Vancouver Renovation Before & After: 10 Real Projects with Costs Revealed (2026)
10 real renovation projects from Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, North Vancouver, Surrey, Langley and Maple Ridge — with actual budgets ($14,000–$45,000), timelines, and the one decision that made each project.
Vancouver Renovation Before & After: 10 Real Projects with Costs Revealed (2026)
Most renovation companies show you finished photos. We're going further: here are 10 real projects with actual budgets, timelines, and the one decision that made each project succeed. All data is pulled directly from our completed project records.
Project 1: Master Bathroom Renovation — Vancouver
Budget: $14,000–$16,000 | Timeline: 4–5 weeks | Type: Bathroom
Before: Standard builder-grade bathroom — plastic tub surround, builder vanity, basic lighting, no storage.
After: Custom cabinetry, modern freestanding-style fixtures, wall-mounted vanity with integrated lighting, tiled shower with niche storage.
The one key decision: The client wanted a freestanding tub but the footprint didn't support it — we redirected the budget to a walk-in shower with a built-in bench instead. The result feels more luxurious and functions better for their lifestyle.
What drove the cost: Custom cabinetry ($4,500) and tile work ($3,200) accounted for half the budget. The tiling alone was 40 hours of labour.
Project 2: Bathroom with Custom Glass Door — Maple Ridge
Budget: $18,000–$21,000 | Timeline: 3–4 weeks | Type: Bathroom
Before: Dated 1990s bathroom — beige tile, single vanity, standard tub, hollow-core doors throughout.
After: Full-height frameless glass shower enclosure, double vanity, large-format floor tile extending into the shower, backlit mirror.
The one key decision: The frameless glass door ($2,800 vs $900 for framed) was the single change that elevated the entire bathroom. The investment was worth it — it's the first thing guests notice.
What drove the cost: The glass enclosure and custom tile work. Large-format tiles (24×48") require more substrate prep and a more skilled installer — budget accordingly.
Project 3: Townhouse Bathroom Renovation — Burnaby
Budget: $20,000–$25,000 | Timeline: 2–3 weeks | Type: Bathroom
Before: Builder townhouse bathrooms — identical across the floor plan, nothing custom, tired after 15 years of use.
After: Spa-like renovation with heated floor tiles, rainfall shower, custom floating vanity, matte black fixtures throughout.
The one key decision: Heated floors. At $1,800 for this size bathroom, it's the upgrade that generates the most "wow" from buyers if you ever sell. In a Vancouver condo or townhouse, heated floors are increasingly expected at the mid-range.
What drove the cost: Heated floor system, quality matte black fixtures (these cost 40–60% more than chrome), and the floating vanity requiring wall-blocking.
Project 4: Whole House Renovation — Vancouver
Budget: $23,000–$25,000 | Timeline: 4–5 weeks | Type: Whole House
Before: Dated Vancouver special — original 1980s kitchen and bathrooms, worn laminate floors, hollow-core doors, builder paint throughout.
After: Updated bathroom with modern fixtures, refreshed kitchen with new hardware and countertop, new LVP flooring throughout main floor, fresh neutral paint.
The one key decision: Instead of a deep renovation on one room, the owners opted for a surface-level refresh across the entire home. This approach maximized the visual impact per dollar — 100% of the home looks better rather than one room looking spectacular and the rest dated.
What drove the cost: Flooring across the main floor ($7,200 for LVP materials and install), paint throughout ($4,500), and bathroom update ($6,800).
Project 5: Budget Condo Renovation — Richmond
Budget: $26,000–$28,000 | Timeline: 4–5 weeks | Type: Whole House
Before: Original Richmond condo circa 2005 — functional but dated. Builder-grade everything: Formica counters, laminate floors, hollow-core doors, flat white paint.
After: New quartz countertops, tiled kitchen backsplash, LVP flooring throughout, painted all doors and trim, updated bathroom vanity and fixtures.
The one key decision: Keeping the existing cabinet boxes and replacing only the doors and hardware ($3,800 vs $18,000 for full cabinet replacement). The kitchen looks like a new renovation — for a fraction of the cost.
What drove the cost: Quartz countertops and installation ($6,400), flooring ($5,800), and bathroom update ($4,200).
Project 6: Luxury Bathroom Renovation — North Vancouver
Budget: $42,000–$45,000 | Timeline: 3–4 weeks | Type: Bathroom
Before: Outdated bathroom in a North Vancouver home — cultured marble, dated jetted tub that hadn't been used in years, poor ventilation.
After: Full curbless shower conversion with textured stone-look tile, freestanding soaker tub, dual floating vanities, heated floor, custom backlit niche, black plumbing fixtures throughout.
The one key decision: Removing the jetted tub that "might be used someday" and replacing it with a freestanding soaker tub. Jetted tubs are expensive to maintain, hard to clean, and rarely used after the first year. The soaker tub is used daily.
What drove the cost: This is a large bathroom (110 sq ft) with high-end finishes. The tile alone was $12,000 in materials and labour. Freestanding tub: $3,800. Custom floating vanities: $8,500.
Project 7: Burnaby Luxury Bathroom
Budget: $28,000–$32,000 | Timeline: 3–4 weeks | Type: Bathroom
Before: Standard Burnaby townhouse bathroom — tub/shower combo, single vanity, basic lighting, beige tile from 2000.
After: Walk-in shower with bench, double vanity with stone countertop, designer lighting, large-format porcelain floor and wall tile.
The one key decision: Going large-format (24×24") instead of standard 12×12" tile on the floors. It costs 20–30% more in labour but makes the bathroom feel significantly larger. In a 70-sq-ft bathroom, this decision is always worth it.
What drove the cost: Labour-intensive large-format tile (3 days just for floor and wall tile), stone vanity top, and bespoke shower glass.
Project 8: Langley Kitchen — Waterfall Island Design
Budget: $28,000–$30,000 | Timeline: 4–6 weeks | Type: Kitchen
Before: Dated 2000s kitchen in a Langley townhouse — honey-oak cabinets, laminate counters, fluorescent lighting.
After: White shaker cabinets, quartz waterfall island, subway tile backsplash, under-cabinet LED lighting, new appliances.
The one key decision: The waterfall island ($1,200 extra over standard island edge) defines the entire kitchen's character. It's a high-impact, lower-cost way to add a luxury design element without redoing the entire cabinet layout.
What drove the cost: Custom quartz waterfall countertop and island ($9,500 total), new cabinetry ($11,000), appliances ($4,200).
Project 9: Surrey Kitchen with Custom Cabinets
Budget: $29,000–$31,000 | Timeline: 4–5 weeks | Type: Kitchen
Before: Original Surrey builder kitchen — oak cabinets showing their age, dated tile floor, no island, minimal counter space.
After: Full custom cabinet replacement (grey shaker, floor to ceiling), quartz counters with integrated sink, kitchen island, tile backsplash, pot filler, new fixtures.
The one key decision: Floor-to-ceiling cabinets. Going all the way to the ceiling ($2,500 extra over standard height) eliminates the dust-collecting gap above cabinets and makes the kitchen feel architecturally finished. In a home without crown moulding, this is an elegant solution.
What drove the cost: Full cabinet replacement ($13,500) and quartz countertops ($7,200).
Project 10: Burnaby Custom Kitchen with Gold Fixtures
Budget: $35,000–$40,000 | Timeline: 4–6 weeks | Type: Kitchen
Before: Tired Burnaby kitchen — white laminate, inefficient layout, low ceiling, small window.
After: Full layout reconfiguration, custom wood-grain cabinetry, waterfall quartz island, brushed gold fixtures throughout, statement pendant lights, wine storage.
The one key decision: Reconfiguring the layout rather than refreshing what was there. It cost an extra $5,000 to move the sink and restructure the cabinet run, but the result is a kitchen that functions like a professional space — not just a renovated old kitchen.
What drove the cost: Custom cabinetry ($15,000+), layout reconfiguration (structural), quartz island ($8,500), gold fixtures (3× the cost of chrome equivalents).
What These 10 Projects Teach Us
The pattern across all 10 projects:
One decision defines the project — the waterfall edge, the glass door, the curbless shower, the floor-to-ceiling cabinets. Identify yours early.
Budget allocation matters more than total budget — a $20,000 renovation spent 60% on tile and fixtures beats a $20,000 renovation spread thin across everything.
Labour is 40–60% of the cost — complex tile patterns, heated floors, and structural changes are expensive not because materials are expensive, but because they're time-intensive.
Surface refreshes outperform expectations — the Richmond condo at $26,000–$28,000 delivers similar visual impact as some $50,000 renovations because the money went to visible surfaces.
Build in 15% contingency — 7 of these 10 projects had a hidden discovery (old plumbing, asbestos-containing texture, inadequate subfloor). None blew the budget because contingency was planned.
Get Your Own Before & After Story
Every project on this page started with a free estimate conversation. If you're planning a renovation in Metro Vancouver — bathroom, kitchen, whole house, or basement — contact Reno Stars for a no-pressure quote.
We work across Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, North Vancouver, Surrey, Langley, Maple Ridge, and Coquitlam.
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