Bathroom Renovation in Manhattan
Manhattan bathrooms are often the smallest rooms in the apartment — and the ones homeowners feel most acutely every morning. Euro Restoration transforms cramped, outdated NYC bathrooms into spa-grade retreats: radiant heat underfoot, steam showers, book-matched marble, and millwork that makes 55 square feet feel intentional and generous.
The Manhattan bathroom challenge
Renovating a bathroom in a Manhattan apartment building involves constraints that simply don’t exist in single-family homes. Here is what experienced contractors know — and what inexperienced ones learn the hard way.
Pre-war plumbing stacks
Buildings constructed before the 1950s have cast-iron drain stacks that run vertically through every floor. Co-op buildings almost universally prohibit moving the drain stack — which means your wet wall location is fixed. We design bathrooms that work within those constraints rather than fighting them. When we do need to petition the board for a variance, we know exactly how to make that case.
Wet walls and waterproofing
In buildings with shared walls, the line between your bathroom and your neighbor's is often a single layer of plaster over brick. Waterproofing is not optional — it is critical. We use full-membrane waterproofing systems (Schluter Kerdi or Wedi board) behind all tile installations, not just the pan. This is the detail that separates a 10-year bathroom from a 30-year one.
Co-op restrictions on plumbing work
Many co-ops require that all plumbing work be performed by a licensed master plumber carrying the building's specified insurance minimums. They may also require work to stop while other residents are home, or mandate that the building's own super inspect the rough plumbing before walls are closed. We know these rules and build them into the schedule from day one.
Elevator scheduling and material delivery
Demolition debris and tile pallets cannot share the passenger elevator with residents. Freight elevator windows in Manhattan co-ops are often limited to morning hours on specific days. We schedule every material delivery and debris removal around these windows so your project never stalls waiting for elevator access.
What’s included in every Euro Restoration bathroom
Custom floating vanities
Designed to your bathroom's dimensions — wall-hung for a cleaner look and easier floor cleaning. Your choice of finish: painted lacquer, natural walnut, quarter-sawn oak, or lacquered MDF with custom hardware.
Radiant floor heating
Electric in-floor heating systems installed under tile or stone. Programmable thermostats. Particularly valuable in pre-war apartments where the perimeter radiators never quite heat the bathroom floor.
Precision tile & stone work
Large-format porcelain, honed Calacatta, handmade Zellige, and natural stone mosaic floors. Our tile setters are craftsmen — every line is straight, every grout joint uniform, every threshold detail precise.
Frameless glass shower enclosures
3/8" and 1/2" tempered glass with brushed nickel, matte black, or polished chrome hardware. Curbed and curbless options. Steam shower builds available with integrated steam generators.
Fixture & plumbing packages
Kohler, Waterworks, Kallista, Duravit — or whatever your preferred brand. We source, procure, and install all fixtures. One invoice, one warranty, one crew.
Post-project warranty
Full workmanship warranty on all labor, tile, glass, and plumbing installations. If it fails because of how we built it, we fix it at no cost.
How long does a bathroom renovation actually take in NYC?
Timeline matters enormously in a Manhattan apartment. You may have one bathroom shared between a family, or a primary bath you rely on daily. We are direct about how long things take, and we hit our schedules.
Tile swap, new vanity, fixture update. No plumbing relocation.
Full gut, new tile, custom vanity, new plumbing fixtures. Standard Manhattan co-op scope.
Full stone, radiant heat, custom vanity, steam shower, double fixtures. The full transformation.
Timeline starts from first day of demolition. Design, permitting, and material procurement happen before demo begins — often 2–4 weeks depending on material lead times. We sequence this so demo only starts when every material is on-site or confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a bathroom renovation take in NYC?
Standard full-bathroom renovations in Manhattan run 8–14 calendar days from demo to final walkthrough. Master baths with steam showers, radiant floors, and full stone work typically take 2–3 weeks. We provide a day-by-day schedule before work begins and coordinate every phase around your building's work-hour restrictions. You always know what is happening and when.
Can you work within co-op plumbing rules?
Yes, and this is one of the most common questions we get. Most Manhattan co-ops prohibit moving the main drain stack, which means the toilet, tub, and shower drain locations are essentially fixed. We know how to design beautiful, functional bathrooms within that constraint. When a board approval is required for plumbing changes, we prepare the full application package and have never had a legitimate scope-of-work rejected.
What tile and stone options do you offer?
We work with the full range: honed Calacatta Oro and Calacatta Borghini marble, Bardiglio gray marble, large-format Italian porcelain (up to 48x48"), handmade Moroccan Zellige, natural stone penny rounds and mosaics, and fluted or ribbed tile for accent walls. Our designers bring physical samples — not just digital swatches — so you know exactly what is going on the wall before we order.
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Ready to transform your Manhattan bathroom?
Get an estimate. We will visit your apartment, review your existing plumbing layout, and return with a locked-in price. No vague ballparks, no hidden costs.