Hiring a Bathroom Contractor in Montréal

To hire a bathroom contractor in Montréal, start by confirming the company holds a valid licence from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ), that the plumber is a member of the CMMTQ and the electrician of the CMEQ, and that the quote says who handles the borough permit. Then compare written quotes line by line, with the waterproofing method, allowances and schedule spelled out. The rest of this guide covers the details that are particular to Montréal homes, from century-old plexes to downtown condo towers.

Licences are not optional in Quebec

Quebec is stricter than most of North America about who can do renovation work. Any contractor who carries out construction work for a client, including a bathroom remodel, needs an RBQ licence with the right subclasses for the work. You can look up a company by name or licence number in the RBQ's online registry, and it takes two minutes. Check that the licence is active and that the name on it matches the name on the quote.

Two trades have their own rules on top of that:

• Plumbing. Plumbing contractors must belong to the Corporation des maîtres mécaniciens en tuyauterie du Québec (CMMTQ). If the general contractor does not hold that membership, the plumbing should be subcontracted to someone who does, and the quote should say so.
• Electrical. Electrical contractors must belong to the Corporation des maîtres électriciens du Québec (CMEQ). New circuits for a heated floor, a new exhaust fan or relocated lighting all count.

A licensed contractor also brings a few protections: a formal written contract, a licence you can file a complaint against, and a paper trail if something goes wrong behind the tile two years later. A cash deal with someone who has no licence removes all of that.

Borough permits in Montréal

Montréal issues renovation permits through its boroughs (arrondissements), and the rules are not identical from Plateau-Mont-Royal to Saint-Laurent to Verdun. As a rough guide:

• Replacing finishes like for like (new tile, new vanity, new toilet in the same spot) often needs no permit, or only a simple declaration, depending on the borough.
• Moving plumbing fixtures, opening or moving a wall, changing the structure of the floor or adding a window usually needs a permit.
• Work on a building listed in a heritage sector can carry extra review, mostly for anything visible from outside, such as a new window or a vent through the façade.

Ask the contractor which permit applies to your project and who files it. A quote that says nothing about permits is a quote to question. The safest route is to confirm with your borough's permit office before signing.

Plexes: what is usually behind the walls

Much of Montréal's housing stock is duplexes and triplexes built between the 1910s and the 1960s, and their bathrooms come with predictable surprises. Knowing them ahead of time keeps the budget honest.

Cast-iron stacks and galvanized supply lines. Older plexes often still have cast-iron drains and galvanized steel water lines. Once the walls are open, replacing the sections inside the bathroom with PVC or ABS drains and PEX or copper supply lines is usually the sensible move. A good quote includes an allowance or a unit price for this, since nobody knows the condition until demolition.

A drain shared with the unit above or below. In a plex, the main stack often runs through every floor. Tying a new toilet or shower drain into it may need a short water shutdown for the neighbours, and the work should be scheduled with them.

Floors that are not level. Joists in older buildings have often sagged or been notched by past plumbers. Large-format tile and curbless showers need a flat, stiff floor, so levelling or sistering joists may be part of the scope.

Lath and plaster walls. Many plex bathrooms still have plaster over wood lath. It comes out as part of a full remodel, and in older buildings a test for asbestos in plaster, joint compound or old floor tile is worth doing before demolition starts.

Condos: the syndicate has a say

For a condo, the déclaration de copropriété and the building's renovation rules matter as much as city permits. Before work starts, most syndicates ask for some combination of:

• written notice or approval for the project, especially if plumbing or the floor assembly changes
• the contractor's RBQ licence and proof of liability insurance
• an acoustic membrane under new tile floors, so the unit below does not hear every footstep
• set working hours, elevator reservations and protection of common areas

Water damage is the real worry in a condo. A leak from a badly waterproofed shower lands in the neighbour's ceiling, and the claim often goes through the syndicate's insurance. Expect the board to care about how the shower is built, and expect a good contractor to explain it without hesitation.

Winter and ventilation

Montréal winters dry out the air outside but bathrooms stay humid, and that moisture ends up in walls and attics if the exhaust is weak. When a bathroom is gutted, it is the right time to install a quiet, properly sized exhaust fan ducted to the outside, never into the attic or a soffit where it just recirculates. A humidity-sensing switch or a timer helps the fan actually run long enough to clear the room.

Heated floors are popular here for an obvious reason. An electric mat under the tile needs its own circuit and a thermostat, which brings the CMEQ electrician back into the picture.

What a typical Montréal bathroom remodel costs

These are typical ranges for planning only, before taxes, and they vary with the building and the finishes.

• Cosmetic refresh: about $10,000 to $18,000. New vanity, toilet, faucet, lighting and paint, sometimes new flooring, with the tub and layout kept.
• Full remodel, same layout: about $20,000 to $38,000. Gutted to the studs, new supply lines and drains where needed, waterproofed tub or shower, new tile and fixtures.
• Layout change or custom shower: $38,000 and up. Moving the toilet or drain, a curbless tiled shower, a double vanity or structural work on the floor.

What pushes a Montréal project higher: plex plumbing that needs replacing, floor levelling, asbestos abatement, access (third-floor walk-ups with outdoor staircases slow down every delivery) and condo requirements such as acoustic membranes. In Quebec, the GST (5%) and QST (9.975%) apply to labour and materials, so roughly 15% more on top of the quote.

Timing around July 1

Moving day shapes the renovation calendar here. Contractors get busy in late spring with landlords and new owners who want work done between tenants or before moving in. If you are planning a bathroom for the summer, request quotes in winter, so cabinets, vanities and glass are ordered before the rush.

Frequently asked questions

How can you check if a contractor has an RBQ licence?

Search the company name or licence number in the RBQ's online contractor registry. Confirm the licence is active, that the subclasses cover the work, and that the legal name matches the quote and contract.

Is a permit needed to renovate a bathroom in Montréal?

It depends on the borough and the scope. Like-for-like replacement of finishes often needs little or nothing, while moving plumbing, changing walls or altering the floor structure usually needs a permit, so confirm with your borough before signing.

How long does a bathroom remodel take in a Montréal plex?

A full remodel with the same layout usually takes a few weeks once demolition starts, longer if the plumbing or floor needs significant work. Custom glass and special-order tile have their own lead times, so they should be ordered before the room is torn out.

Can you stay in a condo during a bathroom renovation?

Usually yes if there is a second bathroom. If it is the only one, ask the contractor to schedule the plumbing and waterproofing so the time without a working toilet and shower is as short as possible.

Get a written quote

If you are planning a bathroom in Montréal, Laval or elsewhere in the region, see the Montréal service area and request a free quote with your borough, the type of building and what you want changed. A remodeling specialist who works in your area visits, measures and puts the full scope, allowances, permits and schedule in writing. For condo-specific planning, the condo bathroom renovation checklist is a useful next read.