Bathroom Remodeling in The Woodlands, TX | Franco BuildWorks

This page covers bathroom remodeling for The Woodlands, TX homeowners. For the full step-by-step guide, see our Bathroom Remodeling service page — or explore all our work in The Woodlands.

Why waterproofing is the whole job here

The Woodlands sits in one of the most humid regions in the country, and a bathroom is where that humidity concentrates. A shower that looks finished but was tiled over the wrong substrate will wick moisture into the wall, feed mildew, and eventually rot framing.

Correct practice is a dedicated waterproofing layer behind the tile: a liquid-applied membrane like RedGard or a sheet system such as Schluter Kerdi over cement board or foam board — never ordinary drywall or green board in the wet area. The waterproofing is invisible when the job is done, which is exactly why it is the first thing to cut corners on and the first thing we refuse to.

Exhaust that actually leaves the house

A surprising number of homes across the villages have bath exhaust fans that dump into the attic or spin without moving much air at all. In this climate that moisture condenses on cool attic surfaces and rots decking or grows mold above the ceiling.

We vent bath fans to the exterior through the roof or soffit, size the fan to the room, and put it on proper controls so the moisture from every shower actually leaves the building.

Slab plumbing and second-story leaks

Like the kitchens, ground-floor bathroom plumbing in most Woodlands homes runs through a slab-on-grade foundation, so moving a shower drain or toilet flange means slab work. In two-story homes — common from Cochran’s Crossing onward — the upstairs bathroom sits over a finished ceiling below, and a slow supply or drain leak shows up as a stain downstairs long after the damage started.

When we open a wall or floor in an upstairs bath, we inspect what is under it and replace suspect supply lines rather than tiling over a problem.

• Ground-floor drain and flange relocations require cutting the slab
• Upstairs baths need the subfloor and drain checked before re-tiling
• Older homes may still have gray polybutylene supply lines worth replacing
• Shower pans get sloped correctly to the drain before waterproofing

Master-bath expansions in the newer villages

In Sterling Ridge, College Park, Creekside Park, and the Carlton Woods estates, the request is often less about repair and more about reworking a large master bath — separating a shower from the tub, building a curbless walk-in, or reconfiguring a double vanity.

Curbless and large walk-in showers are very achievable but depend on getting the floor slope, drain placement, and waterproofing right, because there is no curb to stop water. We plan those details before demolition, not during.

Permits, covenants, and honest scope

Interior bathroom remodels in The Woodlands typically do not require a Montgomery County building permit, since the area is unincorporated and the Township is not a permitting city; electrical work falls under Texas state licensing.

If your project moves a window or adds an exterior vent that changes the look of the house, Residential Design Review Committee approval may apply. We identify anything that touches the exterior early so covenant review does not stall the finish work.

How Franco approaches a Woodlands bathroom

We build the parts you cannot see — membrane, slope, backing, and ventilation — to a standard you will never have to think about, and we are candid about what a given layout costs in slab or framing work before you commit to it.

Where a wall cannot move without major expense, we suggest a plan that improves the room within the existing plumbing. We protect the rest of the home from dust and water during the work and sequence tile, waterproofing cure time, and fixtures so nothing gets rushed past a step that needs to dry.

Bathroom Remodeling in The Woodlands: FAQ

What waterproofing do you use in a shower?

We install a dedicated waterproofing layer behind the tile — typically a liquid-applied membrane such as RedGard or a sheet system like Schluter Kerdi over cement board or foam board. Ordinary drywall or green board does not belong in a wet area, and we do not use it there.

My bathroom fan runs but the room stays steamy — why?

Often the fan is undersized or vents into the attic instead of outside. In this humid climate that traps moisture where it causes mold and rot. We vent fans to the exterior and size them to the room so each shower’s moisture actually leaves the house.

Can you build a curbless walk-in shower?

In most cases yes. It depends on setting the floor slope, drain location, and waterproofing correctly, since there is no curb to contain water. We work those details out before demolition so the finished shower drains the way it should.

There is a stain on the ceiling under my upstairs bathroom — can that be fixed during a remodel?

Yes, and a remodel is the right time. We open the affected area, find whether it is a supply or drain leak, address the source, check the subfloor, and only then rebuild. Tiling over an active leak just hides it.

Do bathroom remodels in The Woodlands need a permit?

Interior work in unincorporated Montgomery County typically does not require a county building permit, and the Township is not a permitting city. Residential Design Review Committee approval can apply if the project changes something visible on the home’s exterior.

Other services in The Woodlands

• Kitchen Remodeling in The Woodlands
• Full Home Renovation in The Woodlands
• Room Additions in The Woodlands
• Drywall Repair in The Woodlands
• Tile Installation in The Woodlands
• Vinyl Plank Flooring in The Woodlands
• Interior Painting in The Woodlands

Zip codes served in The Woodlands: 77380, 77381, 77382.