Bathroom Remodeling in Santa Monica

We take the room to studs and subfloor. That is the only honest way to find rot, a failed pan liner, corroded supply lines, or framing that has moved. Tiling over those conditions buys a few years and the same repair again. We photograph what we find and walk you through it before anything closes up.

Scope usually runs demolition, framing repair, new supply and waste lines, shower pan and waterproofing, backer board, tile, glass, cabinetry, fixtures, lighting, exhaust, and paint. One crew, one schedule, one number to call.

Water is what ends a bathroom, so this is where the extra hours go. Wet-area walls get cement backer board or a listed waterproof board. Standard drywall never goes behind tile in a shower. The pan gets its slope set first, then a continuous membrane turned up the walls and over the curb. We flood-test every pan and hold water overnight before one tile is set. If it holds, we move forward. If it drips, we rebuild it and test again. Niches, benches, and curbless entries get the same treatment, because those three details are where most leaks start.

California code requires bathroom exhaust to discharge outdoors. We duct to the roof or a sidewall, never into an attic or a soffit cavity. We size the fan to the room, keep duct runs short and smooth, and set humidity-sensing controls so the fan keeps running after the shower stops. A quiet fan people leave on protects the work better than a loud one they switch off.

The City of Santa Monica issues its own building permits through its Building and Safety Division. Building permit issuance and Building and Safety Division records are handled at the Permit Services Center, 1685 Main Street, South Entrance with access from Olympic Dr., open 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Application type follows scope and plan review level. Single-trade work uses the Single-Trade application; multi-trade work eligible for Same-Day or Minor Plan Review uses the Combination application; projects meeting the Single-Family Residential Plan Review threshold go through Electronic Plan Review. We confirm the right path with the city before filing.

One requirement catches homeowners off guard. Single-family residential projects that add or modify plumbing fixtures are required to submit a completed Water Meter Sizing Questionnaire as part of the plan check submittal. The Public Works plan checker uses it to prescribe a minimum water meter service connection following the 2019 California Plumbing Code. We prepare that form with the rest of the package.

I do not promise permit dates. The city controls that calendar. I handle the submittal, the corrections, and the inspections.

Call (949) 558-9738 to schedule a free on-site estimate. I will walk the bathroom with you, measure, and put a written scope in your hands.