Bathroom Remodeling in McKinney, TX
Decision 1: What has to change about how the room works?
Before anything else, write down what bothers you about the bathroom today. The answers decide the scope:
- “Two people cannot get ready at the same time.” That is a vanity and layout question.
- “The tub is never used.” That is a conversion: see tub-to-shower conversion in McKinney.
- “The shower is small and the insert looks cheap.” That is a shower question: see shower remodeling in McKinney.
- “It is dark and the mirror fogs.” That is lighting and ventilation.
- “It just looks dated.” That may be finishes only.
If every answer is about looks, the remodel can stay inside the current layout. If any answer is about how the room works, the layout and plumbing come first.
Decision 2: Layout and plumbing locations
Fix the positions of the toilet, the vanity sink or sinks, and the shower or tub before choosing a single finish. Keeping fixtures where the plumbing already is keeps the project simpler. Moving them, adding a second sink, or relocating a drain changes the wall and floor work and the permits involved (see Decision 7).
Decision 3: The wet area and its waterproofing
Whatever the shower or tub becomes, the protection is the waterproofing layer behind the tile and under the shower floor, not the grout. Decide early whether the shower floor is a preformed pan or a tiled floor sloped to a standard or linear drain, because that affects the floor height, the curb and the entry.
Decision 4: Ventilation
A bathroom that stays damp grows mildew, peels paint and shortens the life of caulk and grout. The International Residential Code expects a bathroom to have either an operable window of adequate size or mechanical exhaust of at least 50 cfm intermittent or 20 cfm continuous. A remodel is the time to:
- replace an undersized or noisy fan;
- make sure it is ducted to the outside, not into the attic;
- put it on a timer or humidity control so it actually runs long enough.
Sizing the fan
The code minimum is a floor, not a target. The Home Ventilating Institute recommends HVI, Bathroom Ventilation:
| Bathroom size | Recommended fan capacity |
|---|---|
| 50 sq ft or smaller | At least 50 cfm |
| 50–100 sq ft | About 1 cfm per square foot of floor area |
| Over 100 sq ft | Add up the fixtures: 50 cfm each for a toilet, a shower and a tub; 100 cfm for a jetted tub |
In a large primary bath with an enclosed toilet room and a separate shower, HVI suggests that several smaller fans placed over each fixture can work better than one large fan. Also check the sone rating, which measures noise: a quieter fan is one people actually leave running.
The duct matters as much as the fan
A long, crushed or uninsulated duct can cut a fan’s real airflow well below its rating. Short, straight runs to an exterior wall or roof cap, with insulated ductwork through the attic, keep the fan doing its job.
Decision 5: Lighting
Plan light where you use it: at the mirror (light from the sides or above, not just a ceiling fixture), inside or near the shower with a fixture rated for wet locations, and general light for cleaning. Lighting changes that add circuits are electrical work, and that matters for permits (Decision 7).
Decision 6: Vanity, storage and finishes
With the layout, wet area, ventilation and lighting settled, the finishes can be chosen to fit them:
- Vanity: a size and height that suits the users, one sink or two, drawers rather than doors for storage.
- Storage: a recessed medicine cabinet, a niche in the shower, a linen cabinet if there is room.
- Tile and floor: a slip-resistant floor tile, and wall tile proportioned to the room.
- Fixtures: faucets, shower trim and accessories in one finish.
Our showroom at 2830 W. 15th St., Suite 1, Plano (Mon–Fri 11–5, Sat 11–4) has samples to compare side by side.
Choosing a vanity
| Choice | Options | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Width | Single-sink vanities are typically 24″–48″; double-sink 60″–72″ or more | Leave room on each side; NKBA recommends at least 20″ from a sink’s centerline to a side wall |
| Height | Standard, or taller “comfort height” | NKBA’s guidelines range from 32″ to 43″ to fit the user |
| Mounting | Floor-standing or wall-hung (floating) | Floating vanities make a small room feel larger and are easy to clean under; they need solid blocking in the wall |
| Storage | Doors, drawers or a mix | Drawers keep small items organized; a door cabinet holds bulk supplies |
| Sink | Undermount, vessel, integrated | Undermount is easiest to wipe; vessel sinks change faucet height and splash |
| Faucet | Single-hole, widespread or wall-mount | Match the faucet holes to the countertop before it is cut; wall-mount faucets need the plumbing planned in the wall |
Decision 7: Which parts need a McKinney permit
The City of McKinney lists work that does not require a permit, including tiling and other finish work, “Replacing light fixtures”, “Replacing plugs, switches and breakers with no changes to wiring” and “Replacing toilets, faucets, and other fixtures in the same location without altering the pipes” (City of McKinney, Home Repairs & Permit Information).
Applied to a bathroom:
| Bathroom work | On McKinney’s no-permit list? |
|---|---|
| New tile, paint, flooring, vanity cabinet | Yes: finish work |
| Swapping the toilet or faucet in the same spot | Yes |
| Replacing a light fixture on the existing wiring | Yes |
| Adding a circuit, a new light location or outlets | No: wiring changes |
| Moving the toilet, sink or shower drain, or adding a second sink | No: pipes altered |
| Rebuilding a shower with a new valve location | No: pipes altered |
We pull the required permits and coordinate inspections for the parts of a remodel that need them.
What drives the cost, decision by decision
| Decision | What raises the cost |
|---|---|
| 1. What changes | Turning a refresh into a full remodel |
| 2. Layout and plumbing | Moving the toilet, shower or vanity; on a slab, moving a drain means cutting the concrete |
| 3. The wet area | A larger shower, a curbless entry, niches, a bench and the glass |
| 4. Ventilation | A new duct route to the outside, or multiple fans in a large bath |
| 5. Lighting | New circuits and fixtures |
| 6. Vanity and finishes | Custom vanities, stone, large-format tile |
| 7. Permits | Any plumbing, electrical or structural change |
See our bathroom remodeling cost guide for more.
Who does the work
- In-house design and construction team
- Certified General Contractor
- $1 million in insurance coverage
- NKBA affiliation
- 500+ flooring and remodeling projects completed under Sami’s leadership
- Six-time Best of Plano award winner (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2023)
- 0% financing available for qualified homeowners
See finished bathrooms in our project gallery, and the stages of a project on our bathroom remodeling process page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size bathroom fan do we need?
The Home Ventilating Institute recommends about 1 cfm per square foot for bathrooms up to 100 sq ft (at least 50 cfm for small ones), and 50 cfm per toilet, shower and tub in larger bathrooms. The fan must be ducted outside.Is a floating vanity a good idea?
It makes a small room look bigger and is easy to clean under. It needs solid blocking in the wall, so it is planned before the walls close.Where should we start if we have a limited budget?
Start with whatever is failing (a leak, a damp room, a worn-out shower), then the change that fixes the biggest daily frustration. Finishes can be upgraded later; plumbing and waterproofing are expensive to redo.Is a bathroom fan really required?
If the bathroom does not have an adequately sized operable window, the residential code expects mechanical exhaust, at least 50 cfm intermittent or 20 cfm continuous, ducted to the outside.Can we add a second sink?
Usually, if the vanity wall is long enough. It means extending the supply and drain lines, which alters pipes and needs a permit in McKinney.What should we choose first, the tile or the vanity?
Neither. Settle the layout, the plumbing locations and the shower design first; then choose the vanity and tile to suit them.How long will the bathroom be out of use?
It depends on how many of the decisions above involve plumbing, electrical or a rebuilt shower, plus inspections and material lead times. Your written estimate includes a schedule.More general answers: bathroom remodeling FAQ.
Plan your McKinney bathroom with us
Tell us what is not working in the bathroom today, and we will help you work through these decisions and turn them into a clear scope.
Call or Text (972) 746-1575
The Flooring & Remodeling Shop
2830 W. 15th St. Ste. 1, Plano, TX 75075
Serving Plano & North Dallas Suburbs
What happens next: a visit to see the bathroom and measure it, then a written scope in decision order: layout, plumbing, waterproofing, ventilation, lighting, finishes and permits.