This bathroom remodel in Syracuse NY transformed a dated bathtub layout into a modern walk-in shower while preserving the character of a historic 1920s townhouse.
There are thousands of contractors available for remodeling work in Upstate New York — from local handymen and independent installers working alone, to general contractors who subcontract most of the work, and larger companies that operate with a mix of in-house crews and outside trades.
Amy and Paul had already spoken with several of them while exploring their options. Their home is a townhouse built in the 1920s — now designated as a historic building — and while it had been well maintained over the years, it clearly showed its age. They wanted to stay within a reasonable budget, but they weren’t interested in cutting corners or installing anything that would feel cheap.
That mindset can sometimes lead to unmet expectations. In remodeling, extremely low bids often come with trade-offs in materials, planning, or workmanship. Homeowners who focus purely on the lowest number frequently end up dealing with delays, shortcuts, or disappointing results. Our approach has always been different: deliver real quality at a fair price, even if that price isn’t always the lowest one on paper.
Amy and Paul weren’t bargain hunters. Though they certainly could have spent more, they had already gathered enough estimates to understand the realistic cost of this type of project. What they hadn’t found yet was a company they fully trusted — and that’s often where we tend to fit best.
Paul admitted he was a little skeptical at first — not toward us specifically, but because he had already endured several long presentations from other companies. And frankly, who wants to sit through another one? Once Tom explained who we are as a company and walked them through several projects we’ve completed — many of which are documented right here on our website — the conversation shifted. Paul began sharing ideas of his own, and the planning process started to feel collaborative rather than sales-driven.
The Homeowners’ Vision for the Bathroom Remodel
Amy had a very clear vision for the space: a full bathroom remodel that would modernize the room while still respecting the character of the historic townhouse.
- Zero-threshold shower
- New tile-look flooring
- New vanity and toilet
- Updated lighting and electrical
- Even a towel warmer — a luxury touch we love
But older homes rarely make things simple. When Tom inspected the structure from below, he warned that recessing the shower pan to create a true zero-threshold entry might not be possible. The plumbing ran directly through century-old timber joists, and lowering the shower base could eliminate the necessary pitch required for proper drainage.
Technically, we could have re-graded the entire bathroom floor to create the slope needed for a flush entry. But doing that would introduce a new challenge — how to transition smoothly into the original hardwood hallway without creating an awkward step or raised threshold.
And when you’re working inside a house built during Prohibition, there’s always the question of what surprises might be hiding beneath floors that haven’t been opened in nearly a century. We didn’t want to promise a design that the structure of the home simply couldn’t support.
On-Site Structural Discoveries During Demolition
Lead install technician Vincent Aponte, along with helper John, began demolition early Sunday morning so the crew could hopefully still enjoy the Fourth of July holiday.
At first, demolition moved along smoothly — until we started opening the walls. As we discovered during another bathroom remodel in Manlius, NY where we uncovered termite damage hidden inside the wall framing, older homes can sometimes conceal surprises that only appear once demolition begins. Fortunately, there were no termites on this one.
On the left side of the shower area, there was a partition wall separating the toilet from the shower space — what we call a wet wall. Amy had hoped we could trim down the upper portion of that wall to allow more natural light into the shower. But once the drywall came down, we discovered substantial structural beams running directly through the framing. The wall was very likely load-bearing.
At that point we escalated the decision to Operations Manager Josh Brodnicki and presented the homeowners with two possible paths forward:
Option A: Hire a structural engineer, remove the wall, install proper support, and sign a liability release.
Option B: Leave the wall intact.
Amy and Paul chose the safer route and decided to keep the wall in place.
Next we opened the remaining walls around the shower and found another surprise — the walls were built from cinder block masonry rather than standard wood framing.
The recessed shower niche Amy had selected simply wouldn’t fit within the block structure. Expanding the framing inward would have reduced the shower width by nearly four inches, which none of us felt was a worthwhile trade-off.
Together we decided to skip the recessed niche.
Zero-Threshold Shower vs. Structural Reality
As hoped, we tried everything possible to recess the shower base and achieve the true zero-threshold entry Amy originally envisioned. But between uneven joists and shallow drain pitch, the structure simply wouldn’t allow it without introducing significant structural risk.
Instead, we installed the lowest-profile threshold available — still a major improvement over the old tub setup, just not the perfectly flush entry that had been imagined at the start of the project. Not every discovery during a remodel is a problem.
One Unexpected Win: The Flooring
The original tile floor beneath the vanity was in excellent condition, which meant:
- We could float the new luxury vinyl plank flooring directly over it
- There was no need for messy demolition
- Labor costs could be reduced
Whenever we find opportunities to save our customers money without sacrificing quality, we’re always happy to pass those savings along.
Adjusting the Design to Fit the Home’s Structure
Understandably, Amy was a little disappointed. She had a very clear image of the bathroom in her mind — and it was a great one. But when remodeling historic homes, the structure of the building ultimately determines what’s possible. Situations like this are part of working with older homes. There’s rarely a perfect blueprint for what you’ll uncover once walls and floors are opened.
Even so, we focused on clear communication, offered practical alternatives instead of excuses, and made sure every other part of the remodel exceeded expectations.
Despite the intense summer heat that week, Vincent and John worked incredibly hard, and the rest of the project moved forward smoothly.
Ready to Update Your Historic Syracuse Home? Schedule Your Site Inspection Today.
The Finished Bathroom Remodel
Once everything was cleaned up and the final fixtures were in place, the transformation was dramatic.
What had once been a cramped and aging bathroom now feels brighter, more modern, and far more functional — while still preserving the character and structure that make a 1920s townhouse unique.
Amy and Paul told us they were thrilled with the outcome and grateful that we steered them away from structural risks rather than blindly following a design that could have caused long-term issues — a concern we discuss in more detail when evaluating damaged floor joists during bathroom remodels.
They now have a bathroom they genuinely enjoy using — along with the peace of mind that it was done the right way.
Planning a Bathroom Remodel in Syracuse?
Remodeling older homes often requires balancing modern design ideas with the structural realities of buildings that were constructed long before modern plumbing and framing standards. You can explore more of our completed renovations on our Bathroom Remodeling Portfolio.
Whether your house was built in 2020 or 1920, we bring the same honesty, planning, and craftsmanship to every bathroom remodel we take on. Call Bath Pros today at (315) 217-1151 to discuss your project.