A bathroom renovation in a Romanian apartment typically falls into one of three categories: a cosmetic refresh (tiles, fittings, paint), a full gut-and-redo of a wet room, or a structural reconfiguration that moves drain points or walls. The cost and complexity differ by a factor of three to five between these categories. This article focuses on practical decisions within each, with reference to prices observed in Bucharest and other major urban markets in 2025–2026.

What a Cosmetic Refresh Covers

A cosmetic renovation replaces visible surfaces and fittings without touching the waterproofing membrane or the drain stack. In a standard 4–6 m² Romanian apartment bathroom, this means: retiling walls and/or floor, replacing the toilet, washbasin, and mixer taps, and fitting new lighting and towel rails.

Material costs for this scope, at mid-range quality:

  • Wall tiles (ceramic, 20×60 cm): 35–55 RON/m² × ~15 m² = 525–825 RON
  • Floor tiles (porcelain, 30×60 cm): 55–80 RON/m² × ~5 m² = 275–400 RON
  • Adhesive and grout: ~200–350 RON
  • Toilet (close-coupled, standard): 400–900 RON
  • Washbasin + pedestal or countertop unit: 350–900 RON
  • Mixer taps (basin + shower): 300–700 RON

Total material cost: approximately 2,100–4,200 RON, excluding labour.

Labour for a cosmetic bathroom refurbishment in Bucharest runs between 2,500–4,000 RON for a competent tiler and plumber working together over 5–7 working days.

Full Bathroom Renovation: What Changes

A full renovation strips the room to the structural slab and brick, replaces all waterproofing, relocates or replaces the drain, and may involve new electrical circuitry for underfloor heating and extractor fans.

Waterproofing is the element most commonly skipped or under-specified in Romanian bathroom renovations, and the most common source of water ingress problems reported 2–5 years after completion. A proper wet room membrane system using either cementitious waterproofing (hidroizolatie pe baza de ciment) or polymer-modified liquid membranes applied in two coats costs 30–60 RON/m² in materials, plus the labour of application before tiling begins.

For a full renovation of a 5 m² bathroom including new drainage configuration, full waterproofing, floor and wall tiling, new sanitary ware, and updated electrical fittings, the all-in cost in Bucharest as of 2026 ranges between 12,000–22,000 RON, depending heavily on tile grade and sanitary ware selection.

Where Romanian budgets most often go wrong

Advance payments to contractors without a signed contract specifying scope, materials, and payment milestones. In the Romanian construction market, an advance above 30% of total project value without a written agreement and bank transfer (not cash) is a documented risk factor for project abandonment.

Sanitary Ware: Categories Available in Romania

Romanian hardware chains carry three broad quality tiers of sanitary ware:

Entry-level (150–500 RON per item): Chinese and Eastern European imports, available at Dedeman and similar chains. Adequate for rental properties or rooms with light use. Warranty periods are short (1–2 years) and replacement parts are not always available.

Mid-range (500–1,500 RON per item): Covers local Romanian brands (Vidima, Siceram) and lower-end European imports. These are the most commonly installed in renovated Bucharest apartments and represent the best cost-performance balance for owner-occupied properties.

Premium (1,500 RON and above per item): German (Geberit, Grohe, Hansgrohe), Italian (Ideal Standard), and Spanish (Roca) brands. Available at specialist showrooms such as Mobexpert Baia or Aqua Ambient. The difference in materials is real — ceramic quality, mechanism longevity, and parts availability over 10+ years are substantially better.

Shower Enclosures vs. Walk-In Wet Rooms

Standard Romanian apartment bathrooms of 1990s and 2000s construction are often configured around a bathtub that occupies most of the floor plan. A common renovation decision is whether to replace the tub with a shower tray and enclosure, or to tile the entire floor as a wet room with a linear drain.

Shower trays (cazi de dus) with a low profile (3–5 cm) simplify waterproofing because the tray itself acts as the primary containment. Prices for acrylic or stone-resin trays range from 300–1,200 RON. Glass enclosures (cabine de dus) add 800–3,000 RON depending on profile type and glass thickness (8 mm tempered glass is the practical minimum for a hinged door).

A full wet room with a linear drain offers more flexibility but requires more careful slope planning (typically 1.5–2% toward the drain across the entire floor), and a higher waterproofing specification. It is increasingly common in renovations where the bathroom is being used as a primary design feature rather than a utility room.

Tiles in Bathrooms: Practical Decisions

The combination of large-format floor tiles (60×60 cm or 60×120 cm) and wall tiles in vertical stacks (20×60 cm or 30×90 cm) is the current dominant aesthetic in Romanian bathroom renovations. From a practical standpoint:

  • Rectified tiles (with straight-cut edges) allow tighter joint widths (1.5–2 mm), which look cleaner and are harder to keep clean over time due to narrower grout channels that accumulate less debris.
  • Polished porcelain on floors shows water marks and footprints clearly — matte or lapped finishes are more practical in bathrooms.
  • Dark grout hides discoloration better than white, but requires consistent joint widths — irregular joints are more visible with dark grout.

A reference for construction norms applicable to wet rooms in Romania is the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) for heated floor systems, and individual product manufacturer technical sheets for waterproofing specifications.

Cost figures in this article reflect market observations from Bucharest and surrounding areas in 2025–2026. Regional variation and fluctuations in material prices should be expected. Always obtain multiple quotes before committing to a contractor.