
From outdated layouts to modern, efficient spaces — we handle design, demolition, plumbing, tile, fixtures, and every detail in between.
Star, Idaho's newest homeowners did not move here for the builder bathrooms. They moved for the lots, the schools, the small-town character, and the promise of a community that is still becoming what it will be. The bathroom that shipped with their new home — the cultured marble vanity top, the builder-grade shower surround, the chrome faucets that looked acceptable in the model home — was always a placeholder. Iron Crest Remodel specializes in the transformation that Star homeowners have been planning since closing: turning a functional but generic post-2015 bathroom into a spa-caliber personal retreat that reflects how this family actually lives, relaxes, and prepares for the day.
Transform your bathroom with a remodeling plan built around function, comfort, and long-term value.

A bathroom remodel can range from a simple fixture and finish update to a complete gut renovation involving new plumbing lines, electrical circuits, waterproofing, tile work, and custom vanity installation. The scope depends on what you want to change — layout, fixtures, storage, accessibility, or all of the above. In the Treasure Valley, bathrooms built before 2000 often have galvanized plumbing, inadequate ventilation, and small footprints that no longer match how families use the space. A well-planned bathroom remodel addresses all of these issues while upgrading to modern materials, efficient fixtures, and a layout that works for daily life. Whether you are converting a tub to a walk-in shower, expanding a cramped primary bath, or fully renovating a hall bathroom, the key is planning every element — plumbing rough-in, waterproofing, tile layout, vanity selection, lighting, ventilation, and finish hardware — before demolition begins.
Star homeowners pursue bathroom remodeling for a variety of reasons. Here are the most common situations we see:
Not every bathroom remodel project is the same. Here are the most common project types we complete in Star:

Full renovation of the main bathroom including layout changes, double vanity installation, walk-in shower or freestanding tub, new tile, lighting, and ventilation upgrades. This is the most common high-value bathroom project.

Update a secondary bathroom with new fixtures, tile, vanity, and finishes. These projects focus on function and visual refresh without major layout changes.

Remove an existing bathtub and replace it with a walk-in shower, including new drain placement, waterproofing, tile or panel walls, glass enclosure, and updated fixtures.

Design and build a barrier-free bathroom with zero-threshold shower entry, grab bars, bench seating, anti-slip flooring, and wider doorways for wheelchair or mobility aid access.

Refresh a small half-bath with a new vanity, faucet, lighting, mirror, paint, and accent tile or wallcovering. A high-impact upgrade for a modest budget.

Star's housing stock is overwhelmingly post-2015 construction. Modern systems throughout, but builder-grade finishes that homeowners customize over time.
A small number of older homes in the original townsite. These may need system and finish updates.
New construction with modern systems, open floor plans, and builder-grade finishes. Most remodeling focuses on finish upgrades and outdoor living additions.

Material selection affects the look, durability, and cost of your bathroom remodel. Here are the most popular options we install in Star:

The most popular choice for bathroom floors and shower walls. Porcelain is dense, water-resistant, available in hundreds of styles including wood-look and stone-look patterns, and extremely durable in wet environments. Large-format porcelain tiles (12x24 and larger) create a modern, seamless look with fewer grout lines.
Best for: Shower walls, floors, accent features, and niches

A versatile and budget-friendly tile option for bathroom floors and backsplash areas. Ceramic is slightly softer than porcelain and available in a wide range of sizes, colors, and patterns. It works well for walls and dry-area floors.
Best for: Budget-conscious floor and wall applications

Natural stone delivers a premium, one-of-a-kind look. Marble is the classic choice for luxury bathrooms, travertine offers warmth and texture, and slate provides a rugged, natural feel. All natural stone requires sealing and ongoing maintenance.
Best for: Feature walls, shower surrounds, vanity tops, and floor accents

Engineered quartz is the top choice for bathroom vanity countertops. It is non-porous, stain-resistant, available in a wide range of colors and patterns, and does not require sealing. Quartz resists water spots and soap buildup better than natural stone.
Best for: Vanity countertops, shelving surfaces

For homeowners who want a grout-free, low-maintenance shower, solid surface panels provide a smooth, seamless wall system. Available in stone-look patterns, these panels install faster than tile and require minimal upkeep.
Best for: Low-maintenance showers, accessible bathrooms, budget-friendly updates

Here is how a typical bathroom remodel project works from first contact to final walkthrough:
We visit your home, measure the existing bathroom, discuss what is and is not working, review your goals and budget range, and photograph the space. You will receive a preliminary scope outline within a few days that includes layout options, material direction, and a ballpark estimate range.
We create a detailed design plan including tile layouts, vanity specifications, fixture selections, lighting placement, and color palette. You select materials from our supplier partners or bring your own. We finalize the scope of work, confirm lead times, and prepare a fixed-price contract.
If your project involves plumbing relocation, electrical changes, or structural modifications, we pull the required permits through your local jurisdiction. We also coordinate scheduling with our tile installer, plumber, electrician, and glass supplier so every trade is lined up before demolition day.
We protect adjacent rooms with dust barriers and floor coverings, then carefully demolish the existing bathroom down to studs and subfloor as needed. Plumbing and electrical rough-in happens next — this is when drain locations, water supply lines, recessed lighting, exhaust fan ducting, and any structural framing changes are completed.
Every shower and wet area receives a proper waterproofing membrane system — either sheet membrane, liquid-applied membrane, or a foam panel system like Kerdi or GoBoard. We verify proper slope to drain, inspect the substrate for flatness and stability, and prepare all surfaces for tile.
Tile installation begins with floor tile, then shower walls and niches, then any accent features. The vanity is set and plumbed, the mirror and lighting are installed, and all fixtures — faucets, showerhead, toilet, towel bars, and hardware — are connected and tested.
We complete a detailed punch list inspection, verify all plumbing and electrical connections, test every fixture, and confirm caulk lines, grout joints, and finish details are clean. A final walkthrough with you ensures everything meets expectations before we consider the project complete.
Here is what to expect for project duration when planning a bathroom remodel in Star:
| Phase | Duration | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Design and Planning | 2–4 weeks | Initial consultation, measurements, design development, material selections, and contract finalization. Material lead times (tile, vanity, glass) often extend this phase to 4-6 weeks if custom items are involved. |
| Permitting | 1–3 weeks | Permit application, review, and approval through Ada County or Canyon County. Straightforward projects may clear in a few days; projects with structural changes take longer. |
| Demolition and Rough-In | 3–5 days | Remove existing fixtures, tile, drywall, and subfloor as needed. Complete plumbing and electrical rough-in. Schedule and pass rough inspection. |
| Waterproofing and Tile Installation | 5–10 days | Apply waterproofing membranes, install cement board or backer panels, set tile (floor, walls, shower, niches), grout, and seal. This is typically the longest phase of active work. |
| Fixture and Finish Installation | 3–5 days | Install vanity, countertop, sink, faucet, toilet, mirror, lighting, exhaust fan, glass shower door, towel bars, and all finish hardware. |
| Final Inspection and Walkthrough | 1–2 days | Complete punch list, pass final inspection, and conduct walkthrough with homeowner. Ensure all caulk, grout, and finish details are clean. |
Star range: $18,000 – $75,000
Most Star projects: $38,000
Star bathroom remodels are priced around the comprehensive customization scope rather than a patch-and-repair model. Primary bathroom full transformations — new tile throughout, frameless glass enclosure, floating vanity, and heated floors — typically run $35,000–$60,000. Hall bathroom overhauls including tile, vanity replacement, and new tub-to-shower conversion range from $18,000–$32,000. The cost premium over comparable work in older communities reflects the expectation of quality finishes — Star homeowners are not replacing failing components with equivalent ones; they are upgrading to a significantly higher standard.
The final cost of your bathroom remodel in Star depends on several factors. Here are the biggest cost drivers:
Moving plumbing drain locations, relocating fixtures, or expanding the footprint of the bathroom significantly increases cost due to plumbing rough-in, framing, and potential subfloor work.
Tile is often the single largest material cost in a bathroom remodel. Floor-to-ceiling tile in a large shower, intricate mosaic patterns, or premium natural stone can add thousands to the budget compared to standard subway tile.
A stock vanity with a cultured marble top might cost $400-800. A custom or semi-custom vanity with a quartz top, undermount sinks, and soft-close hardware can run $2,000-5,000+.
Builder-grade faucets and showerheads start around $150-300. Mid-range fixtures from brands like Delta, Moen, or Kohler run $400-1,000. Premium or custom fixtures can exceed $2,000.
Older homes may need updated water supply lines, new drain plumbing, GFCI outlet installation, recessed lighting, or exhaust fan upgrades. These hidden costs are common in pre-2000 homes.
Zero-threshold shower entries, blocking for grab bars, bench seating, wider doorways, and comfort-height toilets add cost but are increasingly popular for aging-in-place planning.
Projects involving plumbing or electrical changes typically require permits. Permit costs in Ada County range from $75-300 depending on scope, plus inspection scheduling time.
These are the real-world projects we see most often from Star homeowners:
The signature Star bathroom project: a primary suite with a builder-installed soaking tub and adjacent shower gets fully reconfigured. The tub is removed (Star's honest truth: most homeowners use their soaking tub fewer than ten times per year in practice) and the combined space is converted to a single large walk-in shower with dual rainfall heads, a linear drain, a built-in bench, and a three-niche system. Large-format porcelain tile — 24x48 in a marble-look pattern — covers the floor and runs full height on all shower walls. A frameless glass enclosure with a single door maximizes the open feel. The vanity wall gets a floating dual-vanity with integrated LED mirrors and a quartz top with under-mount sinks. Heated tile floors are added throughout. The result is the bathroom that the builder's model home implied but did not deliver.
The secondary bathroom in a Star home often gets less attention in initial planning but matters enormously for day-to-day function in a household with children or guests. This project replaces the builder shower-over-tub combination with a fully tiled tub surround or converts it to a dedicated shower depending on household needs, replaces the cultured marble vanity top with quartz, installs a new framed or frameless mirror, upgrades the toilet to a comfort-height elongated model, adds a heated floor, and replaces all hardware and lighting. The result is a bathroom that can host guests without apology.
One of the most requested single-scope projects in Star: converting a builder tub-shower combination into a dedicated walk-in shower with large-format porcelain tile, a frameless glass enclosure, and upgraded plumbing fixtures. The additional floor space gained by removing the tub deck and surround allows for a walk-in entry with a partial glass panel or a full frameless enclosure, a built-in bench, and a niche. This project dramatically changes the daily experience of the bathroom and, in primary suites, is the single highest-satisfaction upgrade per dollar spent.
For Star homeowners who want to transform the look of a bathroom without a full gut renovation, replacing the builder vanity with a floating model — a wall-mounted cabinet with integrated lighting underneath, a quartz top, and under-mount sinks — plus adding large-format tile on the floor and an accent wall creates a hotel-caliber transformation at a fraction of full renovation cost. This scope works particularly well in hall bathrooms and secondary master baths where the shower enclosure itself is acceptable but the vanity area reads as generic.
A genuinely Star-specific project: adding a private outdoor access point from the primary bathroom to a dedicated patio space, potentially with an outdoor shower and privacy screening. Star's larger lots and the layout of post-2015 primary suites often make this feasible — the primary bathroom may back up to the yard with nothing but a standard window between the soaking tub area and the outdoors. Adding a Dutch door, upgrading the window to allow backyard light, installing an outdoor shower station adjacent to a hot tub or pool, and creating a private teak deck immediately adjacent to the bathroom creates a resort-quality experience that is specific to Star's lot sizes and lifestyle.

Solution: We redesign the layout to maximize usable floor space, improve traffic flow, and create logical zones for the shower, vanity, and toilet areas.
Solution: We demolish to studs, inspect and repair any water-damaged framing or subfloor, install proper waterproofing, and rebuild with modern materials.
Solution: We install a properly sized exhaust fan ducted to the exterior, with a timer or humidity-sensing switch, to control moisture and prevent mold growth.
Solution: Strategic lighting placement, lighter tile and paint colors, glass shower enclosures instead of curtains, and large-format tile with minimal grout lines all help a small bathroom feel larger.
Solution: We design barrier-free shower entries, install grab bars with proper blocking, add bench seating, use anti-slip flooring, and ensure doorways accommodate mobility aids.

Star shares the Treasure Valley climate. Open terrain and rural-edge location mean more wind and UV exposure.
Higher wind loads and more UV exposure than sheltered locations. Durable exterior materials are important.
Homes 3-7 years old may show minor settling cracks in drywall — cosmetic and common in new construction on Treasure Valley soils.
The original town center with a mix of older homes and newer infill. Some properties date back several decades and offer full renovation potential.
Common projects in Downtown Star:
Post-2015 master-planned communities with modern homes. Builder-grade finishes are the primary upgrade target.
Common projects in The Lakes at Pristine Springs / Newer Subdivisions:
Every Star neighborhood has different housing stock, homeowner priorities, and project considerations. Here is what bathroom remodel looks like in each area:
Permit authority: City of Star Building Department
Here are the design trends we see most often in Star bathroom remodel projects:
Star's rapid growth and desirable small-town character make updated homes highly sought after. Finish upgrades in Star homes provide strong returns in a competitive resale market. The community continues to attract buyers willing to pay a premium for updated, personalized homes.

Avoid these common pitfalls Star homeowners encounter with bathroom remodel projects:
Better approach: Builder showers in Star homes almost universally have tile installed to 72 inches — approximately where the showerhead is — with painted drywall above. This creates a visual line that makes the shower feel shorter and cheaper than it needs to. Full-height tile to the ceiling costs approximately 25–30% more tile and installation time but produces a dramatically more finished and more durable result. In post-2015 homes where the ceiling height is often 9 or 10 feet, running tile to the ceiling creates the spa aesthetic that Star homeowners are pursuing. Full-height tile is now our standard specification for all Star shower remodels.
Better approach: Matte black and brushed gold are both strong finish choices in 2024–2025, but some of the more exaggerated fixture designs — dramatically geometric spout profiles, oversized dramatic showerheads that are more visual statement than functional tool — have a shorter design half-life than the materials around them. Choose fixtures that are design-forward but not design-dependent: a well-proportioned brushed gold faucet will look appropriate for fifteen years; an ultra-avant-garde fixture might feel dated in seven. Consult with our design team about which specific models have durability of style versus peak-trend appeal.
Better approach: Star homes built between 2017 and 2022 used a range of waterproofing systems, and some of the production builders during the rapid-growth phase used systems that are technically code-compliant but not robust enough for decades of performance. When we open the shower walls for a remodel, we always assess the existing waterproofing and recommend upgrading to a current best-practice system — Schluter Kerdi, RedGard, or equivalent — rather than tiling over whatever the builder used. The incremental cost is modest; the risk of moisture intrusion from inadequate waterproofing is significant.
Better approach: Many Star homeowners approach their first bathroom remodel conversation with a partial-scope proposal — just the shower tile, or just the vanity, or just the flooring. After seeing the completed work, the builder elements that were left in place read significantly worse than they did before the upgraded elements were installed. In almost every case, partial bathroom remodels result in a second project within 12–18 months to address the remaining elements. It is generally more economical and more satisfying to scope the project comprehensively from the beginning, even if that means extending the planning timeline to save additional budget.
Better approach: Star homeowners frequently invest heavily in the primary bathroom and defer the hall bathroom, then discover that the contrast between a beautifully finished primary suite and a builder-original hall bath creates a jarring inconsistency that is particularly visible during showings. Coordinating both bathrooms — even if the hall bathroom receives a more modest scope — produces a more cohesive home presentation and is often more cost-effective to coordinate in a single project mobilization than two separate visits months apart.
This is the most common question we receive from Star homeowners, and the honest answer is: remove it in the vast majority of cases. The soaking tub was a selling feature in your subdivision's model home, and it looked beautiful in the staged photos. In practice, most families with children use the soaking tub fewer than ten times per year, and it occupies floor space that — converted to a walk-in shower — would be used daily. The exception: if you genuinely love long soaking baths and use a bathtub regularly, keeping or upgrading the tub is entirely reasonable. But if your soaking tub has been a shelf for bath toys and shampoo bottles for the past three years, the conversion to a large walk-in shower will transform your morning routine in a way you will notice every single day.
Large format is the consistent answer for primary bathrooms in Star's post-2015 homes: 24x48 or 24x24 porcelain on shower walls and bathroom floors creates the fewest grout lines, the most visual continuity, and the most current aesthetic. The large-format trend is well-established enough that it will remain current through at least the next decade of Star resale market cycles, which matters if you are thinking about eventual resale value. For floor surfaces specifically, we often recommend a slightly smaller format — 12x24 or similar — to provide adequate texture for slip resistance while maintaining the clean look. Heated floor systems under any tile format are a standard recommendation for Star primary bathrooms.
A full primary bathroom transformation — tile throughout, frameless glass, floating vanity, heated floors — typically takes 5–7 weeks from demolition to final walkthrough in a Star home. The timeline includes one week for demolition and rough-in inspection, two to three weeks for tile installation (this is the longest phase because mortar setting times cannot be rushed), one week for glass installation and vanity work, and several days for fixture installation, punch list, and cleanup. We provide a detailed schedule before work begins and communicate any timeline adjustments immediately. Star homeowners who need to sequence around specific dates — school calendar, family visits, work travel — should plan their start date accordingly.
Absolutely, and the satisfaction rate among Star homeowners who have added heated floors is essentially unanimous. Idaho winters are real — Boise's average January low is around 25°F, and Star's open terrain means wind chill compounds the cold. The difference between stepping onto a cold tile floor at 6 AM and stepping onto a warm one is a genuinely material improvement in daily quality of life. The system cost — typically $1,500–$3,500 added to a bathroom project depending on size — adds less than $10–$15 per month to the electric bill when used seasonally. The ROI in daily comfort far exceeds the capital cost, and heated floors consistently register as among the highest-satisfaction items in our post-project surveys.
Yes, and this is a project type that is uniquely viable in Star because of the lot sizes and layout of post-2015 homes. If your primary bathroom backs up to your backyard — which is true for a significant percentage of Star subdivision homes, particularly in The Lakes and the newer Countryside developments — we can evaluate the feasibility of adding a private outdoor access point. This might mean a Dutch door from the bathroom to a private tiled patio, an outdoor shower station with hot and cold water plumbing, or simply a window upgrade that lets you enjoy the backyard view from a freestanding soaking tub. We assess the feasibility during your initial project consultation at no charge.
A typical full bathroom remodel takes 4 to 8 weeks from demolition to completion, depending on scope, material lead times, and inspection scheduling. A straightforward fixture and finish update with no layout changes may take 2 to 3 weeks. Projects involving plumbing relocation, custom tile work, or structural changes take longer.
Yes, most bathroom remodels that involve plumbing changes, electrical work, or structural modifications require permits in Ada County and Canyon County. A simple cosmetic update — paint, fixtures, and accessories — typically does not. We handle the permit application process and coordinate all required inspections.
Tile and labor are typically the largest line items, followed by the vanity/countertop combination and plumbing rough-in. If the project involves moving drain locations or expanding the footprint, plumbing and framing costs increase significantly.
Yes. Keeping plumbing fixtures in their current locations avoids the cost of rerouting drain and supply lines. Many homeowners save 15-25% by refreshing finishes, tile, and fixtures without changing the floor plan.
It depends on your household needs and resale considerations. Walk-in showers are more popular for primary bathrooms and aging-in-place planning. Having at least one bathtub in the home is generally recommended for families with young children and for resale value.
We use industry-standard waterproofing systems — either sheet membrane (like Schluter Kerdi), liquid-applied membrane, or foam panel systems — on all shower floors, walls, curbs, and niches. Proper waterproofing prevents leaks, mold, and structural damage behind tile.
Porcelain tile is the most popular and practical choice for bathroom floors. It is water-resistant, durable, available in many styles, and can mimic the look of wood or stone. We recommend a slight texture or matte finish for slip resistance in wet areas.
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