Cicarelli Contractors is a bathroom remodeling contractor for Bay Area homes, from replacing fixtures to full renovations with walk-in showers, new tile and vanities. Every wet wall is waterproofed before tile goes on, plumbing changes go in under permit, and you get a written estimate before work starts.
Bathroom remodeling
A bathroom remodel can be as small as replacing a vanity, toilet and faucets, or as large as taking the room to the studs for a new shower, tub, tile and lighting. The bigger the change, the more of the work happens where you will never see it: drains, supply lines, wiring, ventilation and waterproofing.
Waterproofing is what decides whether a shower lasts. Tile and grout are not waterproof on their own; the membrane behind them keeps water out of the framing. That layer, the slope of the shower floor and a properly set drain matter more to a bathroom renovation than the tile chosen for the surface.
We remodel bathrooms in homes from San Francisco and Oakland to San Jose and Walnut Creek, often together with a kitchen remodel or with interior painting for the hallway and bedrooms around it.
Six Google reviews quoted word for word about our work at their homes. None describes a bathroom remodel yet. Swipe or use the arrows.
Athalyson did great work at my house and backyard. Very happy with the result. Highly recommend.
If I had another project, I wouldn't think twice and they would hire them again because they are clean people at work, flexible with hours and very professional.
Excellent job and ZERO complaint. The project was done on time.
The team exhibited exceptional performance, demonstrated effective communication, and displayed a commendable work ethic.
Very professional. It was explained what was going to be done.
They were done in 4 days. Other companies gave us a time limit of 2 weeks. Hard workers. We will use this company again. We need more work done.
Amanzing job, great people that talked to me. I recommend this company
Bathroom services
From a single fixture to the whole room. These photos come from bathrooms we have remodeled.
Walk-in shower remodels with a waterproofed base and walls, a sloped floor to the drain and a glass enclosure sized to the space.
Bathtub replacement and tub-area remodels, from a freestanding soaking tub to the tile, valves and drain connections around it.
Shower and floor tile installed over a waterproofing membrane, with the layout planned so cuts, niches and trim lines fall cleanly.
Single and double vanity installation with new tops, sinks, faucets and mirrors, plus the supply and drain changes a new vanity size needs.
Toilet, faucet and showerhead replacement with water-saving models, plus lighted mirrors and fans updated while walls are open.
Starting from a dated bathroom with no plan yet? Send photos through the free estimate form and we will suggest a scope.
What lasts
Most bathroom failures start with water getting behind the surface. These are the details that keep it out, and the shortcuts that let it in.
Older home? A bathroom permit there may also require water-saving fixtures; see the rules below.
Bathroom remodel step by step
Each layer is finished and checked before the next one covers it.
Start With A Free EstimateWe measure, decide what moves and choose fixtures, tile and vanity with you.
Old tile, fixtures and drywall come out and the framing is checked for damage.
A membrane goes on the shower walls and floor, sealed at every seam.
Wall and floor tile go in on the planned layout, then grout and trim.
Valves, showerhead, toilet, vanity and faucets are installed and tested.
The glass enclosure and mirror go up, then cleanup and a walk-through.
Pricing
Bathroom remodel cost is set mostly by how much of the room is opened up. These are the items we price separately.
Fixture swaps only, or a full tear-out to the studs.
Walk-in shower, tub replacement or both, and the glass.
Square footage of tile, material and layout complexity.
Vanity size, top, faucets, toilet and mirror.
Relocating a drain, toilet or shower valve.
Rot or leaks found once the old tile is off.
Planning a larger renovation? Read renovate or rebuild first, or send photos for a written bathroom estimate. Get a written quote
Permits and rules
Tile and paint alone are exempt finish work in Oakland and Berkeley, and Berkeley lets you remove and reinstall a toilet without a permit. Replacing a concealed drain, moving fixtures or new wiring needs a permit, and in homes built on or before 1994 that permit requires water-saving fixtures.
Paint disturbed in a pre-1978 Oakland home needs a lead-based paint permit, even inside a bathroom.
Bathroom remodel answers
Before calling a bathroom remodeling contractor, homeowners want to know what a small budget covers, what adds value, whether they need a permit and what older homes require. These answers come from our bathroom work and from Bay Area city rules.
A budget that size usually fits a cosmetic refresh: a new vanity, toilet, faucets, mirror, lighting and paint, with the shower, tub and plumbing left in place. Once tile comes off or a fixture moves, demolition, waterproofing and permits enter the job and the total changes quickly. An itemized estimate shows exactly where the line falls.
We can price a refresh and a full remodel side by side.
Buyers and daily users notice a clean, watertight shower, good ventilation, enough storage and lighting that works at the mirror. A dated layout that functions well can often be refreshed rather than rebuilt. Spending on hidden quality, like waterproofing and a vented fan, protects the value of everything on the surface.
Keeping the toilet and shower drain where they are saves the most.
For tile and paint alone, usually not; Oakland and Berkeley list them as exempt finish work. Replacing a concealed drain, moving a toilet or shower, or adding wiring needs a permit. In a home built on or before 1994, that permit also requires water-conserving toilets, showerheads and faucets.
The permits your city requires are listed in the estimate.
Usually the shower: tearing out old tile, waterproofing, new tile, the valve and a glass enclosure add up to the largest share of the job. Moving the toilet, shower drain or vanity plumbing is the next big cost, because floors and walls must open. A new vanity and fixtures in place cost far less.
Keeping the shower drain where it is protects the budget most.
In California homes built on or before January 1, 1994, yes, when the remodel needs a permit. Civil Code 1101.4 requires noncompliant fixtures to be replaced with water-conserving ones before the permit is finaled. Fixtures that already meet the water-use limits do not have to be changed.
We fit compliant fixtures as part of the remodel, so the final inspection is not held up.
| Bathroom work | Official rule |
|---|---|
| Tile, paint, cabinets | Exempt finish work in Oakland (city page) |
| Remove and reinstall a toilet | Exempt in Berkeley if no pipes change (city page) |
| Replace a concealed drain or vent | Permit required in Berkeley (city page) |
| Permit in a home built by 1994 | Water-conserving fixtures before final (Berkeley) |
| Duplex, one unit remodeled | Fixture upgrades in that unit only (Oakland) |
Summarized from the official city pages linked above.
Updated · By Athalyson Bernardo, Owner of Cicarelli Contractors · CSLB #1109419
FAQ
Send photos of the bathroom, its rough size and what you want to change, and we will reply with a written estimate. Reach us Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, or browse the FAQ page in the meantime.
Call (650) 404-7049A fixture and vanity refresh is a short job; a full remodel down to the studs takes longer because waterproofing, tile and inspections each need their own time. Custom glass is ordered after the tile is set, which adds lead time. Your estimate includes the expected schedule.
Tell us about it when you request an estimate. Whether it works depends on the drain location, the floor framing and the space for a glass enclosure, so we look at the bathroom before confirming. If the drain has to move, that plumbing work goes in under permit.
We install the tile you choose, from porcelain and ceramic to marble-look and natural stone, on walls and floors. The tile is the finish; what keeps the shower dry is the waterproofing membrane underneath it and the slope of the floor to the drain.
Yes. Vanities, tops, sinks, faucets, toilets and mirrors are part of most bathroom remodels. If the new vanity is a different size, the supply and drain lines are adjusted, and in older homes the new fixtures are chosen to meet the state water-use limits.
We stop and show you before going further. Rotted framing or a damaged subfloor has to be repaired before waterproofing, and we price that repair in a signed change order. Fixing it during the remodel is far cheaper than after new tile is on.
Call or text (650) 404-7049, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, or send photos of the bathroom through the free estimate form. A written, itemized bathroom remodel estimate follows within 24 hours of the photos or the site visit.
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