Bathroom remodeling in Shrewsbury and nearby Worcester County towns.

East of Worcester: Shrewsbury, Westborough, Northborough and Southborough

These four towns sit between Worcester and the I-495 belt. The housing mixes older homes near each town center with the colonials, capes, ranches and split-levels that went up in the decades after the highways arrived. Bathrooms from that later era are often the familiar 5 by 8 hall bath with a tub along the back wall, which is where a tub to shower conversion or a small bathroom remodel makes the biggest difference.

See the local pages for bathroom remodeling in Shrewsbury, Westborough, Northborough and Southborough.

Grafton and its villages

Grafton runs from the historic homes around the Common out to the old mill villages along the river. North Grafton and South Grafton are villages of the town, so permits for all three go through Grafton's building department. Mill-era houses and multi-families often need the drain and supply lines looked at closely before anyone picks tile. Start with bathroom remodeling in Grafton, North Grafton or South Grafton.

North and west: Holden and Leominster

Holden is mostly capes, ranches and colonials from the postwar decades on, with older homes near the center. Leominster is a city, with triple-deckers and multi-families close to downtown, so a bathroom job there can mean working around tenants and neighbors in the same building. See bathroom remodeling in Holden and bathroom remodeling in Leominster.

Same state rules, different local offices

The Massachusetts State Building Code applies in every one of these towns, but each town or city runs its own building department, and plumbing, gas and electrical work are permitted and inspected separately. Plumbing permits are pulled by a licensed plumber and electrical permits by a licensed electrician. Our Massachusetts bathroom permit guide walks through how that works on a typical job.

Two more state rules come up on almost every project here. Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint, which changes how demolition and cleanup are done; the Massachusetts lead law guide explains it. And hiring a registered home improvement contractor keeps you eligible for the state's Guaranty Fund protection.

What we build in these towns

• Full bathroom remodel: the whole room down to the studs.
• Walk-in shower installation: low or curbless entry, glass, properly sloped floor.
• Tub to shower conversion: a shower in the old tub alcove.
• Shower replacement: a failing shower rebuilt, the rest of the room left alone.
• Small bathroom remodel: hall baths and powder rooms.
• Master bathroom remodel: two sinks, a bigger shower, maybe a soaking tub.
• Accessible bathrooms: curbless showers, grab bar blocking, wider doors.

Budget first? The bathroom remodel cost guide and the tub to shower conversion cost guide cover what moves the number, and the financing page explains how homeowners usually pay. When you are ready, request an estimate.