Bathroom Remodeling in Sonoma

The town of Sonoma grew up around its Plaza, and the blocks nearby still hold some of the oldest homes in the county: board-and-batten cottages, Victorians and early 1900s bungalows, many on deep, narrow lots. Their bathrooms were usually added long after the houses were built, often in a back corner or a former sleeping porch, and have been redone in layers ever since. Farther out, the Sonoma Valley shifts in character. The Springs area along Highway 12, from Boyes Hot Springs through El Verano, has a mix of small older homes and mid-century houses. Glen Ellen and Kenwood have homes tucked among the vineyards and oaks, some of them second homes or weekend places. Summer here runs hot, and winter nights get cold, so bathrooms go through big temperature swings that are hard on caulk, grout and old windows.

Projects in Sonoma tend to split two ways. Near the Plaza, homeowners often want a bathroom that belongs in a house of that age, using tile and fixtures that feel original even though everything behind them is new. Out in the valley, the focus is more often on comfort and ease, like a curbless shower or a larger primary bath. Either way, the waterproofing and plumbing get rebuilt to current standards. For more on tile choices that suit an older home, see our bathroom tile installation page. Second-home owners often want the work done while they're away, and we can send photo updates at each stage so they don't have to make the drive. Ring us or send a note through the form to book a walk-through of the room.

Historic Homes Near the Plaza

Older homes around the Plaza tend to hide the same few things behind their bathroom walls: old cast-iron drains, galvanized supply lines, framing that was cut and patched for earlier plumbing, and floors that dip toward the tub. We plan for all of it at the estimate, so the schedule doesn't fall apart once demolition starts. Plaster and lath come off in heavy, dusty chunks, and narrow lots can mean tight side yards, so containment, a clear path out and a spot for the dumpster get settled before day one. Many owners here want to keep details like original trim, a clawfoot tub or a wood window, and we work around them carefully. If the house sits within the city's historic areas, changes to the exterior, like a new window or a vent through a front wall, may need design review before a permit is issued. Interior work generally moves through the city's regular building permit. Moving a fan vent to the side or rear of the house, or up through the roof, often avoids extra review altogether. Over the hills to the west, Petaluma's older houses bring the same mix of challenges.

The Springs, Glen Ellen and Kenwood

Outside the city limits, much of the Sonoma Valley is unincorporated, so homes in Boyes Hot Springs, El Verano, Agua Caliente, Glen Ellen and Kenwood go through Permit Sonoma instead of the city. We confirm which department covers your address and take care of the paperwork for whichever one it is. The homes themselves range widely. In the Springs, small houses from the 1940s through the 1970s often have one bathroom that needs everything: a new shower, better ventilation and a floor that isn't soft near the toilet. In Glen Ellen and Kenwood, larger homes and second homes tend to want a primary bath that feels like a retreat, with a spacious shower and good light. Parts of Glen Ellen and Kenwood burned in the 2017 and 2020 fires, so some homes there are recent rebuilds whose bathrooms need little more than finish changes. Some of these properties are on wells, which means hard water on glass and fixtures, and some are on septic. For homeowners planning to stay in the valley long term, our accessible and aging-in-place bathrooms page covers the features worth building in now.