Bathroom Demolition in Fontana, CA
Fontana Demolition has spent over 14 years handling bathroom demo, tub removal, and shower removal, and we have completed more than 450 residential and commercial jobs across the Inland Empire. We are insured and bonded on every Fontana and San Bernardino County project, and the same crew and project manager stay with your job from the first site visit to the last broom sweep.
Our written scope is fixed before any work starts, so a cast iron tub that weighs 350 pounds or a mud-set shower with a failed pan never turns into a surprise on the invoice. Fontana Demolition also provides bathroom demolition to surrounding California cities, including Rialto, Rancho Cucamonga, Colton, Jurupa Valley, Grand Terrace, Ontario, Upland, Highland, Loma Linda, and Montclair.
Why We're The Best Demolition Contractors in Fontana, CA
- Fully insured and bonded for every Fontana and San Bernardino County project
- 1-year workmanship warranty on all completed demolition work
- 450+ residential and commercial jobs completed across the Inland Empire
- Free on-site estimates with written scopes before any work begins
- Same local crew and project manager from start to finish
- Member of the Fontana Chamber of Commerce
- Materials sourced from Thompson Building Materials right here in Fontana
- Proud sponsor of the Henry J. Kaiser High School soccer program
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Bathroom Demolition and Bathroom Demo Before a Remodel in Fontana, CA
Demo is the first phase of a remodel, and the goal is simple: take out everything your remodeler is replacing and leave everything else untouched. That usually means the vanity, toilet, tub or shower, wall tile, floor tile, and any damaged drywall come out. Doors, trim, hallway floors, and the home's plumbing and electrical stay protected. We stop where the licensed plumber and tile setter start, which means exposed studs, a clean subfloor, and capped supply lines, but no rough plumbing and no new substrate.
Southridge Village is a good example of where this work comes up. It is a Fontana community with a mix of housing types near Martin Tudor Jurupa Hills Regional Park, and many owners there are updating original bathrooms. Our 11th teardown in that area was a 40 square foot hall bath a few blocks from the park, cleared to the studs in one day for $1,450, so the tile setter could start the next morning.
Full Gut Bathroom Demo to the Studs
A full gut removes the vanity, toilet, all fixtures, wall tile, floor tile, and drywall down to studs and subfloor. Before the first swing we seal the doorway with zip-wall plastic, run a negative-air fan to a window, and lay hard-surface protection along the hallway path. In our experience, dust containment is the step homeowners notice most, because tile and mortar dust travels through an entire house if the bathroom is not sealed. Our 27th full gut this year was a 90 square foot primary bath off Foothill Boulevard, taken to studs and subfloor for $2,900.
Partial Bathroom Demo for Tub-to-Shower Conversions
When the layout stays put and only the tub is being swapped for a walk-in shower, we remove the tub, the surround, and the tile around it while preserving the plumbing wall. We also open the floor at the tub drain so the plumber can relocate or lower the drain for a shower pan. Our take is that this is the most commonly under-scoped job in the trade, because owners assume a conversion is a small job, when the drain area often needs the most careful cutting. Our 18th conversion this year was a 40 square foot bath off Sierra Avenue, finished for $1,100.
Small Bathrooms, Hall Baths, and Powder Rooms
Tight rooms are harder than they look. There is no space to stage debris, so every bucket gets carried through finished hallways, and the floor protection has to go down first and stay down. Timelines are short, often a single morning. We staged a 25 square foot powder room off Juniper Avenue with a 30 foot carry-out to the driveway, and finished it in half a day for $850.
Tub Removal and Shower Removal Methods in Fontana, CA
Every fixture type comes out differently, and the wrong method can crack a subfloor, break a drain line, or leave a wall unusable. The right approach depends on what the fixture is made of, how it was installed, and what sits behind it.
Cast Iron, Acrylic, and Fiberglass Tub Removal
Cast iron tubs often weigh 250 to 400 pounds, so we break them up in place and carry them out in pieces rather than fight a whole tub through a narrow doorway. Acrylic and fiberglass units are lighter and usually lift out once the flange and surround are cut free. After any tub comes out, we check the subfloor beneath it for soft spots or staining. If you ask us, the cast iron tub is the one worth pricing before you commit to a schedule, because the labor is very different. Our 62nd cast iron job was a 340 pound tub in a 45 square foot bath off Baseline Avenue, out and hauled for $1,350 including the demo of the surround.
Tile Shower Removal and Mud Pan Demolition
A tile shower removal starts with the wall tile, then the mortar bed, the waterproofing membrane, and finally the pre-slope pan under the floor tile. Once the pan is out, we inspect the drain flange and the surrounding framing for rot. We took out a 4 by 6 mud-set shower off Mango Avenue that was built with a heavy mortar bed, and the job came to $1,250.
Shower Doors, Glass Enclosures, and Surrounds
Framed glass doors come off by removing the track and lifting the panel out with two people. Frameless glass is heavier and more dangerous, so we tape the panel, support it before the hardware is loosened, and carry it out flat. One-piece fiberglass surrounds are cut into sections so nothing scrapes the walls on the way out.
Water Damage, Plumbing, and Older-Home Concerns in Fontana, CA
What we find behind a bathroom wall is the biggest variable in any demo. Most surprises come from slow leaks around tubs, showers, and supply lines, and they are far easier to deal with when caught at demo than after new tile goes up.
Hidden Moisture, Mold, and Subfloor Rot
Tub and shower leaks often stay invisible until the tile comes off. We see dark staining on studs, soft subfloor near the drain, and mold on the back of drywall. Honestly, most owners are relieved to learn about it at demo, before a new shower is built on top of it. We photograph and measure everything and give the owner and the remodeling contractor a written record. On a 50 square foot bath off Slover Avenue, we documented a 12 square foot section of rotted subfloor, and the cleared job came to $1,900.
Water Shutoffs and Supply Line Capping
Before any fixture is disconnected, we close the water supply and confirm the line is dead. We then cap the supply lines so the plumber has a clean starting point. We coordinate with your licensed plumber on timing, so water is off only as long as necessary.
HOA and Neighbor Considerations in Summit Heights
Master-planned communities such as Summit Heights typically have HOA work-hour limits and elevator or common-area rules. We check those with the owner before the job starts and schedule dumpster placement and haul-off around them. We handled a second-floor teardown off Summit Avenue in a community with restricted work hours, and it stayed on schedule because the haul-off was booked around the rules from day one.
Bathroom Demolition Cost Factors in Fontana, CA
Most Fontana projects run about $800 to $3,500, depending on scope. The written estimate is fixed before work begins.
- Fixture-only removal (vanity, toilet, tub or shower): about $800 to $1,200
- Small full gut (hall bath or powder room, 25 to 50 sq ft): about $1,450 to $2,200
- Large primary bath full gut (90+ sq ft): about $2,500 to $3,500
- Cast iron tub: typically adds $200 to $400 for breaking and carry-out
- Mud-set tile shower: typically adds $300 to $600 over an acrylic unit
- Second-floor carry-out: typically adds $150 to $300
Bathroom Size and Level of Gut
- Fixture-only removal is the low end, around $800 to $1,200
- A full gut to studs costs more because of drywall, tile, and containment
- Every added square foot of tile means more labor and more debris
Tub Type and Tile Shower Complexity
- Acrylic and fiberglass units lift out in under an hour
- Cast iron needs break-up and piece-by-piece carry-out, adding $200 to $400
- Mud-set showers need extra time for mortar bed and pan removal, adding $300 to $600
Access, Floor Level, and Haul-Off
- Second-floor jobs add $150 to $300 for stair carry-out
- Tile and mortar debris runs heavy, often over a ton on a full gut
- Our second-floor job off Summit Avenue (70 sq ft, about 1.5 tons of debris) came to $2,400
Our Bathroom Demolition Process
Step 1: Free Estimate and Written Scope
We visit the site, walk through what is coming out, and put the scope and price in writing before work starts.
Step 2: Containment and Water Shutoff
We seal the work area, protect floors and hallways, shut off the water, and cap the supply lines.
Step 3: Fixture and Tile Removal
Fixtures come out first, then tile, mortar, and drywall as scoped. We check the subfloor and framing and document anything unusual.
Step 4: Debris Haul-Off and Broom-Clean Handoff
We carry out and haul away all debris, then broom-clean the room so your remodeler can start right away.
Step 5: Walkthrough and Warranty
We do a final walkthrough with you and confirm the 1-year workmanship warranty. The same crew and project manager stay with you through every step.
Frequently Asked Bathroom Demolition Questions
How much does bathroom demolition cost in Fontana, CA?
Most jobs cost about $800 to $3,500. The main drivers are how much comes out, whether the tub is cast iron, whether the shower is mud-set tile, and whether debris has to be carried down stairs. We put the price in writing after a free on-site look.
How long does a bathroom demo take?
Most jobs take one to two days. A fixture-only removal or small powder room can finish in half a day, while a full gut with a tile shower or cast iron tub usually takes the full two days.
Can you handle cast iron tub removal?
Yes, this is routine work for us. Cast iron tubs weigh 250 to 400 pounds, so we break them up in place and carry them out in pieces, then check the subfloor underneath.
Do you do shower removal and tile shower demolition?
Yes. We remove the wall tile, mortar bed, waterproofing membrane, and the pre-slope pan, then check the drain flange and framing for rot before handing the room back.
Will you check for water damage during bathroom demolition?
Yes. We look at the studs, subfloor, and drain area as they are exposed, and we share what we find with you and your remodeling contractor along with photos and measurements.
Do I need a permit for bathroom demolition?
Permits are typically part of the remodel, and your remodeling contractor usually pulls it. Fontana Demolition can coordinate with them so demo timing lines up with the permit and inspections.