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Clear River Contracting
Double vanity with two mirrors and sconces in a remodeled Carrboro bathroom

Pricing guide, 2026

What a bathroom remodel costs in Chapel Hill

Our real prices, not a national average. Tiled showers from $14,000, full bathrooms $20,000 to $35,000, and the things that move the number.

15 five-star reviews on Google · BBB Accredited, A+ · Fully insured

Send photos for a price rangeCall (208) 481-2298

Get a price range for your room

A few photos is enough for a first number. We reply within 24 hours, Monday through Friday.

Up to 5 photos. Phone pictures are fine; they get shrunk before sending.

Or call or text (208) 481-2298.

  • A reply within 24 hours, Monday through Friday
  • A price range, not a sales call
  • No site visit needed for a first number

The short answer

What we charge

These are the prices on our own quotes in Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Durham. Showers are fixed-price packages. Full bathrooms get a line-item quote, and the range below is where most of them land.

  • Tiled shower, the Refresh

    $14,000

    Tear-out, Schluter waterproofing, tile from the basic selection, one niche, valve and trim, epoxy grout, a clear glass door.

    Shower packages

  • Tiled shower, the Signature

    $16,000

    Mid-grade tile selection, two niches, two fixtures and an accent strip. The one most people pick.

    Shower packages

  • Tiled shower, the Luxe Spa

    $18,000

    Premium tile, a corner bench, a lit niche, a full accent wall and a frameless glass enclosure.

    Shower packages

  • Tub-to-shower conversion

    $14,000 to $18,000

    The same three packages. Plumbing work is extra only if the drain has to move.

    Conversions

  • Full bathroom remodel

    $20,000 to $35,000

    Shower or tub, vanity, floor, lighting, paint and trim as one job. Some go higher with the size of the room and the selections.

    Full bathrooms

  • Tile repair, regrouting, drywall

    From $500

    Priced from photos. Small jobs start at $500, so send everything that needs doing at once.

    Tile work

The long answer

What moves the number

Two bathrooms the same size can land $10,000 apart. Almost all of the difference comes from six things.

How much of the room is in the job

A shower on its own is a package price. Add the vanity, toilet, floor, lighting, paint and trim and it becomes a full bathroom remodel, which is why most of those land between $20,000 and $35,000. Doing it all at once costs less than doing it in two visits, because the demo, protection and cleanup happen once.

Tile selection

The three shower packages are the same build with three tile selections: basic, mid-grade and premium. On a full bathroom the floor tile and any accent wall follow the same logic. The tile itself is a small share of the bill. The labor to set it is the same whether it cost $3 or $30 a square foot, so the selection moves the number less than most people expect.

Glass

Every shower package includes glass. Refresh and Signature come with a clear glass door, and a sliding door costs a little more. Luxe Spa comes with a frameless enclosure. The glass is measured after the tile is set and installed about 1.5 to 2 weeks later.

Plumbing that moves

If the drain, valve or toilet stays where it is, the plumbing is in the price. Moving a drain for a tub-to-shower conversion, or shifting a toilet across the room, is extra, and it is on the quote before we start.

Permits

Some full bathrooms need a permit and some do not. It depends on what moves and what the town requires. A permitted job takes longer because of the inspections, and we tell you up front whether yours is one.

What is behind the wall

Older homes in Chapel Hill and Durham sometimes hide rot under a tub or old plumbing in a wall. If we find something, we stop, show you, and get your approval before going further. Nothing gets added to the bill without that conversation.

Included

What is in the price

  • Demo and haul-away
  • Site protection and daily cleanup
  • Schluter waterproofing on every wet wall and floor
  • Tile and setting materials, supplied by us
  • Valve and trim, mostly Delta
  • Epoxy grout
  • Glass, measured after the tile is set
  • A 1-year craftsmanship warranty

How the quote works

One number before we start

Send a few photos of the room. We reply within 24 hours, Monday through Friday with a price range. If it looks like a fit, we come out, measure, and go through tile, fixtures and layout with you.

Showers are a package price. Full bathrooms get a line-item quote, every line priced, so you can see what each choice costs and change your mind before anything is ordered. The number only moves if you change the scope.

We take payment by check or ACH bank transfer. No credit cards, because the processing fee would end up in your price.

Comparing quotes

Why two quotes can be so far apart

If you have a shower quote for half of ours, ask whether it is tile or an acrylic insert. An insert is a molded shell glued over the walls. It is faster and cheaper, and it is not what we build. We only build tiled showers.

Then ask what is under the tile. Tile and grout are not waterproof on their own. A shower built without a proper membrane can look fine for a few years and then rot the framing behind it. Every one of ours goes on a Schluter system, and it is in the price.

Last, ask whether the glass is included and whether the number is fixed. Both of ours are.

Timelines

How long it takes

Showers are tiled in 3 to 4 days. The glass is measured after the tile is finished and installed about 1.5 to 2 weeks later. Full bathrooms vary with the scope, whether the work is permitted and whether glass is part of it. You get a schedule with the quote, and Shawn runs the job through to the walkthrough.

Reviews

What clients say about the price

See all 15 reviews on Google
Google review

As the house manager for a fraternity house at UNC Chapel Hill, I urgently needed a contractor for a bathroom renovation after our original contractor backed out last minute. Clear River Contracting stepped in and truly saved the project.

Shawn responded immediately, completed a thorough inspection, and provided a fair and transparent quote. His communication was outstanding—he kept me informed throughout the process and handled unexpected issues with honesty and practical solutions.

The workmanship was excellent, the team was professional, and they delivered everything on schedule despite the tight timeframe. Their pricing was clear, their adaptability was impressive, and they were considerate of the students living in the house throughout the project.

I highly recommend Clear River Contracting! They turned a stressful situation into a smooth renovation that exceeded expectations.

McKenna Good

Google review

Shawn was great to work with! We were happy with the bathroom he worked with us to renovate and appreciated his guidance along the way. He listened to what we wanted and left us with a beautiful bathroom that matched our wishes for it. He was very communicative along the way, which was a major help to the process.

Robin Baird

Google review

I highly recommend Clear River Contracting. Originally I hired Shawn to replace an old fiberglass moulded shower with a new unit, which he did and it looks amazing! He went over and above with every detail.

I was in the process of getting my home of 33 years ready to go on the market and I was overwhelmed with repairs/upgrading that needed to be completed. Shawn took on everything that I threw in his direction without hesitation, which included a new bathroom, carpentry work on my deck/house exterior, drywall, plumbing, electrical, power washing house/driveway, painting - there is no way I could have met my deadline without his help.

I am so thankful he answered my plea for help on Nextdoor!

Linda Jacob

FAQ

Questions about cost

Are there any hidden costs?

No. You get one number before the job starts. If something changes, usually something behind a wall nobody could see, we tell you right away and get your approval before going further.

What’s included in your shower remodel packages?

Every package includes demo and haul-away, a Schluter waterproofing system, real tile, the valve and trim, epoxy grout and a glass door. The Signature adds more tile choices, a second niche and a second fixture. The Luxe Spa adds premium tile, a bench, a lit niche, soundproofing, a full accent wall and a frameless enclosure. The full lists are on the packages page.

Do you remodel full bathrooms too?

Yes, and they are most of what we do now. Most land between $20,000 and $35,000, some higher. See the bathroom remodels page for what is included and two recent jobs.

Is glass included in every package?

Yes. Refresh and Signature include a clear glass door, and Luxe Spa includes a frameless glass enclosure. Either way the glass is measured after the tile is finished and installed about 1.5 to 2 weeks later so it fits exactly. A sliding door costs a little more on any package.

Can I pay with a credit card or check?

Check or bank transfer. We do not take credit cards, because the processing fees would end up in your price.

Can I get an estimate without a site visit?

Yes. Send a few photos of the room and we reply with a price range. If it looks like a fit, we schedule a visit to measure and firm up the number.

All questions and answers

Read next

More straight answers

Get a price range

Start with a few photos

Send photos for a price range

A few photos of the room and a line on what you have in mind. We reply within 24 hours, Monday through Friday.

Up to 5 photos. Phone pictures are fine; they get shrunk before sending.

Or call or text (208) 481-2298.

  • A reply within 24 hours, Monday through Friday
  • A price range, not a sales call
  • No site visit needed for a first number