Tempe, AZ
January 31st, 2026 | by Nick Kayser | Posted in
Bathroom, Kitchen, Flooring & Fireplace Remodeling in Tempe, AZ
Mustache Approved Remodeling proudly provides high-quality bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling, flooring installation, and fireplace refacing services in Tempe, Arizona. Our team delivers craftsmanship-driven results built to last.
Tempe is unlike any other city in the East Valley. It’s compact, walkable in places, and has a housing mix you won’t find anywhere else in the metro. Near ASU and downtown Tempe, you’ve got classic 1950s–1970s ranch homes with block construction, smaller floor plans, and the kind of character that newer subdivisions can’t replicate—but also decades of deferred maintenance. South Tempe neighborhoods like Alameda, Warner Ranch, and the Kyrene Corridor shifted to the ’80s and ’90s build style with bigger lots, larger floor plans, and the same builder-grade finishes that are now 25-40 years past their prime. And scattered throughout, there are pockets of newer construction and renovated properties where expectations run high.
What makes Tempe remodeling different is that the homes here weren’t mass-produced from the same three floor plans like many East Valley subdivisions. The variety means every project requires its own approach—you can’t just template a solution and apply it to every house on the street. That’s exactly how we work. Whether you’re updating a cramped hallway bathroom in a 1960s ranch, transforming a builder-grade master bath in Warner Ranch, modernizing a galley kitchen, or turning a dated fireplace into something that actually anchors the room, we design around your specific home and how you use it.
As a design-build contractor (ROC #309760), we handle every aspect of your remodel—from design and demolition through installation and finishing details—ensuring quality workmanship and results that exceed expectations. See your finished space before we build with our Virtual Showroom 3D design consultation.
Bathroom Remodeling in Tempe, AZ
Tempe bathroom remodels require more problem-solving than most East Valley cities because the homes cover such a wide construction range. The ranch homes near ASU and in central Tempe often have original bathrooms from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s—small footprints, outdated plumbing, and layouts that were designed when a single sink and a tub/shower combo was considered adequate. In South Tempe’s Warner Ranch, Alameda, and Kyrene Corridor neighborhoods, the bathrooms are bigger but still follow the ’90s formula: oversized garden tubs nobody uses, separate shower stalls with dated tile, and vanities with laminate countertops and brass hardware.
We work with both. For the older ranch homes, that often means creative solutions for tight spaces—a walk-in shower that maximizes every inch, a single vanity with smart storage, and large-format tile that makes a small room feel bigger than it is. For South Tempe master bathrooms, the classic move is a tub-to-shower conversion that reclaims all that wasted tub space and replaces it with a custom shower featuring frameless glass, a bench, and niches. Homeowners planning to age in their Tempe home often choose a curbless shower for barrier-free access that still looks modern and intentional. And for those who want to keep a bathtub, we install freestanding soaking tubs, slipper tubs, jetted tubs, and Roman tub decks that turn the tub into a feature worth having.
We handle master bathroom remodels, small bathroom renovations, & handle bathroom vanity installation for guest and hall baths, complete shower installations, and professional shower tile work using the Raimondi leveling system. As a full-service bathroom remodeler, licensed tile contractor, and general contractor, we manage plumbing, electrical, tile, glass, and finishes under one roof—which matters even more in older Tempe homes where unexpected conditions behind the walls are part of the territory.
Watch: Tempe Bathroom Remodeling
See the craftsmanship and attention to detail we bring to every Tempe bathroom project:
Tempe Shower Waterproofing — The S.W.A.N. Plan
Tempe’s older homes present waterproofing challenges that newer East Valley construction doesn’t. Ranch homes from the ’50s through ’70s were often built on poured concrete slabs that have had 50+ years of settling, shifting, and cracking. Even the ’90s-era homes in South Tempe sit on soil that expands and contracts with Arizona’s seasonal temperature swings—120-degree summers followed by winter nights that dip below freezing. That constant thermal cycling puts stress on every material in your shower, and waterproofing systems that can’t flex with it will eventually crack and fail.
Our S.W.A.N. Plan (Sleep Well At Night) is built for exactly these conditions. We use professional-grade Laticrete Hydro Ban products and cover every surface in the shower—walls, floor, curb, niches, benches, and all penetration points. We install anti-fracture felt in the shower pan corners to absorb the foundation movement that’s inevitable in Tempe homes, regardless of when they were built. And we flood test every single pan before tile goes on—filling it with water and verifying the system holds before we cover it up.
The Laticrete Hydro Ban system carries a 25-year manufacturer warranty. Our complete waterproofing process is the same on every Tempe shower we build—no tiers, no shortcuts, no cheaper option for smaller budgets. Every homeowner gets the same protection.
For answers to common bathroom remodeling questions, visit our Bathroom FAQs page.
Kitchen Remodeling in Tempe, AZ
Tempe kitchens fall into two distinct categories. The ranch homes near downtown and ASU have small, closed-off kitchens that were built when the kitchen was considered a workspace, not the center of the home. These often have limited counter space, minimal cabinetry, and galley layouts that feel cramped by today’s standards. South Tempe homes from the ’80s and ’90s have larger kitchens but filled them with dated oak cabinets, tile or laminate countertops, builder-grade appliances, and lighting that hasn’t kept up with modern expectations.
Our kitchen remodeling work in Tempe is as varied as the housing stock. For ranch homes, it might mean opening up a wall to connect the kitchen to the living area, reconfiguring the layout for better flow, and installing new cabinetry that maximizes storage in a compact space. For South Tempe homes, it’s often about upgrading surfaces and function—quartz or quartzite countertops, a designer tile backsplash, better lighting, and an island that actually serves the family instead of just filling floor space.
For kitchens where the layout works but the look doesn’t, cabinet refacing delivers a dramatic transformation by replacing all doors, drawer fronts, and veneer without tearing out solid cabinet boxes. Cabinet painting is the most affordable path when the door style is fine but the finish has run its course. As a full-service kitchen remodeler, we help Tempe homeowners navigate the options and manage the project from first measurement to final walkthrough.
Watch: Tempe Kitchen Remodeling
See a complete kitchen transformation we completed in Tempe:
For answers to common kitchen remodeling questions, visit our Kitchen FAQs page.
Flooring Installation in Tempe
Tempe flooring projects often come with surprises that newer East Valley homes don’t have. Pull up the carpet in a 1960s ranch and you might find original terrazzo, cracked concrete, or multiple layers of old flooring stacked on top of each other. Even in South Tempe homes from the ’90s, the standard beige tile and bedroom carpet combination looks tired after 25+ years of family life, pet traffic, and Arizona’s relentless fine dust.
We install luxury vinyl plank (LVP), porcelain tile, large-format tile, and wood-look tile throughout Tempe homes. New flooring transforms the entire feel of a home—especially in ranch-style layouts where the flooring flows through an open plan and sets the tone for every room. We handle full demolition, subfloor preparation, professional installation, and every finishing detail including new baseboards, door casing, caulking, and door adjustments for the new floor height.
Tempe’s older concrete slabs are more likely to need extra preparation than newer construction. Our tile flooring installation process includes thorough subfloor inspection, crack isolation membrane where needed, self-leveling compound for uneven areas, and the Raimondi leveling system for perfectly flat tile work using premium Arizona Tile products.
For answers to common flooring questions, visit our Flooring FAQs page.
Fireplace Remodeling in Tempe
Tempe fireplaces reflect the city’s eclectic housing mix. Ranch homes near ASU might have a painted brick fireplace that hasn’t been touched since the house was built. South Tempe homes from the ’90s typically have the standard builder tile surround with a drywall bump-out and a mantel that was chosen by the original developer, not the homeowner. Both styles make the living room feel dated—and in Tempe’s competitive housing market, a dated fireplace is one of the first things prospective buyers notice.
Our fireplace remodeling service turns that liability into an asset. We install natural stone slabs, porcelain slab panels, stacked stone, and large-format tile in floor-to-ceiling designs that completely redefine the room. We remove drywall pop-outs for clean, modern surfaces. We build custom floating mantels, complete media walls with built-in cabinets, and professional TV mounting with concealed wiring—so the fireplace wall works as both a design centerpiece and a functional entertainment hub.
We handle gas, electric, and wood-burning fireplaces and coordinate any permits for gas or electrical modifications. Simple refacing runs 3–5 days. Full media wall transformations take 2–3 weeks.
For answers to common fireplace questions, visit our Fireplace FAQs page.
What Does Remodeling Cost in Tempe?
Every project is unique, but typical investment ranges for Tempe remodeling projects include:
Bathroom remodels: $18,000–$45,000+
Large/luxury bathrooms: $45,000–$65,000+
Kitchen remodels: $40,000–$100,000+
Flooring projects: $25,000–$50,000+
Fireplace refacing: $10,000–$20,000+
Older Tempe homes—especially the ranch-style properties near ASU and central Tempe—sometimes require plumbing updates, electrical upgrades, or subfloor repairs that add to the base cost. We identify these during consultation so your estimate reflects the full scope from day one. Final pricing depends on size, materials, layout changes, and custom features.
Why Tempe Homeowners Choose Mustache Approved
Tempe homeowners value quality and transparency—probably because so many have been burned by contractors who underbid the job and then hit them with change orders once the walls are open. We take the opposite approach. We’re a fully licensed general contractor (ROC #309760) with proper bonding and insurance. We use premium materials from Arizona Tile, Sollid Cabinetry, Laticrete, and Delta. Every shower gets the full S.W.A.N. Plan with mandatory flood testing. And we provide detailed written proposals with exact pricing before any work begins—not vague estimates that grow as the project unfolds.
Our Virtual Showroom lets you see photo-realistic 3D renderings of your finished space during the consultation, so you know exactly what you’re getting before we start. And our 5-year workmanship warranty means we’re accountable for the results long after the project is complete.
How Every Tempe Project Works
Tempe’s older homes need extra attention during the planning phase, which is why our process front-loads the assessment work. We start with a home consultation where we evaluate the space, discuss your goals, and—critically for older Tempe properties—identify any structural, plumbing, or electrical conditions that could affect scope. From there, we walk you through material selections using the Virtual Showroom, and you get a written proposal with exact pricing, materials, and timeline. Once approved, we order everything, schedule your project, and execute on a daily construction plan. We finish with a thorough walkthrough and don’t consider the job complete until every detail is right.
For a detailed breakdown of each step, visit our remodeling process page. For general questions about working with us, check our Process FAQs.
Proudly Serving Tempe & the Phoenix East Valley
In addition to Tempe, we serve homeowners throughout the Phoenix East Valley:
Gilbert
Chandler
Mesa
Scottsdale
Ahwatukee
Queen Creek and surrounding East Valley communities
Looking for answers before scheduling? Visit our FAQs Hub.
Start Your Tempe Remodeling Project
If you’re planning a bathroom remodel, kitchen renovation, flooring replacement, or fireplace transformation in Tempe, we’d love to help.
Schedule a consultation and our team will walk you through your project, answer your questions, and provide a clear plan for your remodel.
View our recent bathroom projects and kitchen projects to see examples of our work throughout the East Valley.
For more information about our whole home remodeling services, visit our dedicated page.
Mustache Approved Remodeling
ROC #309760 | Licensed, Bonded, Insured
Serving Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Scottsdale, & Ahwatukee
