Why book bathroom remodeling with OCD

A bathroom renovation can significantly enhance your home’s appeal and functionality. Whether you’re looking to increase your property value or create a more enjoyable space, investing in this service is a worthwhile decision. An updated bathroom not only improves aesthetics but also enhances efficiency with modern fixtures and layouts, making daily routines more convenient.

Upgrading outdated plumbing and electrical systems can prevent costly repairs down the line while improving water efficiency, reducing utility bills. A fresh design allows for personalization, reflecting your style while utilizing the latest trends in materials and technology.

Additionally, renovations offer the chance to tailor features such as spa-like amenities or optimized storage solutions that cater specifically to your needs. Quality craftsmanship ensures long-lasting results you can enjoy for years to come. Booking a specialist for your next project means a smoother process from concept to completion, leaving you with a stunning space that truly enhances your home life.

Accessibility and aging-in-place bathrooms

A large share of the bathroom work we do in Grand Rapids is not about style. It is about keeping someone in their own home safely, either because mobility has changed or because the household is planning ahead of a change it can see coming. That work has its own vocabulary and its own set of decisions, and it is worth understanding them before anyone starts picking tile.

A curbless shower removes the step that causes most bathroom falls. It requires the floor to be recessed or the drain line to be relocated, which is why it is far easier to do during a full renovation than as a retrofit. A linear drain against the wall allows a single-plane slope instead of a four-way pitch to a center drain, which is what makes a curbless entry feel like a floor rather than a ramp.

Grab bars need blocking behind the wall. Solid blocking installed during the renovation, at the heights the household will actually need, costs very little and removes the problem permanently. A grab bar anchored into drywall with a toggle is not a grab bar, and this is the single most common failure we are called to fix.

Door width matters more than most people expect. A standard interior door opening is often too narrow for a walker and always too narrow for a wheelchair. Widening it during a renovation is routine. Widening it later means reopening finished walls.

Tub to shower conversions

The most requested change in this category. In most Grand Rapids homes the existing tub sits in a three-wall alcove, and converting it to a shower means removing the tub, correcting the slope and the waterproofing in the pan, moving the drain if the new layout requires it, and deciding whether to keep the alcove dimensions or push into adjacent space.

The waterproofing is the part that decides whether the job lasts. A bonded waterproofing membrane behind the tile, carried correctly up the walls and into the curb or the curbless transition, is what keeps water out of the framing. Tile and grout are not waterproof and were never meant to be the barrier.

What is behind the wall

In pre-war Grand Rapids homes, bathrooms carry the same findings kitchens do: knob-and-tube wiring, galvanized supply lines that have narrowed from the inside, cast iron drain lines, and plaster and lath. Add to those a subfloor that has taken water around an old tub or toilet flange, which is common and which is only visible once the fixtures come out. We plan for it rather than discovering it, and the proposal identifies it as its own line rather than burying it in a lump sum.

Permits

Bathroom work inside the Grand Rapids city limits goes through the city's Development Center. East Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Wyoming, Walker, Grandville and Cascade Township each run their own building department. Expect a building permit plus separate electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits pulled by the licensed trade performing that work. We pull the permits. A homeowner who pulls their own permit in Michigan becomes the responsible party for the work.

If you are still working out scope, we have written on what moves bathroom remodeling cost, how a tub to shower conversion actually runs, and what can and cannot be done with a small bathroom layout.

For a sense of how we work, see what our clients say, or read about our Grand Rapids service area.

Where we work

We handle bathroom remodeling projects across West Michigan, including Cedar Springs, Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Kentwood, Forest Hills, Walker and 11 more nearby communities. Based in Cedar Springs, MI.

What homeowners say

If you are looking for a contractor who takes the time to listen and does excellent quality work, Alex is your guy. I have many times been burned, overcharged or ghosted by other contractors. I am so impressed I almost have to pinch myself. He gets the job done when he says he will and the attention to detail is beyond excellent. He also does a great job cleaning up afterwards which…
Carolyn Charon

I had OCD Building & Remodeling Inc. build a deck for me, and I’m beyond impressed with the entire experience. From the very beginning, the communication was clear and professional. The team was incredibly friendly, respectful, and easy to work with — which made a big difference throughout the project. They stuck to the timeline they gave me and finished everything right on schedule, which is rare these days. I really appreciated how they showed up…
Diamond V

Alex is a rare find. He has an eye for design, a passion for quality and a heart that defines integrity. I don’t see Alex as someone who just wants to swap some hours for a paycheck. He wants to make a difference in how he approaches each job and the respect he gives his clients. He sees his work as the signature of his reputation. He said he will do his best…
Marcia Evans

Read all 52 reviews →

Bathroom Remodeling in Cedar Springs & Grand Rapids, MI