Free written scope consultation - allowances, timeline, and change-order rules on paper before a single trade is scheduled
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After
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AfterFast, Reliable Bathroom Remodeling Across Highlands
A full bathroom remodel in Highlands, TX typically runs $9,000 to $28,000, and the biggest cost shifters aren’t tile choices or faucet finishes. They’re what’s under the floor and what Harris County requires before we can drive the first nail. Permits run through Harris County Engineering, not a city hall. Floodplain rules apply on nearly every street in the 77562 zip. And the clay under your slab moves more than most folks realize. We’ve been remodeling bathrooms in Highlands long enough to know all three before we quote. Call (877) 610-1318 and we’ll walk your bathroom together.
Key Takeaways:
- Highlands bathroom remodels run $9,000-$28,000 depending on scope.
- All permits go through Harris County Engineering, not a city building department.
- Post-Harvey floodplain rules require finished floors 2 feet above Base Flood Elevation.
- League City and Beaumont clay under most Highlands slabs causes tile cracks and shower pan leaks.
- Free written estimates. Every penny in writing before work starts.
Why Barrett & Sons Construction Is Highlands’s Preferred Bathroom Remodeling Company
Tom Barrett started this company in 1998, and he runs it the way Highlands runs: on a handshake, with the name on the truck. His sons are on-site most days. When you call, a live person answers, 24/7, not a voicemail box. When you sign, the 90-Day Done Right Promise is written on the contract, not buried in fine print. If something’s wrong, one call brings Tom back.
We’ve remodeled bathrooms across Highlands, from the older ranch homes off Thompson Road to the rebuilds near Battleship Texas State Park and the canal side of town. Homeowners here have told us the same story again and again: a Houston outfit quoted one number over the phone, then handed over a change order for thousands more after demo. That doesn’t happen with us. Every allowance, every scope change, every surprise gets written down and approved before work proceeds. The permit inspector works for you, not for me. I like it that way.
If you want to check us out, do it. Tom Barrett publishes his name, his address, and his license number. Look it up. Ask anyone on North Main or along Langston Road who’s had a tub pulled. We’d rather earn the work than talk you into it.
Our Bathroom Remodeling Services in Highlands
Full Bathroom Remodeling
We gut it, we level it, we build it back right. A full bathroom remodel in Highlands usually means tearing out a 1960s or 1970s bath, addressing whatever the clay did to the subfloor, and rebuilding with a moisture barrier that holds up to Gulf humidity. We pull the Harris County permit, coordinate the floodplain review if your lot requires it, and install materials suited to this climate. Tile, fixtures, vanity, glass, the works.
Walk-In Showers & Shower Remodeling
Walk-in showers are the most requested upgrade we see in Highlands, especially for homeowners planning to stay in the house for another twenty years. A curbless entry makes sense when knees get stiff. But a curbless shower on a slab that moves requires careful waterproofing and a floor slope that drains right the first time. We do it daily. See our full Bathroom Remodeling service details for more on what’s included.
Tub-to-Shower Conversion
Taking out a tired tub and putting in a shower changes how a bathroom feels, and in Highlands it’s also a practical move. Many of the original tubs in these 1950s-1970s homes are cast iron, heavy, and set directly on slab. The conversion often reveals subfloor or drain line issues that need attention before the shower pan goes in. We scope that in writing before we start, not after demo.
Vanities, Tile & Fixtures
Sometimes the bones are fine and you just need a refresh. We install vanities, tile, and fixtures that fit the style of the house, not whatever the big box store had on sale. For Highlands, we lean toward moisture-tolerant materials, grout that won’t stain from hard water, and vanities that can handle humidity swings without warping.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Trusted Brands We Service in Highlands
When we quote materials, we name names. You won’t see “builder grade” on a Barrett & Sons estimate. For bathroom tile and hardscape-adjacent work we regularly install Techo-Bloc and Cambridge Pavers products because they hold up to what Highlands throws at them. For surfaces that meet water, we steer toward materials with a track record in Gulf Coast humidity. And because we coordinate from the Houston office, parts and materials reach Highlands fast. No week-long waits for a shower valve because someone forgot to order it.
Common Bathroom Remodeling Problems We See in Highlands Homes
- Clay movement under the slab. League City and Beaumont clays swell when wet and shrink when dry. That seasonal cycle cracks tile, separates shower pans, and pulls plumbing loose in older Highlands slabs. We check for movement before we set a single tile.
- Post-Harvey flood damage hidden behind drywall. Lots of homes got sheetrock replaced fast after Harvey. Not everyone replaced what was behind it. We find warped studs, old moisture staining, and mold framing that should have come out. We address it, not cover it.
- Freeboard violations on remodel permits. The county requires finished floors at least 2 feet above Base Flood Elevation. A contractor who doesn’t check the floodplain map before setting a shower pan will fail inspection and redo the work. We check first.
- Septic setbacks nobody thought about. Move a plumbing wall or add a bathroom, and Harris County will ask whether you’ve confirmed the distance to your septic tank and drain field. Get it wrong, and the inspection stops cold. We verify setbacks on every bathroom that changes plumbing.
Pricing for Bathroom Remodeling in Highlands, TX
Here’s what we’re quoting for bathroom work in Highlands right now. These are real ranges, in writing, before the first nail moves:
| Service | Typical Range in Highlands |
|---|---|
| Bathroom Remodel | $9,000-$28,000 |
| Small Bathroom Remodel | $5,000-$12,000 |
| Walk-In Shower Installation | $4,500-$12,000 |
| Tub-to-Shower Conversion | $3,500-$10,000 |
| Shower Replacement | $3,000-$8,500 |
| Bathroom Vanity Installation | $800-$3,000 |
What moves your number up or down isn’t a mystery. Foundation leveling adds cost. Floodplain documentation adds cost. Septic setback corrections add cost. We put every one of those line items on the written estimate before you sign. No allowance that isn’t on paper, ever. Call (877) 610-1318 for a free written estimate on your Highlands bathroom.
We Also Serve Cities Near Highlands
Our crews work in Highlands every week, and we take the same approach across the nearby communities: Channelview, Baytown, Mont Belvieu, and Cloverleaf. Each area has its own permitting quirks and soil conditions. When you’re in Highlands, you’re on Harris County rules. Cross into Baytown and you’re back under a city. We handle all of it.
Serving Highlands, TX - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Highlands area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs - Bathroom Remodeling in Highlands
Yes. The tub-to-shower conversion changes plumbing and waterproofing, which falls under Harris County Engineering permits in unincorporated Highlands. We submit the plans, schedule the inspection, and stand with you through sign-off. The permit isn’t optional, and the inspector works for you, not for us. Call (877) 610-1318 and we’ll tell you what your specific conversion will require.
The floodplain ordinance doesn’t tell us what tile to lay, but it does require finished floors at least 2 feet above Base Flood Elevation. On a slab-on-grade home, that may mean adjusting your floor height, changing the shower pan design, or adding an elevation certificate before final inspection. We plan for that from the first measure.
You can add a bathroom, but the biggest hidden cost is nearly always the septic setback correction. Moving a plumbing wall or adding a drain changes the footprint, and Harris County will verify distances from the tank and drain field. If the new layout violates the setback, you’re looking at septic redesign before the bathroom inspection passes. We scope that on the front end, not after demo.
In most Highlands homes we see, it’s the clay. Beaumont and League City soils expand and contract with wet-dry cycles, and if the slab moves a quarter inch, the tile moves with it. A remodel that doesn’t address subfloor movement or waterproofing will crack again. We level and moisture-proof before tile goes down, and we include it in the written estimate.
We handle it. The permit applies, the inspection gets scheduled, and we walk the job with the inspector. You shouldn’t have to figure out Harris County Engineering’s process on your own. We’ve done it enough times in the 77562 zip that it’s just part of the job. Call (877) 610-1318 for a free written estimate and we’ll lay out exactly what your project needs.
Written by Tom Barrett, Owner at Barrett & Sons Construction, serving Highlands since 1998.