BATHROOM REMODELING
Bathroom Remodeling Contractor in
Fullerton, CA
With more than 10 years of experience, ARD Remodeling remodels bathrooms for homeowners in Fullerton, CA, from a new vanity and faucet to a rebuilt tub or shower. Two local facts shape the plan before any tile is chosen: the way the city reviews a small bathroom remodel, and a water supply the city rates as very hard. The free estimate covers both, so the paperwork route and the finishes are settled before demolition.
- Free estimates
- Tub, shower and vanity
- Waterproofing first
- Scope in writing
Local water
What very hard water does to a new shower
The city's Water Hardness page says the most recent Water Quality Report puts hardness at 14 to 25 grains per gallon, which its chart classes as very hard (10.5 and above), and that the level changes through the year as the sources of supply are switched with demand. The page adds that hard water is not a health hazard but gets in the way of many household tasks. In a new bathroom that tends to mean spots on glass and chrome and a film on tile, so we pick surfaces with that in mind.
Glass you can wipe in one pass
Panel size and hardware are chosen so a squeegee reaches every inch.
Fewer joints for minerals to settle in
Larger tile and tight grout lines leave less to scrub.
Fixtures you can service
Showerheads and faucet aerators that unscrew by hand are easier to descale.
HOW THE CITY REVIEWS IT
Counter review or fuller plan check for a bathroom job
A planning guide, not a ruling. The city decides how each application is reviewed, and this is what its Permit Processing page says.
How the city describes counter review
- Smaller projects that need no more than 30 minutes of plan review
- The city's own examples include a small bathroom or kitchen remodel
- Typically reviewed over the counter
What can move a job beyond the counter
- Work that needs more than 30 minutes of review
- The complexity or scope of the project
- Existing conditions in the home
What the plans must show
The city says plans show the project's location, nature and extent, and how it complies with the codes. Title 24 energy calculations are among the typical items, and not every item applies to every job.
Ask before you submit
The page advises calling the Building Division on (714) 738-6541 to confirm which items you need. Incomplete or inaccurate plans can delay the process.
We write the scope with every fixture change spelled out, so what you tell the counter matches the work.
State fixture law
Old toilets and showerheads: what the state rule asks for
As SB 407 was enrolled in 2009, Civil Code section 1101.4 said that, from January 1, 2014, the permit applicant for building alterations or improvements to single-family residential property replaces all noncompliant plumbing fixtures before final permit approval. The same bill defines them as toilets built to use more than 1.6 gallons per flush, showerheads above 2.5 gallons per minute and interior faucets above 2.2 gallons per minute. The section has been amended since, so we check with the Fullerton counter how it is applied to your address. For a condo or townhome we ask how it reads for your unit.
Fixtures go into the scope
If a toilet, showerhead or faucet falls under the rule, replacing it is written into the job from the start.
Forms the city lists
The city's permits page lists an SB407 water-conserving fixtures form and a fixture replacement affidavit for one- and two-unit homes. We ask the counter which one applies.
SHAPE OF THE ROOM
Alcove tub, deck tub or a shower in its place
Settle this early. It changes the framing, the waterproofing and the budget of floor space.
Alcove tub with a glass screen
Best for: One bath that still needs a tub
- One wall of plumbing to serve
- Tile can run to the ceiling on three sides
Keep in mind: A fixed screen is easier to clean than a sliding door, but hard water still spots it.
Deep tub set into a tile deck
Best for: Keeping a long soak under an existing window
- A ledge for soap and a cup
- The deck can be tiled in its own color
Keep in mind: The deck needs a slope to the tub and a plan for reaching the drain later.
Shower in place of the tub
Best for: Homes with another tub elsewhere
- A wider, easier step in
- Room for a niche and a bench
Keep in mind: If this is the only tub in the house, think about who will want one.
MIRROR WALL
A mirror wall that stays clear
Hard water leaves marks where water meets glass, so the mirror wall is planned for wiping, with light that shows what needs it and storage that keeps the top of the vanity open.
- Light from both sidesSconces at face height show the mirror evenly, with no glare on the glass.
- Storage behind the mirrorA recessed cabinet keeps small things out of sight and off the splash zone.
- A top that wipes downTile or stone with few seams leaves less for mineral spots to catch on.
Older bathrooms
What an older bathroom can hide behind the tile
A bathroom from before 1970 may have tile set over plaster, a tub on a built-up deck, or a drain and vent that were never planned for a larger shower. None of this is a problem by itself. It is why the estimate includes a look at the framing, the drain position and the shut-off valves before we agree on a layout, and why we ask when the house was built.
Framing and drain position
Turning a tub into a shower, or widening one, depends on where the drain and the joists sit.
Valves tested before work starts
Shut-offs under the sink and at the tub are worked once before demolition, so a stuck valve does not surprise anyone midway.
FOR THE VISIT
Notes to bring to a bathroom estimate
Rough answers are fine.
- 1Roughly when the house was built
- 2Which fixtures you want to swap or move
- 3Whether this is the only tub or shower in the home
- 4Photos of the tub wall, the vanity wall and the ceiling
- 5Any stains, soft floor spots or slow drains you have noticed
- 6Your HOA's contact, if you have one
Not sure about an item? Leave it blank and we will sort it out at the visit.
MORE IN THIS CITY
More Remodeling in Fullerton
Service overviewKitchen RemodelingBeautiful kitchens that bring together thoughtful design, quality materials and expert craftsmanship.See the service 
Service overviewFlooring & TileStylish, durable, and professionally installed flooring and tile for every room in your home.See the service 
Service overviewTile InstallationFloor, shower, backsplash and patio tile installed on a properly prepared surface, with clean layouts and neat grout lines.See the service 
Service overviewWhole-Home RenovationsDesign, construction and finishing details brought together into one carefully coordinated project.See the service 
Service overviewLighting InstallationRecessed lights, pendants, chandeliers, under-cabinet and outdoor lighting, wired safely and placed where it matters.See the service 
Service overviewPaintingFlawless finishes, lasting beauty, and attention to detail in every interior and exterior painting project.See the service
All remodeling in FullertonEverything we do in this city, on one page.BEFORE YOU PICK TILE
Keeping the tub or replacing it?
Tell us how the bathroom is used day to day. We will say what each choice means for the layout and the paperwork.
HOW IT WORKS
How a bathroom remodeling project runs
Step 1
Look at the room
We check the room, the visible plumbing and any signs of past repairs.
Step 2
Choose and write it down
Tile, vanity, glass and fixtures are picked together, then written into the scope.
Step 3
Match the paperwork
We describe the job in the terms the city uses and tell you what the counter is likely to ask for.
Step 4
Build and review
Plumbing, waterproofing, tile and fixtures follow in order, and we go through the finished room with you.
Good to know
Before you start in Fullerton
Every point below comes from the source shown on its card, with the date we last checked it. Rules change, so confirm anything that affects your project directly with the source.
- Official source
Small bathroom remodels at the counter
The page says smaller projects that need no more than 30 minutes of plan review can typically be reviewed over the counter, and lists small bathroom or kitchen remodels among its examples. Staff can still send a project to fuller review depending on its complexity and scope or on existing conditions. Submittal documents typically include items such as Title 24 energy calculations; not every item is needed for every scope, and the page advises calling the Building Division to confirm.
City of Fullerton, Permit Processing Info Checked 2026-10-30 - Official source
Fixture forms on the city's list
The Building Permits list on this page includes a Plumbing Fixture Replacement Affidavit for 1 or 2 unit residential projects and a separate SB407 Water Conserving Fixtures form.
City of Fullerton, Permits & Licenses Checked 2026-10-30 - Official source
Hard water in the city supply
The page says the city's most recent Water Quality Report puts local hardness between 14 and 25 grains per gallon and classifies the water as very hard, a class that starts at 10.5 grains per gallon. It says hardness levels fluctuate over the year as the sources of supply are switched depending on demand, that one grain per gallon equals 17.1 mg/l, and that hard water is not a health hazard but interferes with many common household tasks.
City of Fullerton, Water Hardness Checked 2026-10-30 - California law
State rule on noncompliant fixtures
As enrolled, SB 407 (2009) defines a noncompliant plumbing fixture in Civil Code section 1101.3 as a toilet using more than 1.6 gallons per flush, a showerhead above 2.5 gallons per minute, or an interior faucet that emits more than 2.2 gallons per minute. Section 1101.4(a) says that on and after January 1, 2014, for building alterations or improvements to single-family residential real property, the permit applicant shall replace all noncompliant plumbing fixtures as a condition of final permit approval. This is the 2009 wording; the section has been amended since.
California Legislature, Senate Bill 407 (2009), enrolled text Checked 2026-10-30
FAQ
Bathroom Remodeling questions in Fullerton
Direct answers to what homeowners ask us most. If your question is not here, call or send a request.
- Fullerton
- Permits
- Clear scope
Is a small bathroom remodel in Fullerton reviewed at the counter?
The city says smaller projects needing no more than 30 minutes of plan review can typically be reviewed over the counter, and it names small bathroom or kitchen remodels as examples. Staff can still send a project to fuller review, so we describe the work precisely before you submit.
Will Fullerton's water spot my new shower glass?
It can. The city rates its water as very hard, at 14 to 25 grains per gallon in the latest report, and says the level moves through the year. We choose glass, fixtures and grout with that in mind and go through upkeep with you.
What is the state rule on old toilets and showerheads?
California law has tied permitted alterations to single-family homes to replacing noncompliant fixtures, meaning toilets over 1.6 gallons per flush, showerheads over 2.5 gallons per minute and faucets over 2.2 gallons per minute, in the 2009 text. The section has been amended since, so we confirm how the Fullerton counter applies it.
Should I keep the tub when I redo the bathroom?
It depends on the household. We look at the framing and the drain position, and whether it is the only tub in the home, before drawing either option.
Who do I call at the city with a bathroom question?
The city lists the Building Division at (714) 738-6541, and its page advises calling to confirm which plan items your scope needs. We can make that call with you.
Service area
Bathroom Remodeling near Fullerton
We work across Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Call or send a request and we will confirm your address.
Prefer the full overview?
Bathroom Remodeling: main service page
READY TO GET STARTED?
Planning a bathroom remodeling project in Fullerton?
Tell us about your home and your plans. We will confirm the details and set up your free estimate.