system behind the tile. A traditional cement-board-and-mastic install passes inspection but leaks at the corners within five years. A Schluter Kerdi-Board or Wedi-board system with sealed seams keeps the wall dry for decades. We strongly default to a fully sealed membrane system on every tile surround, and we will explain the cost delta on the quote.

Ventilation — the smallest fix with the biggest impact

Nearly every bathroom problem we are called in to repair — peeling paint, soft drywall, warped trim, blackened grout — traces back to inadequate ventilation. Code minimum for a residential bathroom exhaust is 50 CFM with a switch; what most bathrooms actually need is 80–110 CFM on a humidity-sensing switch. We pull a CFM rating off any fan we are replacing, calculate the room volume, and spec the right unit. A $130 fan is the single best dollar-for-dollar bathroom upgrade in a Michigan home.

Faucet, valve, and the difference between them

Homeowners often think "faucet swap" when what they really need is "faucet and rough-in valve swap." A shower faucet is two things: the visible trim and the in-wall valve body. You can swap the trim on a same-brand model in 20 minutes; you cannot mix trim and valve between brands. A real shower valve replacement is a half-day job: remove the wall, replace the valve, repair the wall, install the new trim. We always ask, and we always quote it correctly.

Tile size, layout, and the eye

Three quick rules for bathroom tile that hold across most projects:

• Floor: 12"×24" or larger porcelain laid in a 1/3 offset reads modern and minimizes grout lines.
• Walls: Vertical stack or 1/3 offset for a calmer feel; herringbone or chevron for a deliberate moment.
• Mosaic / accent: A penny round or hex mosaic on the shower floor handles the slope and gives grip. Keep the rest of the bathroom simple if the floor is doing this much work.

Lighting — three layers, not one

Most dated bathrooms have one light source — a single fixture over the vanity that washes out faces and leaves the shower in a cave. A modern bathroom needs three layers: vanity lighting at face height (sconces on either side of the mirror, not above), an ambient ceiling source for general fill, and task lighting in the shower (a recessed wet-rated can). We rewire to the three-layer plan whenever the ceiling is open during a remodel.

Bathroom updates near me in Middleville or Caledonia

We run bathroom projects regularly in Hastings, Middleville, and Caledonia, plus Wayland and Plainwell. See the full coverage map or head to our Middleville page.