Bathroom Remodeling in Mercer Island Crafted by Luxury Construction

On Mercer Island, faucets are often selected for aesthetics, but the long term experience depends on cartridge quality, internal seals, and serviceability. Many problems appear when old shutoff valves and supply lines are reused during a remodel. When they fail, homeowners blame the faucet, but the real issue is the old plumbing behind it.

Typical homeowner pain points

• dripping after a short time due to weak cartridges
• spotting and finish damage from aggressive cleaners
• loose handles and cheap internal feel
• no parts availability, so you replace the entire faucet

Mercer Island cost breakdown

• Product: about $150 to $900+ per faucet depending on brand and finish
• Labor install: about $300 to $750 per faucet depending on access and vanity design
• Replace shutoff valves and supplies: often $200 to $550 per set

The most expensive bathroom failures on Mercer Island start behind the tile. Grout is not waterproof. Caulk is not waterproof. A shower needs a complete system with proper substrate, sealed seams, correct slope, compatible drain, and clean detailing at niches, benches, corners, and valve penetrations.

Main waterproofing approaches

• Sheet membranes: consistent thickness and seam control, strong for niches and benches
• Liquid membranes: excellent when applied correctly, risky when rushed or too thin
• Preformed pans: clean install, but must match the full system and drain

Mercer Island cost breakdown

• Waterproofing labor and materials: commonly $1,800 to $5,500+
• Complex showers: often $4,000 to $9,000+ depending on details
• Substrate repairs and leveling: can add $600 to $3,500+ after demo

The drain controls the geometry of the shower floor. That means it decides how the slope is built, what tile sizes work, and how easy it is to clean. The most common mistake is making drain decisions too late, after tile selection and layout are already locked in.

Main drain options

• Center drain: reliable and cost effective, best with mosaic floors
• Linear drain: modern look, single slope possible, higher precision and cost
• Tile in style drains: clean look, require good access for cleaning

Mercer Island cost breakdown

• Standard drain replacement: often $200 to $750+ in parts plus labor
• Linear drain upgrade: often $1,000 to $3,200+ depending on floor rebuild
• Moving drain location: often adds $1,200 to $5,000+ depending on structure

Shower glass looks simple, but it controls daily performance. Splash complaints usually happen with short panels, wrong door swing, or curbless showers where glass and slope were not designed together. High end glass requires straight walls, proper blocking, and correct measurements after tile is complete.

Mercer Island cost breakdown

• Standard glass door: often $1,400 to $3,000+
• Custom panels and larger enclosures: often $3,000 to $7,500+
• Premium hardware and coatings can raise price and lead times

Lighting mistakes happen when people rely on a single ceiling fixture. That creates harsh shadows at the vanity and makes tile look flat. The fix later is expensive, so plan lighting early: task, ambient, and optional accent. On Mercer Island, lighting details are a big part of the premium feel.

Mercer Island cost breakdown

• Swap existing fixture: often $250 to $550 labor plus fixture
• Add recessed light: often $400 to $950 each
• Add dimmer: often $175 to $400 each

Large format tile can look high end, but it demands flatter walls and better prep. Mosaics on shower floors are common because they follow slope and reduce slip risk. The biggest budget surprises happen when walls are not flat after demo, or when the design includes patterns, miters, niches, and custom details that were not priced upfront.

Mercer Island cost breakdown

• Tile material: often $4 to $40+ per sq ft
• Complex shower tile labor: often $7,500 to $22,000+ depending on size and details
• Wall leveling and prep: can add $700 to $5,000+ after demo

Vanities on Mercer Island should handle humidity, provide real storage, and align perfectly with mirror and lighting. Cheap vanities swell, drawers fail, and countertops are chosen without thinking about faucet reach and splash control. A clean premium look comes from alignment, not just expensive materials.

Mercer Island cost breakdown

• Vanity product: roughly $1,000 to $8,000+
• Countertop and sink: often $700 to $4,500+
• Install labor: often $800 to $2,200+

Bidets are popular, but many installs look messy because power was not planned and the shutoff valve is old. A high quality remodel includes an outlet near the toilet, a clean GFCI plan, and replacement of weak valves so you do not face leaks after everything is finished.

Mercer Island cost breakdown

• Toilet product: often $250 to $1,800+
• Toilet install labor: often $300 to $750
• Add outlet for bidet: often $450 to $1,100+
• Shutoff and supply replacement: often $200 to $550

The best electrical plans are simple: enough outlets, GFCI protection, a fan timer, and lighting that feels premium. Cheap remodels skip this and homeowners live with cords, dark mirrors, and humidity damage for years. On Mercer Island, the electrical layout is part of the luxury feel.

Mercer Island cost breakdown

• Add outlet: often $300 to $750+
• Upgrade to GFCI: often $175 to $400 each
• Add dimmer: often $175 to $400 each
• New circuit work varies by panel and wiring path

Plumbing surprises are common: old valves, damaged subfloors, questionable shower valves, and drain issues. If you keep old parts to save money, you can lose much more later if something fails behind finished tile. A premium remodel replaces weak parts while access is open.

Mercer Island cost breakdown

• Valve replacement labor: often $600 to $1,800+ depending on access
• Moving plumbing: often adds $2,000 to $7,000+ depending on scope
• Drain relocation: often adds $1,200 to $5,000+ depending on structure

Bathroom windows bring light, but also bring condensation risk and privacy concerns. If ventilation is weak, moisture sits on glass and sills and slowly damages trim and drywall. A good remodel treats the window area like a moisture detail with clean waterproof transitions, especially near the shower zone.

Mercer Island cost breakdown

• Window replacement installed: often $1,400 to $3,900+
• Trim and paint: can add $300 to $1,200+
• Moisture detailing near shower zone varies by layout

Paint fails when humidity stays. Even expensive paint peels if steam sits on walls daily. The right approach combines good prep, a humidity appropriate paint system, and ventilation that keeps walls dry. Color matching matters too because bathroom lighting changes tile tone dramatically.

Mercer Island cost breakdown

• Bathroom paint labor: often $550 to $1,900+
• Extra prep and patching: adds cost depending on wall condition

Transitions are small but they control the finished feel. Bad transitions create a visible step, cheap trim look, and long term cracking at the edge. Clean transitions come from planning floor height and edge profiles early, not at the end.

Mercer Island cost breakdown

• Good transitions are low cost compared to rework
• Fixing a bad transition later can require removing tile or adjacent flooring

A mirror impacts brightness, daily grooming, and how expensive the vanity wall feels. The most common mistake is choosing a mirror too small or choosing a backlit mirror without enough task lighting. The right plan is mirror size plus lighting layout, together.

Mercer Island cost breakdown

• standard mirrors: often $180 to $750+
• backlit mirrors: often $450 to $1,800+
• install labor: often $175 to $550, wiring can add cost

Ventilation is the insurance policy of your remodel. If the fan is weak, loud, or vented incorrectly, humidity will damage paint, drywall, cabinets, and create odor problems. The best fan is quiet and paired with a timer or humidity sensor, and it must vent to the exterior.

Mercer Island cost breakdown

• fan replacement with existing duct: often $450 to $1,150+
• new ducting or long run: often adds $600 to $2,400+
• humidity sensor or timer: often $175 to $450