London sits in a sweet spot of Southwestern Ontario housing: streets of century homes near the core, wide neighbourhoods of postwar bungalows and sidesplits, and a growing share of condos and townhomes. That mix is exactly why a bathroom renovation in London Ontario rewards a fixture-first plan. Tile and paint are forgiving. The toilet rough-in, the tub weight and the valve buried behind the shower wall are not, and the right calls depend heavily on the age and type of home you own. This playbook works through the fixture decisions in the order they usually matter, with honest notes on the trade-offs. The same logic holds whether you are renovating in London, in Quebec, on the Prairies or in Halifax, since large fixtures ship the same way Canada-wide.
Start with what your home gives you
Before you fall for a vanity or a tub, read the building. Each era of housing brings its own plumbing personality, and London has all of them.
- Century and pre-war homes. Expect smaller bathrooms, cast iron stacks, and rough-ins that do not always sit where modern fixtures assume. Floors sometimes need reinforcement before a heavy cast iron or stone tub goes in. On the bright side, ceilings are often tall enough for dramatic lighting and generous mirrors.
- Postwar bungalows and sidesplits. These usually offer a standard five foot tub alcove and predictable framing, which makes tub-to-shower conversions and alcove upgrades straightforward. Basement bathroom additions are common in this stock, and rough-in locations will shape what you can buy long before style enters the picture.
- Condos and townhomes. Drain locations are effectively fixed, board approval is often required for anything beyond a like-for-like swap, and noise matters. Skirted toilets, wall-hung vanities and thermostatic shower valves are popular here for good reasons: easier cleaning, more visual space, and steadier temperature in buildings with shared risers.
Measure before you shop: the numbers that prevent re-orders
Most fixture returns trace back to a measurement nobody took. Five minutes with a tape saves weeks of waiting on a replacement, especially when the replacement travels by freight.
| Fixture | Measure first | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Toilet | Rough-in, wall to bolt centre | Modern toilets assume 12 inches; many older homes measure closer to 10 or 14. The wrong number means an awkward gap or a bowl that will not fit. |
| Vanity | Wall span, door swing, trap position | An oversized cabinet blocks doors, and the drain and supply lines must land inside the cabinet. |
| Freestanding tub | Clearance on all sides, floor structure | These tubs need breathing room to look right and a floor that carries the filled weight. |
| Shower | Valve type and location, base footprint | The valve is buried in the wall, so the system must be chosen before the walls close. |
Once you have your numbers, the catalogue opens up. Compare skirted and comfort-height designs in our toilets collection from brands like TOTO, Duravit and Icera, check widths in the vanities collection against your wall span, and if a soaker is the dream, confirm clearances before browsing freestanding bathtubs and the tub fillers that pair with them. For showers, settle on the shower system early, because the valve goes in before the tile does.
Cold-climate details worth planning for
Southwestern Ontario winters are real, and the same habits serve renovators from the Prairies to Atlantic Canada. First, avoid routing new supply lines through exterior walls wherever you can; a renovation is the cheapest moment to move them inboard. Second, let fixtures acclimatize. An acrylic tub or a vitreous china toilet delivered on a bitterly cold day should come up to room temperature before anyone works with it, since materials, gaskets and silicone all behave better warm. Third, give ventilation as much attention as the pretty parts. Ontario summers are humid, and a properly sized exhaust fan protects the paint, the mirror and the drywall you just paid for. If you want one comfort upgrade, heated floors pair especially well with tile in older homes that have chilly main-floor bathrooms.
How big fixtures actually arrive
Anything tub-sized generally travels by freight rather than parcel. In practice that means a palletized curbside or threshold delivery, a scheduled window, and a delivery receipt you sign. Two pieces of honest advice: inspect before you sign, and note any carton damage on the receipt even if the contents look fine, because that notation protects your claim options. London is well positioned on the Highway 401 corridor, so freight service is routine, and the same process covers deliveries from Vancouver Island to St. John's. Order long-lead items such as tubs, shower doors and vanities early, then store them boxed, flat and indoors until the room is ready for them.
Permits and codes, in plain terms
Be wary of anyone online quoting bylaw specifics, including us. In general terms: the National Plumbing Code sets the baseline approach in Canada, provinces adopt and adapt it, and your municipality administers permits and inspections. A like-for-like fixture swap is usually the simplest scenario, while moving drains, adding a bathroom or altering venting typically brings permit requirements. Confirm the specifics with the local building department before demolition, and use a licensed plumber for supply and drain work. On the product side, look for CSA or cUPC certification marks on the spec sheet before you buy; inspectors and insurers both care about them.
Ordering online, Canada-wide, without surprises
Buying fixtures online works best when the retailer is on the same side of the border. Pricing in Canadian dollars means no exchange-rate guesswork and no surprise brokerage charges at the door, and you can order a complete room at once, then coordinate delivery around your contractor's schedule. If you are a contractor or designer juggling multiple projects, our trade program exists for exactly that. And if you are still in the research stage, our fixture guides hub digs into individual categories in more depth, from shower bases to bathroom lighting, so you can walk into the project with the decisions already made.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for a bathroom renovation in London Ontario?
It depends on scope. Replacing fixtures in their existing locations is usually the simplest case, while moving drains, adding a new bathroom or changing venting typically requires a permit and inspections. Rules are administered locally, so contact the building department before you start, and get a licensed plumber's read on anything behind the walls.
How do I find my toilet's rough-in in an older home?
Measure from the finished wall to the centre of the closet bolts holding the toilet down. Around 12 inches is the modern standard, while some older homes measure closer to 10 or 14. Bring that number with you when shopping, since listings state the rough-in clearly and 10 and 14 inch models exist for exactly these situations.
Can a freestanding tub ship to London in winter?
Yes. Large fixtures ship by freight year-round across Canada. In winter, plan a clear and safe path from the truck, inspect the carton before signing, and let the tub reach room temperature indoors before installation. The same advice applies anywhere in the country, from British Columbia to the Maritimes.
Should I buy all my fixtures before demolition starts?
Order long-lead items early, especially tubs, shower doors and vanities, so the project never stalls waiting on freight. Just confirm the critical measurements first and store boxed fixtures indoors until installation day. Faucets and accessories ship faster, so there is more flexibility there.
