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BATHROOM REMODELING

Bathroom Remodeling Contractor in
Irvine, CA

With more than 10 years of experience, ARD Remodeling remodels bathrooms for homeowners in Irvine, CA, whether the plan is a new vanity and faucet or a rebuilt shower. Three answers set the course here: how many fixtures change, when the building was finished, and whether your association has a say. The free estimate starts there, so the paperwork route is clear before any tile is chosen.

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Remodeled bathroom with a frameless glass walk-in shower, pale blue-gray wall tile and a floating oak vanity in Southern California
  • Free estimates
  • Shower, tub and vanity
  • Waterproofing planned
  • Scope in writing

Sizing the job

How many fixtures change decides the route

The city's page on minor plumbing and electrical work sets limits for its online route: no more than four plumbing fixtures, such as a toilet, sink, drain or faucet, and no more than ten electrical fixtures or outlets. A project outside those limits goes through the IrvineReady! portal instead.

  • A few fixtures, same spots

    A faucet, toilet and sink swap can sit inside the four-fixture limit. We count them at the estimate.

  • Moved drains or a bigger shower

    We expect drawings for a change this size and plan on the portal route.

IRVINE PLUMBING ROUTES

Which route a bathroom plumbing job takes in Irvine

A planning guide, not a ruling. The city decides, and these are the limits it publishes for its online route.

  • Fits the online limits

    • Up to four plumbing fixtures, such as a toilet, sink, drain or faucet
    • Up to ten electrical fixtures or outlets

  • Goes to the IrvineReady! portal

    • More than four plumbing fixtures
    • More than ten electrical fixtures or outlets
    • Any job that does not meet the online criteria

  • Older fixtures

    Bulletin 321 and its 1994 date apply to permitted work in older homes.

  • Bathroom lighting

    The city wants bathroom lighting to be high efficacy or use an occupant sensor.

We count the fixtures while writing the scope and tell you which route the work probably takes.

Older homes

Homes finished before 1994: the fixture rule

Irvine's Bulletin 321 applies state law to buildings that received their initial final inspection on or before January 1, 1994. When such a single-family home is remodeled under a building permit, the applicant replaces every noncompliant fixture in the building, with targets of 1.28 gallons per flush for toilets and 1.8 gallons per minute for showerheads. Multifamily buildings follow different scenarios in the bulletin, so for an attached home we check how it reads for your unit.

  • Find the year first

    We ask when the home was built at the estimate. The city settles the original inspection date before it issues a permit.

  • Plan the fixtures into the scope

    Fixtures that fail the test are replaced as part of the job, so they appear in the written scope from the start.

  • The check at the end

    The inspector either sees the new fixtures or accepts a certification signed by the contractor.

TUB OR SHOWER

Three layouts for the bathing area

Decide this early. It changes the framing and the waterproofing.

  • Frameless walk-in shower

    Best for: Replacing a tub that rarely gets used

    • Open sightlines make a small room look larger
    • Tile can run floor to ceiling

    Keep in mind: Glass shows mineral spots, so plan a quick wipe-down habit.

  • Tub-shower combination

    Best for: Homes that still need a tub

    • One valve and one drain to serve
    • Tile or a solid surround on three walls

    Keep in mind: Door tracks collect deposits, so choose a simple profile.

  • Soaking tub plus separate shower

    Best for: Larger primary bathrooms

    • Two bathing zones
    • Room for a niche and a bench in the shower

    Keep in mind: Needs extra floor area, a second set of plumbing and a floor that carries the weight.

SURFACE DETAILS

Surfaces that are easy to keep clear

Glass, tile and fixtures each show wear and water spots in their own way. We choose materials alongside the way you clean, so upkeep stays light.

  • Glass you can reachPanels are placed so a squeegee reaches every corner.
  • Tile with fewer jointsLarger tile and tight grout lines leave less to scrub.
  • Light that shows the surfaceEven light at the mirror and shower shows what needs a wipe.
Bathroom vanity detail with a brass wall-mounted faucet, a limestone top and a pale blue-gray handmade tile backsplash

Hard water and what it leaves on a new shower

Irvine Ranch Water District's 2026 Water Quality Report defines hardness as naturally occurring mineral content, mostly calcium and magnesium, and says the white deposits it can leave on fixtures come off with a simple vinegar solution. The district blends several sources, so the hardness you notice can shift during the year. If your home is on that supply, it shapes the finishes we suggest.

  • Finishes that wipe clean

    We match glass, faucet finishes and grout to the amount of upkeep you want to do.

  • Check before you clean

    Ask us before putting vinegar on stone or a specialty finish, because acids can etch some surfaces.

If this is the only shower in the house

A household with a single shower notices each stage, so we map the sequence with you before work begins: rough plumbing and demolition, then waterproofing and tile, then glass and the final fixtures. Knowing when the water will be off lets you arrange a stand-in shower and warn the neighbors.

  • Arrange a backup

    A second bath, a neighbor or a nearby gym can cover showers while this one is down. Settle it before the first day.

  • Shared walls and shut-offs

    In a condo or townhome, ask your association about shut-off notice, floor protection and work hours before a date is set.

FOR THE VISIT

What to know before a bathroom estimate

Rough answers are fine.

  1. 1The approximate year the home was built
  2. 2Whether it is a house, a townhome or a condo
  3. 3Which fixtures you want to replace or move
  4. 4What you want to keep, such as a window or the tub
  5. 5Any leaks, soft spots or stains you have noticed
  6. 6Photos of every wall and the ceiling
  7. 7Your association'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 Irvine

All remodeling in IrvineEverything we do in this city, on one page.

QUICK QUESTION?

Updating a few fixtures or rebuilding the room?

Describe what bothers you about the bathroom. We will tell you which way the project leans and what Irvine's routes mean for it.

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HOW IT WORKS

How a bathroom remodeling project runs

  1. Step 1

    Walk the bathroom

    We check the room, the visible plumbing and any signs of earlier repairs.

  2. Step 2

    Choose and write it down

    Tile, vanity, glass and fixtures are picked together, then written into the scope.

  3. Step 3

    Pick the Irvine route

    We count fixtures, check the build year and note whether the plan fits the online limits.

  4. Step 4

    Build and walk through

    Plumbing, waterproofing, tile and fixtures follow in order, and we review the finished room with you.

Good to know

Before you start in Irvine

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

    The online route for minor plumbing

    The page lists these limits for the online permit route: no more than four plumbing fixtures, for example a toilet, sink, drain or faucet, and no more than ten electrical fixtures or outlets. Lighting in bathrooms, garages, laundry rooms and utility rooms must be high efficacy or use an occupant sensor. A project outside the criteria is submitted through the IrvineReady! online portal.

    City of Irvine, Minor Plumbing or Electrical Work (or a Combination of the Two), Including Furnace Replacement Checked 2026-10-30
  • Official source

    Older homes and fixtures

    Bulletin 321 (revised January 28, 2021) applies to buildings that received an initial final inspection on or before January 1, 1994 and are now remodeled under a building permit. For a single-family home the permit applicant replaces all noncompliant plumbing fixtures in the building, to targets of 1.28 gallons per flush for toilets and 1.8 gallons per minute for showerheads. Before final inspection the inspector verifies the replacements or collects a certification signed by the contractor. Multifamily properties follow separate scenarios.

    City of Irvine, Informational Bulletin 321 Checked 2026-10-30
  • Official source

    Hard water in the local supply

    The 2026 report, covering 2025 results, defines hardness as naturally occurring mineral content, mostly calcium and magnesium, and says the white deposits hard water sometimes leaves on fixtures can be removed with a simple vinegar solution. It describes IRWD's supply as a blend of local groundwater and, to a lesser degree, imported surface water, with hardness that can differ at different times of year.

    Irvine Ranch Water District, 2026 Water Quality Report Checked 2026-10-30
  • California law

    State definition of noncompliant fixtures

    As chaptered, SB 407 (Statutes of 2009, chapter 587) defines a noncompliant plumbing fixture as a toilet manufactured to use more than 1.6 gallons per flush, a showerhead with a flow capacity 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 from January 1, 2014, for alterations or improvements to single-family residential real property, the permit applicant replaces all noncompliant plumbing fixtures as a condition for final permit approval.

    California Legislature, Senate Bill 407 (2009), chaptered text Checked 2026-10-30

FAQ

Bathroom Remodeling questions in Irvine

Direct answers to what homeowners ask us most. If your question is not here, call or send a request.

Call Us (424) 402-5114 →
  • Irvine
  • Permits
  • Clear scope
How does Irvine treat a small plumbing swap?

The city's page on minor plumbing and electrical work sets an online route for up to four plumbing fixtures, such as a toilet, sink, drain or faucet. Anything beyond that goes through the IrvineReady! portal.

What if my home was built before 1994?

Bulletin 321 covers buildings that passed their first final inspection on or before January 1, 1994. If the remodel is under a building permit, noncompliant toilets, showerheads and faucets are replaced.

Will hard water spot my new glass?

It can. Irvine Ranch Water District says hard water may leave white deposits on fixtures that a vinegar solution removes. We go through finishes and upkeep at the estimate.

Can a tub become a walk-in shower?

Often. We look at the framing, the drain position and whether it is the only tub in the home before drawing it up.

Does my association need to approve a bathroom remodel?

Rules differ from one community to the next. Ask your association for its guidelines and work-hour rules before booking a start date, and send them to us.

Service area

Bathroom Remodeling near Irvine

We work across Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Call or send a request and we will confirm your address.

Los Angeles services →All service areas →

Prefer the full overview?
Bathroom Remodeling: main service page

READY TO GET STARTED?

Planning a bathroom remodeling project in Irvine?

Tell us about your home and your plans. We will confirm the details and set up your free estimate.

Call Us (424) 402-5114 →