F2 Home Improvement handles bathroom remodeling in Wilmington, DE, with a focus on the part of the job most people never see: what sits behind the tile. We started as F Tile in 2019, and our crew has more than ten years in the trade. Most of our work is tile showers and bathroom floors, so that is where we put the most care.
A typical Wilmington bathroom we see is small, sits on the second floor of a brick rowhome or twin, and has been redone once or twice already, often with tile set over old tile or a fiberglass surround screwed over plaster. We take those layers out, check the framing and subfloor, and rebuild with a sheet membrane or bonded waterproofing system before any tile goes up.
Bathrooms in Wilmington's older housing
Neighborhoods like Trolley Square, the Highlands, Cool Spring and Little Italy are mostly brick rowhomes and twins with plaster walls, narrow stairways and bathrooms tucked over the kitchen or at the back of the second floor. Those layouts limit what can move. Relocating a toilet usually means cutting joists or rerouting a cast-iron stack, so we look at the existing drain and vent path before anyone falls in love with a new floor plan.
Delaware summers are humid, and many older Wilmington bathrooms either have no exhaust fan or one that vents into the attic instead of outside. Peeling paint over the tub and dark grout lines near the ceiling are the usual signs. When we open a wall, we plan a properly ducted fan as part of the job, because a new tile shower in a bathroom that can't dry out will show problems within a few seasons.
Farther out, in Brandywine Hundred developments and around Pike Creek, the bathrooms are larger and newer, but builder-grade fiberglass tub units and vinyl floors are common. Those projects tend to be tub-to-shower conversions or primary bath upgrades rather than structural fixes.
What we handle
Tear-out to the studs
Removal of old tile, mortar beds, fiberglass surrounds and damaged drywall or plaster, with debris hauled away.
Shower waterproofing
Sheet membranes (Schluter Kerdi-style) or bonded systems over the walls, pan and niches, with seams and corners lapped and sealed.
Tub-to-shower conversions
Replacing a dated tub with a walk-in tile shower, including curbless designs with a linear drain where the floor framing allows it.
Niches and benches
Recessed shampoo niches framed between studs and built-in benches, waterproofed as part of the shower assembly.
Tile floors and walls
Porcelain, ceramic and natural stone in herringbone, mosaic, large-format and subway layouts, set on a flat, stiff substrate.
Vanities and fixtures
Setting new vanities, tops, toilets and trim as part of the finished room, coordinated with licensed trades where the work requires it.
How the project runs
Walkthrough & estimate
We look at the room, the floor below and the ceiling above, ask how you use the bathroom, and give you a written estimate. Estimates are free.
Plan and permits
We confirm layout, tile and fixtures, and check permit requirements for your address with the City of Wilmington or New Castle County before work starts.
Demolition and repair
We gut the room, protect the rest of the house, and fix what we find: soft subfloor, notched joists, rotted plates or out-of-plumb walls.
Waterproofing and tile
Membrane goes on, gets flood-tested where appropriate, and then tile is set, grouted and sealed on the layout you approved.
Fixtures and walkthrough
Glass, vanity, toilet and trim go in, and we walk the finished bathroom with you before we call it done.
Things to know before a Wilmington bathroom remodel
F2 is a registered home improvement contractor in Pennsylvania. For work in Delaware, permit and licensing requirements are confirmed for each project with the local jurisdiction, which for most Wilmington addresses means the city, and for unincorporated suburbs means New Castle County. Plumbing and electrical changes are typically the parts that trigger inspections.
If your home was built before 1978, which covers most of the city's rowhome stock, assume painted surfaces may contain lead until tested. That affects how demolition is contained and cleaned up, and we talk it through before the first wall comes down. For a sense of what moves the price on a bathroom here, see our guide to bathroom remodel cost factors in Wilmington.
Areas we cover around Wilmington
- Trolley Square
- The Highlands
- Wawaset Park
- Cool Spring
- Little Italy
- Union Park Gardens
- Brandywine Hundred
- Elsmere
- Newport
- Pike Creek
Bathroom Remodeling in Wilmington: FAQ
Can you put a walk-in shower in a second-floor rowhome bathroom?
Usually, yes. The limits are the joist direction and depth under the shower and where the drain can tie into the existing stack. A standard curbed shower works in almost any rowhome bath. A curbless shower may need the floor recessed or built up, which we check during the walkthrough.
Do I need a permit for a bathroom remodel in Wilmington?
It depends on the scope. Swapping tile and a vanity is different from moving plumbing or adding a circuit. We confirm requirements for your specific address with the City of Wilmington or New Castle County before starting, and we build the schedule around any inspections.
Our bathroom has no window and the ceiling keeps peeling. Can you fix that?
That is almost always a ventilation problem. When the walls or ceiling are open, we plan an exhaust fan ducted to the outside, sized for the room, so moisture from showers leaves the house instead of sitting on the paint.
How long will we be without the bathroom?
A full gut remodel of a typical small bathroom usually takes a few weeks from demolition to final trim, depending on repairs found behind the walls and lead times for glass and fixtures. We give you a working schedule after the walkthrough. If it is your only bathroom, tell us early so we can sequence the toilet reset.
Can you tile over our existing bathroom tile?
We don't recommend it in showers. Tiling over old tile hides whatever is failing underneath and adds weight to older floors. We remove the old layers and waterproof properly so the new shower has a sound base.
Related reading
What Drives Bathroom Remodel Costs in Wilmington, DE
Two bathrooms the same size can be priced very differently. Here is what drives the number in Wilmington homes, from hidden rot to herringbone layouts.
Interior Demolition Before a Remodel in Wilmington
Demolition sets up every step that follows. Here's what to decide, test and protect before the first wall comes down in an older Wilmington home.
Shower Waterproofing Explained: Membranes, Pans and Grout
Tile and grout shed water, but they don't stop it. Here's what actually keeps a tiled shower from leaking, and what to ask before yours is built.