Bathrooms in Chicago Bungalows, Greystones and Two-Flats

Bathrooms in Chicago bungalows, greystones, two-flats and pre-war apartments are usually remodeled around what the building hides: old supply and drain lines, plaster walls, a floor that may have been covered more than once, and paint or flooring that can call for lead or asbestos precautions. Expect the remodeler to open things up before the scope is final, and ask how surprises will be priced in writing.

Updated October 22, 2026. Sources are Census/CMAP data, the Chicago Bungalow Association, Landmarks Illinois, EPA, Illinois and City of Chicago pages, linked below. This is general information, not legal or engineering advice, and every house differs.

How old Chicago’s housing really is

Chicago’s stock is older than most big-city markets. In the 2019–2023 American Community Survey five-year estimates, compiled by CMAP, about 39 percent of the city’s 1.27 million housing units were built in 1939 or earlier, and the median year built was 1952. Buildings with two to four units make up about 28 percent of units, a little less than the roughly 29 percent that are single-family homes. If you own one of these buildings, the bathroom you have is likely a survivor of several rounds of repairs.

What usually lies behind an older bathroom

Water supply and drains

Older houses can have supply and drain lines that have reached the end of their life, and the bungalow guidelines above recommend replacing interior supply piping and repairing damaged drain pipes. A remodel is the cheapest time to address pipes in the wall you are already opening. Ask your licensed plumber what material the lines are, where they run, and what is practical to replace. In Chicago, plumbing work is done by a licensed plumbing contractor and generally needs a permit; see the permit guide.

Chicago’s plumbing code required lead service lines until 1986, and the Department of Water Management counts the large majority of homes built before then as known or suspected to have one. Illinois law does not allow a partial replacement when a lead service line is disturbed. If the remodel involves the water entry point, raise it with the plumber before work starts.

Plaster and lath walls

Many pre-war walls are plaster. The City’s permit exemptions treat replacing up to 1,000 square feet of drywall or plaster, with no plumbing or electrical work, as not needing a permit. Opening a plaster wall in a house built before 1978 is also work EPA lists as disturbing paint, which brings in lead-safe rules (below). Ask how the remodeler will control dust, protect the rest of the house, and patch where new drywall meets old plaster.

Floors and framing

Older bathroom floors often hide layers: a newer covering over tile, over a subfloor that may have been wet for years. A Chicago Bungalow Association owner profile describes a bungalow bathroom where a planned cosmetic update turned up a wet, rotted subfloor under two layers of vinyl, and a layer of tile over the original that tested positive for asbestos. The owner stopped work and tested before going further. That is a good model: when a floor or wall reveals something unexpected, pause and identify it before continuing.

Tile, tubs and original features

The Association notes that subway tile became a common choice in bungalow bathrooms and kitchens in the early 1900s. If original tile, a tub or fixtures are part of what you like about the house, say so up front. Some remodelers will protect or reuse them; others will recommend removal, and that choice affects scope and price. Tile and tubs are also often the first thing removed in a gut remodel, so ask how a heavy older fixture will be taken out and what will be done to the floor and framing under it.

If you live in a Chicago Landmark or a landmark district, the City says its permit exemptions may not apply, and the Commission’s review is aimed at significant features, which in districts are generally exterior. Check with the City before you assume; see the permit guide.

Lead and asbestos in older bathrooms

Two health questions come up in almost every pre-war bathroom remodel.

• Lead paint. Homes built before 1978 fall under the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, which requires certified firms and lead-safe work practices when paint is disturbed beyond small areas. Window replacement and demolition of painted surfaces are always covered. Details are in the lead-safe remodeling guide.
• Asbestos. EPA says you cannot tell by looking whether a material contains it, and recommends sampling suspect material (such as floor tile or old pipe wrap) by an accredited professional before a renovation disturbs it. Illinois EPA lists flooring, pipe lagging and window putty among places it may be found, and says it is often best left in place if undisturbed and in good condition.

Rules depend on the building. Federal asbestos work rules do not apply to privately owned homes and apartment buildings of four or fewer units, according to Illinois EPA. The City of Chicago’s contractor FAQ (a 2013 edition, so confirm current rules) says owners of single-family homes need not hire a licensed asbestos professional but are strongly urged to, while work that disturbs asbestos in other buildings, such as a two-flat, requires a licensed professional and a ten-working-day notice to the City. Ask the City’s Department of Environment, which now handles environmental permitting, or your remodeler what applies to your building.

Questions to ask a remodeler about an older home

• Have you worked on bathrooms in this building type? What did you typically find?
• Will you open the floor and walls before finalizing the scope, or does the price assume what is visible?
• How will unexpected conditions (rot, old pipe, asbestos, framing) be handled? Who approves a change, and is it in writing before work continues?
• Are you EPA lead-safe certified, and who tests for asbestos if needed?
• What will you do to the plumbing in the wall you are already opening?
• For a two-flat or apartment: how will water shut-offs, noise, and access through other units be handled?

Our guide to hidden bathroom remodel costs explains how to ask for allowances and change-order terms. Older homes in neighborhoods such as Portage Park and North Center are covered on our area pages.

Before you hire anyone

Whether you find a remodeler through us or on your own, ask for an itemized written scope and price that says how the old conditions behind the wall will be handled. The remodelers we match you with are independent, licensed companies; verify each license using our license guide. For the full picture, see bathroom remodeling.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Chicago's housing stock?

In the 2019-2023 American Community Survey estimates reported by CMAP, about 39 percent of Chicago housing units were built in 1939 or earlier and the median year built was 1952.

How many Chicago bungalows are there?

The Chicago Bungalow Association says roughly 80,000 remain, nearly one-third of the city's single-family homes, built mostly between 1910 and 1940.

What is a greystone?

A masonry building with a limestone front, popular from about 1890 to 1930. Landmarks Illinois' Historic Chicago Greystone Initiative estimates about 30,000 remain in the city.

Should I replace old pipes during a bathroom remodel?

Ask your licensed plumber. The Chicago bungalow design guidelines list replacing interior supply piping and repairing damaged drains among sensible updates, and opening a wall is the easiest time to do it.

Could my older bathroom contain asbestos or lead?

Possibly. EPA says you cannot tell by looking whether a material has asbestos and recommends sampling by an accredited professional before a renovation. Homes built before 1978 may also need lead-safe work practices.

Do I need a permit for an older bathroom?

Usually yes if pipes, valves, fixtures or wiring are replaced or moved. Cosmetic work with no plumbing or electrical connections can be exempt. See our permit guide.

What if the contractor finds rot or old pipe once walls are open?

Ask before you sign how unexpected conditions are handled, who approves a change, and that any change is written down with its price before work continues.

Sources

• CMAP, Chicago Local Housing Profile (ACS 2019–2023 five-year estimates, tables B25024, B25034, B25035): cmap.illinois.gov. Accessed October 22, 2026.
• Chicago Bungalow Association, The Chicago Bungalow: chicagobungalow.org; “20 Facts About Chicago Bungalows”: chicagobungalow.org; owner profile “You’d Never Know What Went Wrong By the Looks of This Bungalow Bathroom”: chicagobungalow.org. Accessed October 22, 2026.
• Historic Chicago Bungalow Association, Design Guidelines (2012): oldnorthend.org (PDF copy). Accessed October 22, 2026.
• Historic Chicago Greystone Initiative (Landmarks Illinois), Greystone Design Guidelines (2009): landmarks.org. Accessed October 22, 2026.
• Chicago Architecture Center, Two- and Three-flats: architecture.org; Chicago Bungalow: architecture.org. Accessed October 22, 2026.
• City of Chicago Department of Water Management, lead service line replacement project plan: chicago.gov. Accessed October 22, 2026.
• City of Chicago, work that does not require a building permit: chicago.gov. Accessed October 22, 2026.
• City of Chicago Commission on Chicago Landmarks, Standards for Rehabilitation: chicago.gov. Accessed October 22, 2026.
• U.S. EPA, RRP Rule contractors page and covered-renovations FAQ: epa.gov, epa.gov; asbestos and remodeling: epa.gov. Accessed October 22, 2026.
• Illinois EPA, Asbestos in House or Apartment: epa.illinois.gov. Accessed October 22, 2026.
• City of Chicago, Environmental Permitting Overview: chicago.gov; Demolitions, Renovations and Asbestos Abatement FAQ for Contractors: chicago.gov. Accessed October 22, 2026.