University Park, Texas

University Park Bathroom Remodeling

Many University Park primary suites are large, stone-finished and upstairs. Refreshing them well means getting the waterproofing, ventilation and stone choices right as well as the look.

Open daily 7 AM to 10 PM. Talk to us about your bathroom.

What University Park homeowners are usually updating

University Park, the other Park Cities town and home to the SMU campus, mixes homes from the 1920s through the 1950s with a large number of newer, bigger houses. The bathrooms we're asked about most are in that second group: primary suites from the 1990s onward that were well finished when new but are now showing their age.

It's common to find a large walk-in shower with a glass enclosure, a jetted or freestanding tub, marble or travertine on the floor and walls, and two vanities facing each other. The complaints are consistent too.

  • Stone that has etched, stained or lost its polish
  • Glass clouded by hard-water film
  • A jetted tub that nobody uses
  • Lighting that's either too dim or all overhead
  • A wish for a steam shower or heated floor

Most of these rooms don't need a new floor plan. The walls, plumbing locations and windows usually work. What needs replacing is the surface layer, the glass and the fixtures, plus anything hidden that has started to fail.

Line drawing of a freestanding tub in front of a window with a floor-mounted filler
Illustration: a freestanding tub, a common replacement for a jetted drop-in.

Upstairs bathrooms

When the bathroom sits over living space

In many larger University Park homes, the primary bath is on the second floor above a living room, kitchen or study. A leak there doesn't stay in the bathroom. It reaches a finished ceiling and whatever sits below it.

Continuous membrane

The shower walls, bench, niches and floor get one connected waterproofing system, with every seam and penetration sealed.

Proven before tile

The pan is flood-tested and checked before any tile or stone is set on it.

Stiff framing

Wood floor framing under heavy stone and a filled tub is checked and reinforced so it won't flex and crack the finish.

Shutoffs you can reach

Accessible valves and optional leak sensors mean a failed supply line gets caught early.

Steam showers

A steam shower is a frequent request in primary suite refreshes here. It's a different build from a regular shower: the enclosure has to reach the ceiling, the ceiling should be sloped, the walls need a vapor-rated membrane, and the generator needs a service-accessible spot close by.

Existing showers can sometimes be converted, but older glass that stops short of the ceiling and walls without vapor protection usually mean rebuilding the enclosure. Plan for drying out, too: a timer-controlled exhaust fan outside the enclosure clears the moisture that escapes each time the door opens. Our shower remodeling page covers how an existing shower is torn out and rebuilt.

Living with natural stone

Marble, limestone and travertine suit these homes, but they need more care than porcelain. Moderately hard water leaves spots, acidic cleaners etch the surface, and polished stone on a wet floor is slick.

Honed finishes, a penetrating sealer renewed on a schedule, and pH-neutral cleaners go a long way. When clients want the look with less upkeep, a stone-look porcelain on the shower floor with real stone on the vanity top is a practical mix. See our tile installation page for the options.

Planning a bathroom project? Call and tell us what you have in mind. We'll talk through scope and arrange a visit. Open daily 7 AM to 10 PM.

How a University Park project comes together

  1. Assessment

    We look at the stone, the shower pan, the framing below and the ventilation, and check the ceiling underneath for old stains.

  2. Permits with the city

    University Park has its own building department, separate from Dallas. Confirm the requirements for your scope with the city; we schedule inspections once they're known.

  3. Selections and lead times

    Stone slabs, custom glass and steam equipment can take a while to arrive, so they're ordered early.

  4. Alley access and staging

    Where the house has alley access, deliveries and debris use it. Street parking gets tighter on busy days around the SMU campus, so we time deliveries with that in mind.

  5. Build, test and finish

    Waterproofing and flood test, then stone and tile, glass measured from finished surfaces, and a final walkthrough.

If the whole suite is being reworked, our primary bathroom remodeling page explains how layout, lighting and storage are planned together.

Also serving the rest of the Park Cities

Next door, Highland Park has more of the older period homes where preserving character is the main question. For everywhere else we work, see our service areas list.

Questions homeowners ask

Can a steam shower be added to an existing primary bathroom?

Often, if the shower can be fully enclosed to the ceiling and there's a nearby spot for the steam generator, such as a vanity cabinet, closet or attic space within the manufacturer's distance limit. The walls and ceiling need a vapor-tight membrane, and the ceiling should slope so condensation runs down the walls instead of dripping.

How do you protect the ceiling below a second-floor bathroom?

A continuous waterproofing membrane on the shower walls and floor, a flood test held long enough to prove it, extra care at every drain and valve penetration, and accessible shutoffs. Many owners also add leak sensors near the toilet, tub and vanity for early warning.

Is marble a good choice for a shower floor?

It can be, with the right expectations. Polished marble gets slippery and etches from acidic cleaners and some soaps. A honed finish, smaller tiles for more grout lines, a penetrating sealer and pH-neutral cleaners make it far more practical.

Talk to a remodeler

Call about your University Park bathroom remodel

One call is enough to tell us what you'd like to change. We'll ask a few questions, then arrange a visit to measure and give you a written scope and estimate.

(469) 249-8764

Open daily, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM

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  • A measured, written scope before any price
  • Waterproofing flood-tested before tile goes on
  • Residential bathrooms in Dallas and nearby cities
Royal Bathroom Remodeling Dallas 2323 Bryan St, Dallas, TX 75201 Open in Google Maps
Call (469) 249-8764Open daily 7 AM to 10 PM