The quick answer: A shower remodel in Ottawa with Bytown starts from $13,000 CAD, with a fixed written quote and a written warranty, and most remodels are finished in 1 to 3 days. That price takes the old shower back to the studs, puts new waterproofing behind the walls, and installs the new base, walls, ceiling and fixtures. If you are turning a bathtub into a shower instead, that is a tub-to-shower conversion at $13,000 to $15,000 CAD.
In my 18 years as a tub and shower specialist and licensed plumber in Ottawa, the word “remodel” has meant everything from a new shower head to a full rebuild. This guide explains what a shower remodel actually includes, what it costs in 2026, how long it takes, and how to tell it apart from a shower installation or a full bathroom renovation so you get quoted for the right job.
What a shower remodel includes
A shower remodel replaces the shower you already have. The footprint stays where it is, the drain usually stays where it is, and everything you can see and touch is new. Here is what a Bytown shower remodel covers from $13,000 CAD:
- Removal of the old base, walls, tile, door and fixtures, and disposal
- Inspection and repair of hidden water damage behind the walls and under the base
- New waterproofing membrane behind the new walls
- New shower base, wall surround and ceiling panel
- New valve, shower head and trim, connected by a licensed plumber
- New glass door or enclosure
- Cleanup, haul-away, and a written warranty on the work
What is not included is any change to the room itself. Moving the drain, relocating the shower to a different wall, or adding a window is a bigger job, and we price it separately after the in-home visit.
Shower remodel cost in Ottawa in 2026
The table below is how we price the four jobs that homeowners call “a new shower.” They are not the same job, and they are not the same price.
| What you have now | What the job is called | Ottawa price, 2026 | Time on site |
|---|---|---|---|
| A shower that leaks, or tile and grout that have failed | Shower remodel | From $13,000 CAD | 1 to 3 days |
| No shower in that spot yet | Shower installation | From $13,000 CAD | 1 to 3 days |
| A bathtub nobody in the house uses | Tub-to-shower conversion | $13,000 to $15,000 CAD | 1 to 3 days |
| A room where everything is due at once | Complete bathroom renovation | From $20,000 CAD | About a week |
Every one of these is quoted fixed and in writing after an in-home visit. The number moves with what is behind the wall, the base and wall material you choose, and the enclosure. The size of the room on its own does not change it much.
What pushes a shower remodel above the starting price
- Moving plumbing. Relocating the drain or the valve to a new position adds roughly $1,500 to $5,000 to a project, according to the HomeStars cost guide for Ottawa. That is a market figure, not a Bytown quote. Keeping the layout is the single biggest way to hold the price.
- Tile instead of acrylic. Tiled walls need a full waterproofing membrane and more labour days. Acrylic surrounds go in faster and carry no grout to fail. Our shower wall surround styles guide shows the options.
- The ceiling. Most quotes skip it. An acrylic shower ceiling panel runs $1,150 to $2,500 CAD installed and goes up in about a day. A tiled ceiling runs $3,000 to $4,000 CAD and needs a membrane behind it. Details are in our shower ceiling panel guide.
- Hidden damage. Rotten subfloor or wet framing behind a failed shower has to be repaired before anything new goes in. We check for it at the estimate, and the fixed quote covers what we can see.
- Glass. A frameless glass enclosure costs more than a framed door or a curtain rod. See frameless vs framed glass shower doors.
Shower remodel vs shower installation vs bathroom renovation
These three get mixed up on quotes all the time, and the mix-up is where surprise costs come from.
Shower remodel. You have a shower. It is dated, leaking, or the tile has failed. We rebuild it in the same spot. From $13,000 CAD, 1 to 3 days.
Shower installation. There is no shower in that spot today, or you are converting a tub. New plumbing connections, new base, new walls. Our shower installation in Ottawa page covers it, and a tub-to-shower conversion is the most common version.
Complete bathroom renovation. The shower, the vanity, the toilet, the floor and the lighting are all due. One crew, one point of contact, about a week on site, from $20,000 CAD. That is our complete bathroom renovation service.
If you are still deciding between a remodel and a bigger project, the shower renovation cost guide breaks down what changes the quote line by line.
How long a shower remodel takes
Most Bytown shower remodels are done in 1 to 3 days on site. Day one is demolition, inspection and any repairs behind the wall. Day two is waterproofing, the new base and the wall system. Day three is the ceiling panel, fixtures, glass and cleanup. A one-day remodel is possible when the layout stays put, the walls behind are dry, and you choose an acrylic base and surround.
Tile adds days because every layer has to cure before the next one goes on. Our guide to what delays a shower or tub renovation covers the five things that most often push a job past its date. If the schedule matters more than the material, say so at the estimate and we will quote both ways.
Permits for a shower remodel in Ottawa
A like-for-like shower remodel that keeps the drain and the layout usually does not need a City of Ottawa building permit. Once the drain moves, a wall opens up, or the layout changes, it does. Electrical work such as a new exhaust fan circuit or added lighting goes to the Electrical Safety Authority, not the City. We handle that as part of the written scope. The full rules and 2026 fees are in our Ottawa bathroom renovation permit guide.
Where we remodel showers
Bytown Better Bathtubs and Showers is a bathroom-only renovation company at 3894 Russell Rd in Ottawa. We remodel showers across Ottawa, Kanata, Nepean, Barrhaven, Orleans, Gloucester, Stittsville, Manotick and Gatineau, with our own licensed and insured crew. You can see finished work in our project portfolio and read what homeowners said afterward in our bathroom renovation reviews.
Shower remodel questions
How much does a shower remodel cost in Ottawa?
A shower remodel with Bytown starts from $13,000 CAD in 2026, quoted fixed and in writing after an in-home visit, with a written warranty. Moving plumbing, choosing tile over acrylic, a tiled ceiling, and frameless glass push the number up.
How long does a shower remodel take?
Most shower remodels take 1 to 3 days on site. A one-day remodel is possible when the layout stays the same, the walls behind are dry, and you choose an acrylic base and surround. Tile adds days for curing.
Is a shower remodel the same as a shower installation?
No. A remodel rebuilds a shower that already exists in the same spot. An installation adds a shower where there was none, or converts a bathtub. Both start from $13,000 CAD, and a tub-to-shower conversion runs $13,000 to $15,000 CAD.
Do I need a permit to remodel a shower in Ottawa?
Usually not for a like-for-like remodel that keeps the drain and layout. A permit is needed once the drain moves, a wall opens, or the layout changes. Electrical changes go to the Electrical Safety Authority.
Can I remodel a shower without retiling?
Yes. An acrylic wall surround and ceiling panel replace tile and grout entirely, go in faster, and carry no grout lines to fail. It is the most common choice for a 1 to 3 day shower remodel in Ottawa.
Ready to remodel your shower?
Book a free in-home estimate and you will leave with a fixed written quote, a start date, and a written warranty. Schedule your estimate, email info@bytownbath.ca, or call (613) 746-8055.
