Bathroom Remodeling in Old Town Chicago
Victorian brownstones, frame cottages, and mid-rise condos near Wells and North Avenue. Old Town buildings are protected and particular, and we treat both the building and the homeowner with the patience that requires.
Old Town bathrooms have their own quirks.
Old Town blends preserved Victorian brownstones, original frame cottages from the 1870s rebuild, a stretch of postwar low-rise condo buildings, and newer mid-rise condos along Wells and Clybourn. Many properties sit inside the Old Town Triangle landmark district, which means exterior changes are restricted and interior bathroom remodels often involve original plaster, vintage tile, and protected sight lines.
Typical Old Town bathroom remodel investment runs $30,000 to $70,000 depending on scope, finish level, and building requirements. We build the estimate and schedule around the real conditions in your building, not a generic national average.
What we plan around in Old Town:
- +Landmark district rules that limit exterior venting changes and require board sign-off
- +Original 1870s frame cottages with hand-cut joists, plaster walls, and shifted floors
- +Victorian brownstone bathrooms with vintage tile and original cast-iron tub footprints
- +Condo HOA approval for the postwar low-rise buildings around Sandburg Terrace
- +Tight on-street parking that forces dumpster and material staging coordination
How a Old Town bathroom remodel actually runs.
Transparent from first phone call to final walkthrough. You always know what is happening this week and what is happening next.
- 01
On-site consultation
We meet you at your home, walk the space, listen to how you use the bathroom today, and talk through what you want to change. We take measurements, photos, and notes. No sales pressure.
- 02
Written estimate
You receive a clear, itemized written estimate within a few days. Labor, materials, fixtures, permits, and contingencies are all called out so you can see exactly what you are paying for.
- 03
Design and selections
We help you finalize tile, vanity, fixtures, and finishes. If the project needs architectural plans we bring in our architect partner. You sign off on the design before any demo happens.
- 04
Permit, HOA, and prep
For permitted work, we file with the City of Chicago and coordinate inspections. We handle HOA paperwork, certificates of insurance, and elevator reservations for condo buildings.
- 05
Demolition and rough-in
Demo, dumpster, plumbing rough-in, electrical rough-in, and framing. Dust protection and daily clean-up are part of the job, not an afterthought.
- 06
Waterproofing, tile, and finish
Proper waterproofing, custom tile, fixtures, vanity, lighting, paint, and punch list. We walk the finished bathroom with you and leave care instructions for every surface.
A real Old Town bathroom we built.
We renovated a primary bathroom inside an Old Town Victorian brownstone on Wieland. The homeowners wanted to preserve the original wood window and trim profile while moving from a clawfoot tub to a curbless walk-in shower with marble mosaic. We level-corrected the original 1880s floor system, rerouted the waste line to keep the existing stack location, installed a custom oak vanity, restored the original trim and window, and coordinated with the building's preservation requirements so the exterior remained untouched.
Project details anonymized to respect homeowner privacy. We share full project photos and references during your consultation.
We remodel bathrooms across Chicago.
See our dedicated pages for nearby neighborhoods, or visit the main Chicago bathroom remodeling page for the full service overview.
Testimonials
Old Town bathroom remodeling FAQ.
- Can you remodel a bathroom in an Old Town landmark district building?
- Yes. Old Town Triangle and Mid-North landmark districts restrict exterior changes but interior bathroom remodels are allowed within the rules. We plan vent routing and any plumbing relocation so the exterior wall, original windows, and protected sight lines stay intact, and we coordinate with the homeowner's board or association on any approvals required.
- Do you work on Old Town Victorian brownstones?
- Yes. Old Town Victorian brownstones often have shifted floor systems, plaster walls, and original cast-iron plumbing. We start with a careful condition survey, document anything that affects scope, and rebuild bathrooms with proper waterproofing and modern PEX supply while preserving the original wood trim, doors, and millwork.
- What does an Old Town bathroom remodel cost?
- Old Town bathroom remodels typically run $30,000 to $70,000. Victorian brownstone primary suites and protected-finish restorations land at the higher end. Our minimum project size is $22,000 and we provide an exact written estimate after a site visit.
- How do you handle dumpster and material staging in Old Town with tight parking?
- We schedule the dumpster pull and material deliveries to short, permitted windows and coordinate with the building or homeowner so the street and any private parking are not blocked longer than necessary. For projects on tight blocks we use a smaller dumpster and a more frequent pull schedule rather than a single large container.
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Chicagoland's premier bathroom renovation specialists. Quality craftsmanship, transparent pricing.