Why is one bathroom quote $23,000 and another $7,000?
A real franchise quote from October 2026, line by line, next to what a tiled bathroom from a small crew includes. What the money buys, and the questions to ask every bidder before you sign.
In October 2026 a homeowner in the Lower Mainland showed us a quote from a bathroom franchise. Two bathrooms, panel walls instead of tile, $45,736 plus GST. We quote full bathrooms from $7,000. Both numbers are real. Here is what sits behind each one, so you can read your own quotes the same way.
The franchise quote, line by line
The quote came as a one-page schedule with a list price, a discount and a net price on every line. We have left the company and the customer out. The figures are exact.
| What | List price | Discount | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demolition and setup, two bathrooms | $5,700 | $1,150 | $4,550 |
| Debris removal | $1,600 | $220 | $1,380 |
| Plumbing rework, new valves | $4,000 | $800 | $3,200 |
| Waterproofing | $5,200 | $1,050 | $4,150 |
| Shower base and tub | $2,600 | $550 | $2,050 |
| Composite wall panels, no tile | $17,300 | $3,300 | $14,000 |
| One glass door | $2,900 | $900 | $2,000 |
| Fixtures and corner shelves | $3,200 | $650 | $2,550 |
| Caulk and paint | $1,200 | $400 | $800 |
| Vinyl floor and baseboards | $2,500 | $700 | $1,800 |
| Installing the customer’s own vanities, mirrors and fans | $2,300 | $460 | $1,840 |
The list price for the package was $57,170 plus tax. The “30-day promotional” price was $45,736 plus GST, about 20 percent off, tied to the day the salesperson measured. The deposit was $14,000 up front. The vanities, mirrors and fans were not included; the homeowner was to buy them. Time on site: 10 to 12 days for both rooms.
Per bathroom, that is about $22,900 with no tile anywhere in the room.
What the money is buying
Read the list again and three things stand out.
The walls are the price. One line, the composite panels, is $14,000 after the discount. That is more than everything else in the shower put together. Panels are a product sold by a franchise, and the franchise fee, the showroom, the advertising, the salesperson’s commission and the financing all live inside that line.
The discount is the sales method. A price that drops 20 percent on the day you are measured, and only holds for 30 days, is built to make you sign before you get a second quote. A fair price does not need a clock.
The quote is itemized, which is good. Credit where it is due: you can see every line. Most quotes we are shown do not do that. Ask every bidder for the same.
What a tiled bathroom from us includes
We are a small crew in Maple Ridge. I quote your bathroom and I set the tile myself. A full bathroom with the same layout starts from $7,000. A tub-to-shower conversion starts from $5,000. Your number depends on the tile you pick, the glass and the fixtures, and it is written and itemized before we start. Here is what is in it.
| What | In the quote |
|---|---|
| Take out the old bathroom and haul it away | Yes |
| Check the plumbing before anything is covered | Yes |
| Schluter Kerdi-Board on every wet wall | Yes |
| Schluter Kerdi membrane, corners and drain, one system | Yes |
| Sloped shower floor and a water test before any tile | Yes |
| Porcelain, stone or mosaic tile, set flat with mortar on the back of every tile | Yes, you choose the tile |
| Clear 8 to 10 mm glass door or panel | Yes |
| Vanity, counter, toilet, taps, paint, towel bars | Yes, installed |
| Materials listed on their own lines | Yes, so you can pick cheaper or nicer ones |
| Time in your home | About a week for a typical bathroom |
| Warranty | Five years on our labour and installation, plus the makers’ warranties on tile, taps and glass |
| Discount that expires | No. The price is the price |
The franchise quote offers a lifetime warranty on its panels and labour. Ours is five years on labour and installation, in writing, and the tile itself does not wear out. Both are real promises. Weigh them against the price.
Five questions for any bidder
- What is behind the wall? Boards and a membrane, or panels glued over what is there?
- Do you fill the shower floor with water and test it before the tile or the panels go on?
- Who is in my home? The person who quoted it, or a crew I have not met?
- What is not included? Vanities, mirrors, fans, paint, disposal, permits?
- What does the price look like next month?
If the answers are good, the quote is good, whatever the number. If a bidder cannot answer the first two, the number does not matter.
What to do next
Book a free in-home estimate. It takes about 45 minutes. We measure, listen, and bring ideas. You get a written, itemized quote within 48 hours, and it reads like the second table above, with your tile and your fixtures filled in.