Free written scope consultation - allowances, timeline, and change-order rules on paper before a single trade is scheduled
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AfterFast, Reliable Bathroom Remodeling Across Universal City
A full bathroom remodel in Universal City typically runs $9,000 to $28,000, with smaller jobs like a tub-to-shower conversion landing between $3,500 and $10,000. Most projects take two to four weeks from demo to final inspection, though hillside lots and county plan-check queues can stretch that timeline. If you want a straight answer on what your bathroom will cost and who’s actually doing the work, call Tom Barrett at (877) 610-1318. We’ve been remodeling homes since 1998, and we’ll give you a written scope and a real price before anything gets torn out.
Universal City isn’t like the neighborhoods around it. You’re in a rare unincorporated pocket of the LA Basin where every permit goes through LA County Building & Safety in Altadena, not LADBS. That one fact trips up contractors who work Studio City or North Hollywood all week, then show up in 91608 and get their plans bounced for the wrong forms. We know the difference because we’ve pulled county permits here before. Our Bathroom Remodeling team handles the paperwork, the inspections, and the neighbor headaches so you don’t have to.
Why Barrett & Sons Construction Is Universal City’s Preferred Bathroom Remodeling Company
Tom Barrett founded this company in 1998, and his sons run the crews. When you call (877) 610-1318, a live person answers. Not a call center. Not a voicemail box. You get a straight conversation about your bathroom, your timeline, and what’s realistic for your house in Universal City.
We’re not a franchise dispatching strangers to your door. Tom’s name, his address, and his license number are published and verifiable. Look them up before you sign anything. Every Universal City job gets permits pulled and inspections signed when the county requires them, because we’ve seen too many homeowners burned by contractors who said permits were optional. On hillside lots in 91608, skipping the permit isn’t just risky. It’s a very expensive problem when you try to sell.
Homeowners in Universal City call us because we show up when we say we will and we put every price change in writing before a nail moves. That’s the 90-Day Done Right Promise: if it’s not done right, one call brings Tom back. No fine print. No argument.
Universal City homeowners tend to be exacting, and they should be. Many of them work on or near the NBCUniversal campus, they’ve dealt with layers of management, and they want to know exactly who’s accountable. We fit that expectation. Tom’s sons are on-site most days. The crew members carry the Barrett & Sons name, they’re background-checked, and they wear uniforms so you always know who belongs in your house.
Our Bathroom Remodeling Services in Universal City
We handle the whole range of bathroom work in Universal City, from a dated 1960s hall bath refresh to a full master suite redo on a hillside. Here’s what most Universal City homeowners call us for.
Full Bathroom Remodeling
A full remodel in Universal City means gutting to the studs where needed, re-roughing plumbing, updating electrical, waterproofing properly, and building back with materials you can look up. On the 1970s cut-and-fill homes common in the Cahuenga Pass, we typically find original galvanized supply lines and cast-iron drains that have earned their retirement. Expect us to talk about the condition of the subfloor and whether the slope under your house has moved. Full remodels in 91608 run $9,000 to $28,000 depending on square footage, fixture grade, and what we find when the old tile comes off.
Walk-In Showers & Shower Remodeling
Universal City homeowners ask for walk-in showers for the same reason everyone else does: easier entry, cleaner lines, and a modern look that suits mid-century and 1980s homes alike. We install curbless walk-ins when the floor framing allows it, and we always check the existing pan for slope and drainage problems before we commit to any design. Walk-in shower installation in Universal City runs $4,500 to $12,000. Frameless glass enclosures are a natural companion, and we source them locally so the turnaround is faster.
Tub-to-Shower Conversion
The tub-to-shower conversion is the single most requested bathroom project in Universal City. Many 91608 homes still have original fiberglass tub-and-shower combos that look tired and collect grime. Converting to a tiled walk-in or a clean Sterling shower system opens up the room and improves daily use. Plan on $3,500 to $10,000 in Universal City, and yes, the county will want to see the drain and valve work before we close anything up. We handle that inspection for you.
Vanities, Tile & Fixtures
Smaller jobs still get the same written-scope treatment. A new vanity, tile floor, or Grohe fixtures can transform a bathroom without a full demo. Vanity installation runs $800 to $3,000 in Universal City, and we’ll help you pick something that fits the room’s odd dimensions, because hillside homes in 91608 rarely have square anything. We install name-brand fixtures and tile systems with warranties you can actually read.
Small Bathroom Remodels
Guest baths and hall baths in Universal City apartments and condos are often tight spaces with no room for error. A small bath remodel here runs $5,000 to $12,000. We’re careful about shared walls, sound transmission, and working hours, because Universal City density means your neighbor is close enough to hear every hammer swing. If the bathroom shares a wall with another unit, county party-wall notice rules apply, and we file it before demo starts.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Trusted Brands We Service in Universal City
We build with brands you can research. Schluter waterproofing systems go under every tile shower we do. Sterling shower bases and surrounds show up in many Universal City tub-to-shower conversions because they’re durable and easy to clean. Grohe fixtures are a frequent choice for homeowners who want German engineering without leaving the Valley. When a bathroom client needs roofing or vent-stack work tied into the remodel, we use GAF materials. That matters on Universal City hillsides, where roof penetrations have to meet fire code. We stock common parts for these brands and can turn around warranty claims fast, without making you wait on a supply house three towns over.
Common Bathroom Remodeling Problems We See in Universal City Homes
- Hillside drainage and slope movement: Many 91608 homes sit on cut-and-fill lots with retaining walls and slope drainage systems that shift over time. We see cracked tile, door frames out of square, and slab floors with hairline cracks. A bathroom remodel starts with checking whether the structure has settled and where water is going.
- Fire-safety code on vent stacks and penetrations: Universal City sits in a CAL FIRE Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Any bathroom vent stack or exhaust penetration that touches the building shell may need ember-resistant vents and ignition-resistant detailing under Chapter 7A. Missing that requirement gets you a correction notice from the county, and we’ve seen it happen mid-project.
- Party-wall issues in duplexes and attached units: Universal City has older apartment complexes and attached homes where a bathroom shares a wall with the neighbor’s unit. Start demolition before the required notice is filed, and County Building & Safety can issue a stop-work order. We file the notice early and keep the noise to legal hours.
- Cast-iron drains and galvanized supply lines: The housing stock in 91608 is mostly mid-century through 1980s. Original plumbing is common, and once walls are open, we’d rather replace sections of it than bury old pipe behind new tile. It adds cost, but it’s far cheaper than tearing out a finished shower later.
Pricing for Bathroom Remodeling in Universal City, CA
Here’s what we quote Universal City homeowners for common bathroom scopes. These ranges reflect local labor, county permitting, and the hillside conditions we regularly encounter in 91608.
| Project | Universal City Price Range |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Your final price depends on the condition of the plumbing, the scope of waterproofing, the fixtures you choose, and how much county plan-check time your specific lot triggers. A bathroom that touches an exterior wall on a hillside may need slope-drainage and retaining-wall review, which adds weeks and cost. We’ll tell you that before you sign, not after. Every allowance is in writing. Every change order is in writing. Call (877) 610-1318 for a free estimate, and you’ll get a real number, not a guessing game.
We Also Serve Cities Near Universal City
Barrett & Sons Construction works across the Cahuenga Pass and nearby communities, including Studio City, North Hollywood, Hollywood, and West Hollywood. If you’re in one of those areas and need Bathroom Remodeling in Universal City experience applied to your own home, call us. The county-versus-city permit distinction changes from block to block out here, and we already know which forms your street needs.
Serving Universal City, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Universal City 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 Universal City
Yes. Universal City is an unincorporated community, so building permits come from LA County Building & Safety, headquartered in Altadena, not from the City of Los Angeles LADBS. Any bathroom remodel that moves plumbing, changes the electrical, or alters walls requires a county permit and county inspection sign-off. We pull the permits, handle the plan-check queue, and meet the county inspector on site. Call (877) 610-1318 and we’ll tell you exactly which permits your specific job triggers.
Because Universal City is in a CAL FIRE Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, remodels that touch the exterior shell must meet California Building Code Chapter 7A. That can mean ember-resistant vents on bathroom exhaust stacks, ignition-resistant materials where the bathroom meets an exterior wall, and Class A roofing if the remodel touches the roofline. We handle the sequencing with the county inspector so your remodel doesn’t stall on a fire-safety correction. Call (877) 610-1318 for a scope that addresses this from day one.
Most Universal City homes have tight driveways, steep grades, and limited street parking. We plan staging before we start: where the dumpster goes, where tile and lumber live, and how long materials sit. On one steep cut-and-fill lot off Mulholland Drive, we gutted a 1970s master bath while working with the homeowner and NBCUniversal-adjacent neighbors to stage everything on a 14-foot-wide driveway. We moved a non-load-bearing partition, re-roughed drains under a new subfloor, and converted the tub to a curbless walk-in shower with a frameless glass enclosure. The county inspector required flood-testing before any tile went up, and we scheduled it without wasting a day. Access affects the quote. We’ll walk your lot and tell you what’s realistic before you sign anything.
You can, but the order of operations matters. In attached Universal City units, we file the required party-wall notice before demolition begins, and we keep work inside posted noise hours. We also protect common areas and haul debris out without blocking your neighbors. The conversion itself is straightforward, and we do it frequently in 91608. Call (877) 610-1318 and we’ll give you a written plan that keeps the homeowners’ association and the county happy.
The county inspects the rough work before walls close: plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, and the shower pan flood test. For hillside lots, the inspector may also check that slope-drainage and retaining-wall details match the approved plans. Final sign-off happens after the bathroom is complete, fixtures are installed, and the job passes the final inspection. We schedule every inspection and stay until it’s signed. If a correction comes back, we fix it and get the re-inspection done, because the inspector works for you, not for me. That’s why we like him.
Get Your Universal City Bathroom Remodel Started
You’ll get a written scope. A real price. Permits pulled and inspections signed where required. And a company that puts its name on the truck and its reputation on the line. Call Tom Barrett and his sons at (877) 610-1318 for a free estimate on your Universal City bathroom remodel. The $40 off any repair over $200 and the 10% Senior & Veteran discount both apply to qualifying work. Ask about a free second opinion on any written estimate you’ve already received.
Written by Tom Barrett, Owner at Barrett & Sons Construction, serving Universal City since 1998.