If you are planning a Bathroom Renovation Plumbing London Ontario, here is something most homeowners do not realize until it is too late. A bathroom renovation is not just a plumbing job. It involves a plumber, a drywaller, a framer, a painter, and usually a tile installer. Getting the right trades in the right order is half the battle.
I am Aron Oretan — a Licensed Red Seal Plumber and Steamfitter with 26 years in the trade and founder of Triton Home Service. Here is what you need to know before you start your bathroom renovation in London Ontario.
What Triton Home Service Does in a Bathroom Renovation
Triton Home Service is a full service plumbing company — not a full service renovation company. Setting that expectation upfront saves everyone time.
Here is exactly what we handle:
- Plumbing rough-in — drain, waste, and vent relocation or installation
- Plumbing finish — connecting fixtures, valves, and trim
- Fixture supply — we source and supply quality plumbing fixtures
- Water treatment — water softeners, filters, and reverse osmosis where needed
- Mixing valves — thermostatic and pressure balancing valves for shower safety
- Water heater replacement — where the renovation reveals an aging unit
- Radiant heating — moving or installing towel warmers, radiators, and in-floor heating connections
We are happy to work alongside homeowners who are handling their own drywall, painting, and finishing. We coordinate with your schedule and work with your other trades.
What we do not do is drywall, framing, painting, or tiling. If you need those trades, we can refer you to contractors we trust — including Four Nine North and Kirk’s Renovations, who we work with regularly on London Ontario bathroom renovations.
What We Find When We Open the Walls
Bathroom renovations are always interesting. You never know what is behind the wall until you open it.
In London Ontario homes — especially heritage properties and older builds — we regularly encounter structural framing in unexpected locations, previously cut or compromised structure that needs to be addressed before any plumbing can move, drain locations that make the desired layout impossible without significant work, and old pipe materials that need to be updated while the wall is open.
Sometimes a homeowner wants to move a toilet to a new location. When we open the wall we find that the existing drain cut through structural members. We cannot simply move the toilet without addressing the structure first. Sometimes the bathroom layout has to change completely. Sometimes a bulkhead needs to be added to the ceiling below to accommodate a relocated drain.
This is not a reason to avoid renovating. It is a reason to hire experienced trades who will tell you the truth before the job starts — not after.
Planning Your Bathroom Renovation
The single most important thing you can do before calling us is know what you actually want.
We are not designers — but we can recommend a few if you need help with the design phase. What we need from you is a clear picture of what is moving and what is staying. Are you changing the faucet and vanity only? That is a finish plumbing job. Are you moving the toilet, replacing the shower, and adding in-floor heat? That is a full rough-in renovation involving multiple trades.
The scope of the plumbing changes determines the cost, the timeline, and who else needs to be on the job.
A simple fixture refresh — new faucet, new toilet, new vanity — is straightforward. A full gut renovation with relocated rough-in, new shower valve, in-floor heating, and updated drain lines is a multi-trade project that needs to be coordinated and scheduled properly.
Book a bathroom renovation consultation in London Ontario.
Working With Heritage Homes in London Ontario
London Ontario has no shortage of heritage homes — century houses in Old South, Wortley Village, and throughout the older neighbourhoods that make this city distinctive. We love working in these homes. We also know them well enough to be honest about what they involve.
Heritage bathroom walls hide surprises. Knob and tube wiring runs through unexpected places. Lead drain lines connect to newer ABS. Cast iron stacks need careful handling. Subfloor conditions vary wildly once the tile comes up.
We have been opening heritage bathroom walls in London Ontario for over 16 years. We know what to look for and we tell you what we find before we proceed. No surprises on the invoice.
What to Budget for Bathroom Renovation Plumbing in London Ontario
Bathroom renovation plumbing costs vary significantly based on scope.
A fixture refresh — replacing a faucet, toilet, and vanity with no rough-in changes — is at the lower end. A full rough-in renovation with relocated drain, new shower valve, mixing valve, and water heater replacement is at the higher end.
The honest answer is that we cannot give you an accurate number without seeing the existing bathroom and understanding what you want to change. Every heritage home is different. Every renovation reveals something unexpected.
Call 226-270-5177 and we will come out, assess the space, and give you a clear quote before any work begins.
Trades You Will Need Beyond the Plumber
This is the thing most London Ontario homeowners get wrong when planning a bathroom renovation.
Renovating a shower involves more than a plumber. Once the plumbing rough-in is complete, you need a drywaller to install moisture-resistant drywall or cement board. You need a tile installer to set the tile. You need a painter for the rest of the bathroom. You need a framer if anything structural needs to be addressed.
A plumber is essential. A plumber alone is not enough.
We work with trusted renovation contractors in London Ontario including Four Nine North and Kirk’s Renovations. If you need a referral to coordinate your full renovation, ask us when you call.
Frequently Asked Questions — Bathroom Renovation Plumbing London Ontario
What plumbing work is involved in a bathroom renovation?
Bathroom renovation plumbing includes rough-in work — relocating or installing drains, supply lines, and vents — and finish work — connecting fixtures, valves, and trim. It may also include water heater replacement, mixing valves, water treatment, and radiant heating connections.
Does Triton Home Service do full bathroom renovations?
We are a full service plumbing company. We handle all plumbing aspects of a bathroom renovation. We do not do drywall, framing, painting, or tiling but we work alongside those trades and can refer you to trusted contractors in London Ontario.
How long does bathroom renovation plumbing take?
Rough-in work typically takes one to two days depending on the scope of changes. Finish plumbing — after drywall and tile are complete — takes another half to full day. Total plumbing time depends on what is moving and what is staying.
Can you move a toilet during a bathroom renovation?
Sometimes. It depends on the existing drain location and the structural framing behind the floor and wall. In some London Ontario homes — especially heritage properties — moving a toilet requires addressing structural issues first. We assess this before quoting.
Do you supply plumbing fixtures for bathroom renovations?
Yes. We supply quality plumbing fixtures and can help you select products that fit your design and budget. Supplying the fixtures ourselves ensures we install products we stand behind.
What is a mixing valve and do I need one?
A mixing valve — also called a thermostatic or pressure balancing valve — controls shower water temperature and prevents scalding. Most London Ontario building codes require them in new shower installations. We install them on every new shower rough-in.
Can you add in-floor heating during a bathroom renovation?
Yes. A bathroom renovation is an ideal time to add radiant in-floor heating. We also install hydronic towel warmers and can connect or relocate existing baseboard radiators as part of the renovation scope.
What heritage home plumbing issues should I expect in a London Ontario bathroom renovation?
Common surprises include cast iron drain stacks, galvanized supply lines, lead connections to newer pipe, and subfloor conditions that affect drain depth. We have extensive experience with heritage plumbing in London Ontario and will identify and advise on any issues before proceeding.
Ready to start your bathroom renovation in London Ontario? Call 226-270-5177 or book a consultation online.
Aron Oretan is a Licensed Red Seal Plumber and Steamfitter, UA Certified Instructor, and founder of Triton Home Service. With 26 years in the trade, licences in plumbing, steamfitting, and gas fitting, and five years teaching at Fanshawe College, he brings classroom expertise and field experience to every job in London, Woodstock, St. Thomas, and Southwestern Ontario. Phone: 226-270-5177 | tritonservice.ca
