Bathroom Remodeling in Big Lake, MN

Built to Handle Steam, Splash and Daily Traffic

Bath ventilation has to move 50 CFM intermittent or 20 CFM continuous under Minnesota code, the toilet centerline sits 15 inches off the nearest wall or vanity, 21 inches of clear floor stays open ahead of the bowl, and adjacent fixture centerlines hold 30 inches apart. Curtis C. Contracting works to those clearances on bathroom remodeling in Big Lake, MN, Becker and Otsego, handling layout changes, tub-to-shower conversions, vanity cabinets, shower pans, waterproofing membranes, tile, ventilation ducting and finish trim.



Waterproofing and ventilation are where a bathroom quietly fails, so pans, membranes and duct runs get detailed on paper before tile is ordered, and licensed plumbers on our projects relocate fixtures under permit, with the rough-in inspected before any wall closes. We hold Minnesota residential building contractor license BC808587, carry BBB A+ accreditation, and put 30 years of hands-on carpentry and tile work behind every finished surface. Free quotes begin with a walkthrough you can request on our contact page.

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Bathrooms We Remodel and Upgrade

  • Full Remodels and Layout Changes

    Gutting to the studs opens the option to shift a toilet, widen a shower or borrow a linen closet for elbow room. Fixture centerlines stay 30 inches apart, and any drain relocation happens while the subfloor is still open.

  • Tub-to-Shower Conversions

    Pulling a builder tub and framing a curbed or curbless shower in its place changes the drain location, the pan slope and the entire waterproofing assembly. Code allows a 30-by-30-inch footprint, though 36 by 48 inches feels considerably better.

  • Vanities, Mirrors and Storage

    Storage drives most vanity decisions, so we size drawer banks around the trap, add a recessed medicine cabinet wherever the wall cavity allows, and set mirror and sconce heights to the people using the room daily. Countertops arrive templated to the cabinet.

  • Tile, Shower Pans and Waterproofing

    Wet areas get a sloped mortar bed or a preformed foam pan, a bonded sheet or liquid membrane over backer board, and a flood test before a single tile is set. Grout, sealant and movement joints follow the manufacturer instructions.

  • Exhaust Ventilation and Moisture Control

    Fans move 50 CFM intermittent or 20 CFM continuous, ducted in insulated pipe to a roof or sidewall cap and never into an attic. Short runs, smooth pipe and a backdraft damper keep steam out of the framing overhead.

  • Accessible and Aging-in-Place Bathrooms

    Blocking installed behind the finish wall now lets grab bars go in later without opening tile. Curbless entries, a 36-inch door, a fold-down bench, a handheld sprayer and a comfort-height toilet keep the room usable after a knee replacement.

Why Choose Us for Bathroom Remodeling

Waterproofing Detailed Behind Every Tiled Surface

Membranes, pan liners and corner treatments come from one manufacturer system rather than a mix of products that void each other. We flood test the pan for 24 hours and photograph the assembly before any tile covers that work.

One Bathroom Offline, Never the Whole House

Work is staged so a second bathroom stays usable, and in single-bath homes we compress the fixtures-out window to a few days. You get those dates in writing before demolition begins, rather than a vague verbal promise made on the first walkthrough.

Ventilation Sized for the Room, Not the Catalog

Fan selection starts with room volume and duct length, because a unit rated at 80 CFM on the carton moves far less air through 20 feet of flex duct. Sone ratings matter too, since a loud fan never gets switched on.

Subfloor Opened and Checked Before Tile Goes Down

Older bathrooms hide rot at the toilet flange and along the tub apron, and tile laid over a spongy floor cracks within a season. We probe the sheathing, sister or replace joists where needed, then add proper underlayment.

Traffic Paths Protected From the Front Door to the Bath

Dust barriers at the bathroom door, ram board down the hallway and one designated debris route keep grout haze and demolition grit off the rest of the house. That path gets vacuumed at the end of every workday.

Finish Selections Locked Before Anything Is Ordered

Tile, grout color, fixtures, lighting and cabinet finish are chosen and confirmed on a written schedule before purchase orders go out. Midstream substitutions are what stretch a bathroom into a month-long project, and a locked list stops most of that.

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A Bathroom That Dries Out Long Before the Next Shower

The measure of a bathroom is never the tile pattern alone; it is whether the fan clears the mirror, the pan stays dry beneath the mortar and the door still swings clear of the vanity 30 years on. Curtis C Contracting LLC runs bathroom remodeling in Big Lake, MN from layout and demolition through waterproofing, tile, vanity cabinets, ventilation and trim, with licensed plumbers relocating fixtures under permit and inspection. Take the time to view samples in your own light and sit with a floor plan for a week. Once the picture is clear, send measurements and selections through our contact page and request a free quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can you remodel a bathroom without moving the plumbing?

    Keeping fixtures in the existing positions is entirely workable and keeps the schedule tight. Replacing a vanity, tub, tile and faucets in place avoids new drain and vent runs, while shifting a toilet more than a few inches triggers real plumbing work.

  • What size shower is code compliant?

    A shower needs at least 30 by 30 inches of clear interior space, measured to the finished surfaces, with 24 inches of clearance at the opening. Most people find 36 by 48 inches far more comfortable once both footprints are chalked out.

  • Can I add a bathroom without adding to the footprint?

    Often yes, by borrowing space from an oversized closet, a wide hallway or an underused bedroom corner. The real limits are drain routing back to an existing stack, proper venting, and floor framing able to carry tile and a filled tub.

  • What is a tub-to-shower conversion?

    It replaces an alcove bathtub with a walk-in shower inside the same 60-inch opening, reusing most framing while changing the drain, pan and waterproofing. Curtis C. Contracting handles framing, pan and tile on these conversions in Big Lake, MN.

  • Do I need an exhaust fan in every bathroom?

    Yes, unless the room has an operable window, and even then a fan is the better answer in a climate where windows stay shut for months. Code calls for 50 CFM intermittent or 20 CFM continuous ventilation ducted to the outdoors.

  • Can I do a bathroom remodel in stages?

    Sometimes, though staging usually costs more overall. Splitting the work means paying for two mobilizations, and trades like tile and plumbing overlap awkwardly across a pause. Phasing makes sense when a shower is failing now and the vanity can wait.

  • How far from the wall should a toilet be installed?

    Centerline sits 15 inches from any side wall, vanity or tub, which leaves 30 inches between adjacent fixture centerlines and 21 inches of clear floor ahead of the bowl. Rough-in from the finished back wall is typically 12 inches.

  • Does bathroom tile need a waterproof membrane behind it?

    Inside a shower or tub surround, yes, because cement backer board on its own is not waterproof. A bonded sheet membrane or two coats of a liquid product is standard. Curtis C. Contracting flood tests every pan built in Big Lake, MN.