Bathroom Remodel Cost in Merton, WI
A bathroom remodel costs about $6,600 to $28,000 in This Old House's 2026 figures. For a smaller bathroom, the same publisher puts a basic refresh at $3,000 to $8,000, a mid-range update at $8,000 to $18,000 and a premium renovation at $18,000 or more, with a primary bathroom averaging about $18,500. Labor is roughly half of that. In the Town of Merton, the building, plumbing, electrical and HVAC permit applications go to the Town Hall together, and a home within 1,000 feet of a lake may need a Waukesha County zoning permit as well.
Published 2026-10-28 · 5 min read · 1,231 words
Bathroom project - T&JHere is what a Merton bathroom remodel costs by scope, what moves the price, and the permit steps for a Merton home.
Merton Bathroom Remodel Costs at a Glance
| Scope | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel, most homes | $6,600 to $28,000 | This Old House, 2026 |
| Basic refresh, smaller bathroom | $3,000 to $8,000 | This Old House, 2026 |
| Mid-range update, smaller bathroom | $8,000 to $18,000 | This Old House, 2026 |
| Premium renovation, smaller bathroom | $18,000 or more | This Old House, 2026 |
| Primary bathroom | $7,000 to $30,000; average about $18,500 | This Old House, 2026 |
These are published national figures. Lake homes and larger primary bathrooms with walk-in showers and custom tile often land above them.
Labor accounts for roughly half of a bathroom remodel's total cost, according to This Old House; our guide to bathroom remodel labor cost in Wisconsin shows what each trade earns here.
What Each Scope Includes
Basic refresh ($3,000 to $8,000). Paint, a new vanity top or faucet, lighting, a new toilet, and perhaps refinishing the tub. The layout and most of the tile stay.
Mid-range update ($8,000 to $18,000). New vanity, toilet, tub or shower, tile, flooring, lighting and an exhaust fan, with the fixtures staying where they are.
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Premium renovation ($18,000 or more). A walk-in shower with custom tile, a double vanity, heated floors or a layout change. Moving the toilet, shower or vanity drain is where costs climb fastest.
For prices by room size, see our guides to a 5x8 bathroom remodel and an 8x10 bathroom remodel.
What Moves the Price in a Merton Bathroom
Layout changes.
Moving plumbing means new drain and vent piping, and opening floors and walls.
The shower.
A tiled walk-in shower costs more than a tub-shower combination; see our walk-in shower cost guide and our tub-to-shower conversion cost guide.
Tile.
Large-format, patterned or floor-to-ceiling tile takes more labor.
Ventilation.
Wisconsin's dwelling code calls for a bathroom exhaust fan rated at least 50 cubic feet per minute, or 20 if it runs continuously, vented to the outside. If the old fan vents into the attic or is too small, the remodel is the time to fix it.
Septic and well.
If your home is on a private septic system, the Town of Merton requires a Preliminary Site Evaluation from Waukesha County's Environmental Health Division before a zoning or building permit is issued, to confirm the system works and the setbacks are met.
The age of the house.
Old piping, soft subfloor around the toilet and out-of-level floors are common finds once the old bathroom comes out.
Permits for a Bathroom Remodel in Merton
Merton has two local governments: the Town of Merton and the Village of Merton. Check which one your address is in before you plan.
Town of Merton. The town's building inspector handles building permits and inspections for new and existing structures. Building permit applications are submitted at the Town Hall in person or by mail, with the electrical, plumbing and HVAC permit applications submitted alongside them when the work needs them. If the property is within 1,000 feet of a lake or 300 feet of a river or stream, it is in shoreland jurisdiction, and the town directs owners to contact Waukesha County Parks and Land Use to find out whether a zoning permit is needed. Inspections are scheduled by phone, not by email or text.
Village of Merton. The village handles its own permits; ask its office what a bathroom remodel needs before work starts.
Wisconsin lets an owner do plumbing in a one-family home they own and live in, unless a local ordinance requires a licensed plumber. The work still has to meet code and pass inspection; see our guide to bathroom plumbing permits in Wisconsin.
On a lake lot, find out about the county zoning permit and, for a septic home, the Preliminary Site Evaluation first. Both come before the building permit, so they set the earliest start date.
Questions to Ask Before You Compare Bids
Is the quote itemized
with labor, materials and allowances listed separately?
What fixtures and tile are in the allowances,
and at what price?
Who pulls the permits
and arranges the inspections?
How is the shower waterproofed?
Get the method in writing.
Is the exhaust fan included,
and is it vented outside?
Bathroom - T&JGetting an Accurate Bathroom Estimate in Merton
A free in-home consultation looks at your bathroom, the plumbing, the fan and the floor, explains which scope fits your goals, and leaves a written, itemized estimate with labor and materials shown separately.
T&J is a father-and-son team that has worked in Wisconsin since 1989. John is your single point of contact from the first call through the final walkthrough, Telli is on site running the work, and T&J gives a written 2-year warranty. Homeowners in Merton, Hartland and across Waukesha County can see our bathroom remodeling services or request a free in-home estimate.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bathroom remodel cost in Merton?
This Old House's 2026 figures put most bathroom remodels at $6,600 to $28,000, and a primary bathroom at about $18,500 on average. Lake homes and custom primary baths often run higher.
How much does a small bathroom remodel cost?
About $3,000 to $8,000 for a basic refresh, $8,000 to $18,000 for a mid-range update, and $18,000 or more for a premium renovation.
How much of a bathroom remodel is labor?
Roughly half of the total cost, according to This Old House.
Do I need a permit to remodel a bathroom in the Town of Merton?
Usually, when the work involves plumbing, electrical, HVAC or structural changes. Permit applications go to the Town Hall, in person or by mail.
Do lake homes in Merton need a zoning permit?
Properties within 1,000 feet of a lake or 300 feet of a river or stream are in shoreland jurisdiction; the Town of Merton directs owners to Waukesha County Parks and Land Use to check whether a zoning permit is needed.
What size exhaust fan does a bathroom need in Wisconsin?
At least 50 cubic feet per minute, or 20 if it runs continuously, vented to the outside.
Does a septic system affect a bathroom remodel in Merton?
It can. In the Town of Merton, homes on a private septic system need a Preliminary Site Evaluation from Waukesha County before a zoning or building permit is issued.
Pricing is based on our own recent projects. Written by John (PM, 14 yrs) and reviewed by Telli, who has been remodeling in Wisconsin since 1989. Published 2026-10-28.
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