What does a linear drain retrofit cost in an Ottawa shower $?

A linear drain retrofit in an Ottawa shower typically runs $800–$2,500+ depending on the complexity of the tile work, existing plumbing location, and drain placement.

This is one of those upgrades that looks simple on the surface but involves a fair bit of skilled labour underneath. The drain itself is a relatively small part of the cost — it's the surrounding work that drives the price.

Breaking down the cost ranges:

• Budget end ($800–$1,200): Existing shower is being retiled anyway, plumbing stack is accessible and close to the new drain location, simple tile layout, standard-length linear drain (32"–36")
• Mid-range ($1,300–$1,800): Standalone retrofit into an existing finished shower, moderate tile complexity, some plumbing rerouting required
• Higher end ($1,800–$2,500+): Significant plumbing relocation, large-format tile requiring precision slope work, custom drain length, or difficult access to subfloor

The biggest cost driver is slope engineering. A linear drain requires the entire shower floor to slope in one direction (toward the drain wall), rather than the traditional four-way slope to a centre drain. If your shower is already tiled, all of that floor tile comes out, the mortar bed gets rebuilt with the correct pitch, and then everything gets retiled. That's a meaningful amount of skilled labour even in a modest-sized shower.

Plumbing is the other wildcard. If your existing centre drain can be rerouted to the wall location without opening up the ceiling below, costs stay reasonable. If the plumbing stack location makes a wall-side drain difficult, you may be looking at additional plumbing hours or a compromise on drain placement. In Ottawa's older housing stock — lots of 1960s–1980s bungalows and two-storeys — plumbing access can be tricky depending on whether there's a finished basement below.

From a permit standpoint, a shower drain retrofit in Ottawa typically falls under plumbing work that requires a plumbing permit through the City of Ottawa Building Code Services (613-580-2424). If the work is part of a larger bathroom renovation, it's usually covered under one building permit. Ontario Building Code requires proper slope minimums and waterproofing standards — a licensed plumber needs to be involved in the drain relocation.

This is firmly in the "hire a professional" category. The waterproofing membrane around a linear drain is critical — improper installation leads to leaks into the subfloor or ceiling below, which becomes a far more expensive problem. The slope work also needs to be precise; too little pitch and water pools, too much and it's uncomfortable underfoot.

If you're already planning a full bathroom renovation, this is the ideal time to add a linear drain — the incremental cost is much lower when tile and plumbing are already being touched. As a standalone retrofit, it's a bigger investment but still a popular upgrade for accessibility (curbless showers) and aesthetics.

For a free estimate on your specific shower situation, feel free to reach out to Justyn Rook Contracting — we're happy to take a look and give you an accurate number based on your actual plumbing layout and tile scope.