Florence is the largest city in the Shoals and has the most diverse housing stock in the area — older Craftsman and colonial homes near downtown and the University of North Alabama, mid-century ranch homes in the Huntingdon and Cloverdale neighborhoods, and newer construction in the growing subdivisions along County Line Road and Helton Drive. Each era of housing comes with its own bathroom renovation considerations.
What drives bathroom renovation costs in Florence
The biggest cost variable in any Florence bathroom renovation is the condition of what's behind the walls. In homes built before 1980, the original tub or shower surround is often installed directly over green drywall — not cement board, not waterproofing membrane, just regular drywall. Over the years, water works through the grout and into the wall cavity. By the time the tile surface looks bad, the framing and subfloor behind it are often badly deteriorated. A renovation in this situation requires tearing out not just the tile but the substrate, inspecting and repairing the framing, and rebuilding with proper cement board and waterproofing before any new tile goes in.
In newer Florence homes — particularly those built in the 1990s and 2000s in subdivisions like Plantation Estates or the neighborhoods south of Cox Creek Parkway — the construction is better but the bathrooms are often dated by current standards. These are typically straightforward renovations: new vanity, new fixtures, retiled shower, updated lighting. The rough-in plumbing is in good shape and the project scope is well-defined.
Popular bathroom projects in Florence, AL
- Tub-to-shower conversions: Removing a garden tub or standard tub that gets no use and replacing it with a walk-in tiled shower is the highest-impact bathroom renovation in most Florence homes. The tub footprint becomes a shower pan with a linear or center drain, and the entire space feels dramatically larger and more modern.
- Master bath additions: Many older Florence homes near UNA and downtown have only one full bathroom. Adding a master bath off the primary bedroom — which often requires taking space from a closet or adjacent room — is a popular and high-ROI project in this market.
- Vanity and fixture upgrades: Replacing a builder-grade vanity with a furniture-style freestanding unit, adding a framed mirror, and upgrading to a rainfall showerhead and matte black fixtures is a mid-range renovation that transforms the look of a bathroom without a full gut.
- Full gut remodels: For bathrooms with significant moisture damage or layouts that don't work, a full gut — down to the studs and subfloor — is often the right call. Proper waterproofing during the rebuild prevents the same problems from recurring.
Waterproofing — the step that prevents future problems
Alabama's humidity makes proper waterproofing non-negotiable in bathroom renovations. We use cement board backer throughout the shower area, apply a liquid waterproofing membrane at all seams and corners, and use full-coverage thinset behind every tile. We also install a linear or center drain with a waterproofed shower pan — no surface-mounted drain that can leak over time. This approach costs more upfront than a quick tile-over-tile job, but it's the only approach that holds up in the Alabama climate without recurring moisture issues.
Permit requirements for bathroom renovations in Florence
The City of Florence requires permits for any plumbing work — moving drain lines, adding fixtures, relocating a toilet or shower. Electrical work (adding circuits, GFCI upgrades, exhaust fan installation) also requires a permit. Cosmetic work — replacing fixtures in their existing locations, retiling, replacing a vanity — generally does not. We pull all required permits and manage inspections from start to finish.
Cost ranges for bathroom renovation in Florence, AL
- Vanity + fixtures + lighting update: $3,500–$8,000
- Tub-to-shower conversion (tiled): $8,000–$18,000
- Full guest bathroom renovation: $12,000–$22,000
- Full master bathroom renovation: $20,000–$45,000
- Master bath addition (new construction): $30,000–$60,000+
Contact Adams Remodeling for a free in-home estimate in Florence, or call (256) 810-2107. We serve all of Lauderdale County with no travel fee.
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Adams Remodeling and Construction, serving Northwest Alabama.
Licensed, insured, and based in Cherokee, AL. Free estimates across the Shoals and surrounding communities.