Bathroom Remodeling
BATHROOM REMODELING IN Reedsburg, WI.
Code requires 15 inches from a toilet centerline to any wall or fixture on either side, and a shower pan has to hold water through a fill test before tile touches it. Ernstmeyer Plumbing Co. LLC handles bathroom remodel plumbing across Reedsburg, WI, and nearby Baraboo, Lake Delton, and Wisconsin Dells. Those two details quietly decide most bathroom layouts here.
TILE HIDES EVERYTHING UNTIL IT LEAKS.
A shower is the least forgiving thing in a house. Once the pan is set, the valve is placed, and the tile goes on, every mistake underneath is behind waterproofing and thinset. A pan that was never flood tested or a valve set at the wrong depth turns into a demolition project rather than a repair.
So we test before anyone tiles, every time, and we set valves to the finished wall thickness rather than to the studs. It is not optional work. That standard never moves here.
- Shower pan setting and flood testing
- Tub, whirlpool, and steam generator installation
- Fixture relocation with drain and vent rework
- Free written estimates with no obligation
BATHROOM REMODELING
A BATHROOM IS THE SMALLEST HARDEST ROOM.
Everything in it is within a few feet of everything else, and the clearances are set by code rather than preference. A toilet needs 15 inches to either side and room in front. A shower valve has to land at the right height and depth. A vanity drain has to clear the cabinet back. Move one fixture and the other three have to be reconsidered. That is the whole design problem.
THE HOUSES HERE WERE BUILT WITH ONE BATHROOM.
A lot of the houses we work in were built with one bathroom and a tub that filled the whole wall. Converting to a walk-in shower, adding a second vanity, or making a space accessible means moving drains that were set in 1955 and never touched since. It is very doable, and it starts with finding out what is actually under the floor.
WE HAVE OPENED ENOUGH WALLS TO KNOW BETTER.
Every bathroom we take apart teaches the same lesson: somebody skipped a step and somebody else paid for it years later. A pan that never got flood tested. A vent that was capped off during a previous remodel. A drain reduced to fit around a joist. Thadd Ernstmeyer holds Wisconsin Master Plumber license 996751 and does not leave those behind. Shortcuts always resurface eventually.
WHAT A BATHROOM BUILT RIGHT DELIVERS
A SHOWER THAT NEVER LEAKS
A pan flood tested before tile and a valve set to the finished wall are what keep water inside the shower for the next 20 years rather than the next two.
THE LAYOUT YOU WANTED
Fixtures placed where you want them rather than where the old drains happened to be. Knowing what a move costs before demolition makes that a real choice.
PRESSURE AT EVERY FIXTURE
Correctly sized branch lines mean the shower does not drop when a toilet fills. In a bathroom shared by a family, that difference gets noticed every single morning.
ACCESSIBLE WHEN IT NEEDS TO BE
Curbless showers, grab-bar blocking, comfort-height fixtures, and hand sprayers all planned in now rather than retrofitted later. Aging in place starts right here in the bathroom.
NO SMELL, NO GURGLE
Proper venting is what keeps a bathroom from announcing itself. Traps hold their seal, drains run quietly, and sewer gas stays in the pipe where it belongs.
RESALE THAT SURVIVES INSPECTION
Permitted work, correct clearances, and documented testing all hold up when a buyer's inspector goes through. A beautiful bathroom with unpermitted plumbing is a negotiation problem.
WHAT WE BUILD
OUR BATHROOM PLUMBING WORK
Six areas cover the plumbing in a bathroom project. We work in sequence with your tile setter, drywall crew, and electrician so the room moves forward instead of waiting on us.
SHOWERS
Shower Pan and Valve Rough-In
Pans set at proper slope to the drain and flood tested before anything is tiled. Valves placed at the right height and depth for the finished wall, not the framing.
TUBS
Tub and Whirlpool Installation
Standard tubs, soaking tubs, and whirlpools set level with proper support, waste and overflow assembled correctly, and access provided for the pump where a unit has one. Access panels get planned in.
RELOCATION
Fixture Relocation and Drain Rework
Moving a toilet, vanity, or tub means moving drain and vent to suit, at proper slope and with clearances that satisfy code. We open the floor only where the work requires.
VANITIES
Vanity, Sink, and Faucet Installation
Single and double vanities plumbed with new shut-offs and supply lines, drains set to clear cabinet interiors, and faucets installed so the handles fall where you expect them. Old stops never get reused.
STEAM
Steam Generators and Body Sprays
Steam units, multiple shower heads, and body spray systems need supply capacity and drainage the original bathroom never had. We size the branch and the drain for the whole assembly.
ACCESSIBLE
Accessible and Curbless Shower Plumbing
Linear drains, recessed pans, and curbless entries that need the floor structure worked out before anything else happens. Comfort-height fixtures and hand sprayers get planned in from the very start.
★★★★★
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Mike T.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
Mike T.
★★★★★
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
★★★★★
Mike T.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Mike T.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Mike T.
★★★★★
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
★★★★★
★★★★★
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Mike T.
THE WORD ON OUR WORK
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY.
Bathroom customers tend to mention two things: that the shower has stayed dry, and that the room got finished on the schedule everyone agreed to. Neither is glamorous, and both are what people actually want from a remodel. The rest is tile and paint.
★★★★★
I was thoroughly impressed by the remarkable level of care and foresight shown throughout the entire experience. Every stage reflected a deep understanding of what makes a process truly effective and enjoyable. The final outcome was exceptional and left me with complete satisfaction.
Andrew A.
★★★★★
Many plumbers to chose from, but the honest, friendly, knowledgeable approach is hard to beat. They have helped me out many times after being introduced during a 4000 sqft home build a few years back.
Kurt H.
Common Questions
frequently asked
questions.
Bathroom questions worth answering before demolition rather than during it. If your project raises something this list does not cover, send it through the contact page.
Can I convert my tub into a walk-in shower?
Usually yes. The drain often has to move and the floor structure has to be checked, particularly for a curbless design. The plumbing side is straightforward once the layout and slope are settled. We work that out first.
How much can a toilet be moved during a remodel?
It depends on the joist direction and how much slope the drain can gain. A foot or two is often simple; across the room usually means opening the floor and rerouting the branch. We check that before quoting.
Does a shower pan really need to be tested before tiling?
Yes, and skipping it is the single most common cause of a leaking shower. The drain gets plugged, the pan gets filled, and it sits long enough to prove the waterproofing holds. That test takes one day only.
What plumbing should be replaced during a bathroom remodel?
Supply lines, shut-offs, the trap arm, and any galvanized branch still in the wall. The room is open once, and every one of those items is a future leak in a finished space. Replacing then costs very little.
Why does my bathroom drain slowly when nothing is blocking it?
Usually a venting problem. A drain without adequate venting cannot pull air behind the water, so it gurgles, drains slowly, and sometimes siphons the trap dry. Correcting the vent is what fixes it.
How long does bathroom plumbing take in a remodel?
Rough work after demolition usually runs one to two days, with fixture setting once tile and flooring are done. Ernstmeyer Plumbing Co. LLC schedules both around your project in Reedsburg, WI. Moving fixtures adds a day or two.
Do bathroom remodels need a permit?
Anything that moves a drain, alters venting, or runs new supply lines does. Swapping a faucet or a vanity in place generally does not. We pull permits and meet inspectors as part of the work. It stays off your list.
Why hire a Master Plumber for a bathroom remodel?
Because the pan, the valve depth, and the venting are all invisible once tile goes on, and all three fail expensively. Ernstmeyer Plumbing Co. LLC does this work in Reedsburg, WI, and tests before covering anything. That is the whole difference.
LEARN MORE →
HOW WE WORK
FROM DEMOLITION TO FIRST SHOWER, HERE IS HOW.
STEP 01
Work Out What the Layout Requires
We look at the plan, the joist direction, and where the existing drain and vent sit. That tells us which fixture moves are simple and which ones need the floor opened. You get that answer early.
STEP 02
Price the Scope in Writing
A written number covering rough work, fixtures, and permits, with alternatives priced separately so the layout gets decided on real figures. Any work that is not included in the original estimate will be added as a separate line item.
STEP 03
Rough In and Set the Pan
Drain, vent, and supply go in for the new layout, the shower pan is set at proper slope, and the valve is placed for the finished wall thickness rather than the studs. Depth matters more than height.
STEP 04
Test Everything Before It Is Covered
The pan gets flood tested, the supply gets pressure tested, and the inspection happens before tile, backer board, or drywall goes anywhere near the work. This step is never skipped for any reason.
STEP 05
Set Fixtures After the Finishes
Once tile and flooring are done, the toilet, vanity, tub, and shower trim go in with new supply lines and shut-offs. Everything gets run and checked under load. Old shut-offs never go back.
STEP 06
Walk It, Test It, and Clean Up
We run the shower, fill and drain the tub, flush the toilet repeatedly, and check every connection for movement. Then the packaging and old fixtures leave with us. The room is ready to use.
GET YOUR FREE ESTIMATE
PRICE YOUR BATHROOM PLUMBING UP FRONT, FREE.
Send your layout through our contact page and we will tell you which fixture moves are simple, which ones are not, and what the plumbing will cost in writing. Nothing owed for the review. Any work that is not included in the original estimate will be added as a separate line item.
WHAT YOUR FREE BATHROOM QUOTE COVERS:
- Layout review against drain and vent locations
- Fixture move feasibility and cost
- Written price for rough and finish work
- Shower pan and valve specification
- Permit and inspection handling
- Scheduling around tile and flooring crews