Primary (Master) Bathroom Remodels in Rockford, IL
Updated
Short answer
Where primary baths are in this county
Older Rockford houses rarely have one. A true primary bath with room for a separate shower and tub shows up mostly in houses from the 1980s on, in newer places like Roscoe, where the median home was built in 2001. In older houses a primary bath usually means taking space from a closet or a small bedroom, which is closer to adding a bathroom.
Many primary baths from the 1990s and 2000s have a big corner whirlpool tub that nobody uses and a small shower stall. The most common request is to reverse that: a large walk-in shower and a smaller freestanding tub, or no tub at all.
What it costs
Typical price, national and Chicago
- Primary bath, 100+ sq ft: $22,370 to $24,715. This Old House, bathroom remodel cost, updated July 2, 2026.
- Upscale bath, Chicago: $76,524. Cost vs. Value 2025, Chicago (JLC / Remodeling), 2025 report.
The Cost vs. Value upscale bath, $76,524 for Chicago, recouped 34.2% at resale, the lowest of the bath projects in that report. Spend on a primary bath because you will use it, not to get the money back. Every range is on the cost page.
What drives the price up
- Moving the toilet, tub or shower drain. Angi puts moving a fixture 3 feet or more at $500 to $1,000.
- A freestanding tub with a floor-mounted filler.
- A large tile shower with frameless glass, a bench and a second head.
- A double vanity, which means a second sink drain and supply.
- Heated floors, which need their own circuit.
- Any wall that moves, which can bring framing, electrical and HVAC changes.
The shower rules still apply
Anti-scald valve
“All shower compartments and shower-bath combinations shall be provided with an automatic safety water mixing device to prevent sudden unanticipated changes in water temperature or excessive water temperatures. ... The automatic safety water mixing device shall be adjusted to a maximum setting of 115 degrees Fahrenheit at the time of installation.”
A big shower with a rain head and a handheld often has more than one valve or a thermostatic valve that runs both. Every outlet still has to be protected. The walk-in shower page covers glass, drains and benches.
Contracts on a bigger job
On a job this size, read the contract closely. Illinois requires it in writing over $1,000, with the materials listed, and the contractor has to carry insurance.
Written contract over $1,000
“Prior to initiating home repair or remodeling work for over $1,000, a person engaged in the business of home repair or remodeling shall furnish to the customer for signature a written contract or work order that states the total cost, including parts and materials listed with reasonable particularity and any charge for an estimate.”
Required insurance
“Any person engaged in the business of home repair and remodeling shall obtain and maintain in full force and effect during the operation of the business public liability and property damage insurance in the amount of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence of bodily injury and $50,000 per occurrence for property damage”
Property tax on the added value
“The amount of the exemption shall be limited to the fair cash value added by the new improvement or rebuilding and shall continue for 4 years from the date the improvement or rebuilding is completed and occupied, or until the next following general assessment of that property, whichever is later.”
We reply with a written price that lists the layout, the fixtures and the finishes.
Sources: This Old House, bathroom remodel cost; Cost vs. Value 2025, Chicago (JLC / Remodeling); Angi, cost to run new bathroom plumbing; Angi, bathroom remodel cost; Illinois State Plumbing Code, 77 Ill. Adm. Code 890.690 (showers); Home Repair and Remodeling Act, 815 ILCS 513/15; Home Repair and Remodeling Act, 815 ILCS 513 (full text); Homestead Improvement Exemption, 35 ILCS 200/15-180; U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year, via Census Reporter
Where this is done
Primary (Master) Bathroom Remodels across Winnebago County. Each town page has its own local rules and numbers; the rest are on the service area page.
Common questions
Primary (Master) Bathroom Remodels: questions
How much does a master bathroom remodel cost?
This Old House puts a primary or large bath of 100 square feet or more at $22,370 to $24,715, a national figure. The 2025 Cost vs. Value report puts an upscale Chicago bath at $76,524. See the cost page.
Does a master bathroom remodel add value?
Less than people hope. The 2025 Cost vs. Value report has an upscale Chicago bath recouping 34.2% and a midrange one 66.4%. The resale value guide has the numbers.
Should I remove the tub from my master bathroom?
If there is another tub in the house and nobody uses the big corner tub, many owners replace it with a larger shower. If this is the only tub, keep one somewhere for resale.
How long does a master bathroom remodel take?
Longer than a hall bath. More tile, more plumbing and more fixtures mean more days, and moved drains add inspections. Plan on several weeks once work starts, and longer if fixtures are special order.
What is the most expensive part of a bathroom remodel?
Labor. Angi puts labor at 40% to 65% of a bathroom remodel. Moving plumbing and custom tile add the most labor.
Will my property taxes go up after a bathroom remodel?
They can, because the remodel may raise the assessed value. Illinois's Homestead Improvement Exemption shields up to $75,000 of the added value on an owner-occupied home for four years. Ask your township assessor.
Related guides
Other services
Primary (Master) Bathroom Remodels in Winnebago County
Tell us which bathroom, roughly how big it is and what you want changed. We reply with a price first, and nothing starts until you agree to it.