Vacation home and short-term rental renovation specialists
WTS II Contracting is a licensed Michigan residential builder specializing in bathroom remodeling for New Buffalo's vacation homes and short-term rentals, with expertise in winterization protocols for seasonal properties and comprehensive knowledge of permit requirements for both the City of New Buffalo Building Department and New Buffalo Township. Our experience with high-traffic vacation rental bathrooms—including freeze-resistant PEX-A plumbing systems, sand-resistant fixtures and drains, humidity-sensing ventilation, and commercial-grade materials designed for guest turnover—ensures your rental property performs reliably through harsh Michigan winters and busy summer seasons.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Permit Jurisdiction | Verify address: City of New Buffalo Building Department OR New Buffalo Township |
| Plumbing Code | Michigan Plumbing Code (IPC based, winterization critical) |
| Waterproofing Standard | ANSI A118.10 (Schluter-Kerdi, sand-resistant epoxy grout) |
| Target Property Type | Vacation homes, short-term rentals (Airbnb/VRBO), seasonal lakefront properties |
| Estimated Timeline | 4–6 weeks (off-season construction preferred to avoid lost rental income) |
| Typical Project Cost | $20,000–$40,000 (commercial-grade materials, winterization systems, rental-ready finishes) |
Many New Buffalo lakefront homes and vacation rentals sit vacant during Michigan's harsh winters. While thermostats may be set to 50-55°F to prevent freezing, power outages, thermostat failures, or improperly insulated plumbing lines result in catastrophic freeze damage every winter.
Standard copper piping is rigid and unforgiving—when water freezes and expands, copper pipes burst, flooding the home with thousands of gallons of water. By the time property owners discover the damage (often weeks later), ceilings have collapsed, flooring is destroyed, and mold has taken hold throughout the structure.
WTS II Contracting uses Uponor PEX-A (expansion PEX) for all bathroom supply lines in seasonal homes. Unlike copper, PEX-A can expand up to 300% when frozen without bursting. The pipe stretches to accommodate ice formation, then returns to its original shape when thawed. This freeze-resistance is critical insurance for vacation properties where monitoring is irregular during winter months.
Additionally, we route all plumbing lines through interior walls and conditioned spaces—never exterior walls. This prevents exposure to sub-zero temperatures even during extended power outages. For properties with existing exterior wall plumbing, we build "false walls" (furr-outs) to create an interior chase that keeps pipes within the heated envelope.
New Buffalo's beach proximity creates unique challenges. Guests track sand into showers, where it combines with hair and soap to clog standard center drains. Property owners spending $500+ for emergency drain clearing after every few rentals quickly discover that standard bathroom fixtures aren't designed for beach houses.
WTS II Contracting installs high-flow linear drains with removable hair/sand catchers in vacation rental showers. These drains feature larger openings, easier access for cleaning, and flow rates that handle sand-laden water without backing up. Property owners or cleaning services can remove and clean the drain basket between guests—preventing clogs without plumber callouts.
We also specify epoxy grout or urethane grout for all tile installations. Standard cement-based sanded grout erodes when sand particles are ground into grout lines during showering. Epoxy grout is impervious to this wear, maintaining appearance and waterproofing integrity despite years of sandy foot traffic.
New Buffalo's lakefront location creates year-round humidity from Lake Michigan. Vacation homes that sit closed for weeks or months at a time trap this moisture inside, creating perfect conditions for mold growth on bathroom ceilings, walls, and in wall cavities.
Standard bathroom exhaust fans operate only when manually switched on. In a vacant property, they never run, allowing humidity to accumulate.
WTS II Contracting installs Panasonic humidity-sensing exhaust fans that activate automatically when relative humidity exceeds 65%. These fans monitor bathroom conditions 24/7, turning on automatically to expel moisture even when the home is vacant. Property owners can verify proper operation remotely through smart home integrations, ensuring the bathroom stays dry between rental bookings.
We vent all exhaust fans through the roof—never into soffits or attics—expelling moisture completely outside the building envelope. Combined with proper waterproofing membranes behind tile, this multi-layer moisture management prevents the mold issues common in closed-up lakefront properties.
DIY remodelers and unlicensed contractors frequently run water supply lines through exterior walls to minimize interior wall disruption. While this saves time during construction, it creates guaranteed freeze damage in New Buffalo's winter climate.
Exterior walls—even insulated ones—are exposed to outside temperatures. When the thermostat is set to 55°F to minimize heating costs during vacancy, pipes in exterior walls freeze solid during sub-zero cold snaps. The resulting pipe bursts cause catastrophic water damage.
Michigan Plumbing Code requires supply lines to be located in conditioned spaces whenever possible. For properties where bathroom layouts require exterior wall fixtures, WTS II Contracting builds false walls (furring) to create an interior chase that keeps plumbing within the heated envelope. This costs more upfront but prevents devastating winter freeze damage that can total $50,000+ in repairs.
We've been called to repair dozens of New Buffalo vacation homes where unlicensed contractors ran pipes through exterior walls. Every one experienced freeze damage within the first two winters. Proper installation pays for itself the first time it prevents a burst pipe.
Properties operated as short-term rentals (Airbnb, VRBO) in New Buffalo are subject to stricter safety inspections than owner-occupied homes. Local ordinances often require:
DIY bathroom remodels frequently fail rental certification inspections due to incomplete electrical work, undersized ventilation, or missing safety features. WTS II Contracting ensures all bathroom work exceeds both Michigan Building Code and local short-term rental ordinance requirements, so your property passes certification inspection without callbacks or corrections.
Many New Buffalo properties are built on sandy soil with shifting foundations. Drain lines that lack proper slope or uncoupling from the foundation experience frequent clogs as the building settles unevenly.
We install all drain lines at proper slope (1/4" per foot minimum), use Schedule 40 PVC (not thin-wall), and ensure proper venting to prevent gurgling and slow drainage. For properties with settling concerns, we install Schluter-Ditra uncoupling membranes under tile floors to absorb foundation movement without cracking grout or tile.
Vacation rentals require commercial-grade durability to withstand heavy guest turnover, minimal maintenance windows, and year-round humidity:
Yes—winter is actually the ideal time for vacation rental bathroom remodeling in New Buffalo. Most vacation properties experience low occupancy from November through March, making this the perfect window for construction without losing prime summer rental income. We schedule off-season renovations to have your property rental-ready before Memorial Day weekend. Bathroom remodeling is interior work, so winter weather doesn't impact the project timeline. We maintain climate-controlled work areas, properly dispose of snow/ice from equipment access, and complete work efficiently to minimize your vacancy period. Many property owners schedule multiple bathroom renovations during the off-season to maximize summer rental revenue.
Yes. Any bathroom remodeling involving plumbing, electrical, or structural work requires a permit from either the City of New Buffalo Building Department or New Buffalo Township (depending on your property location). Additionally, properties operating as short-term rentals (Airbnb, VRBO) may trigger a rental occupancy inspection that verifies GFCI protection, proper ventilation, egress requirements, and other safety features beyond standard residential code. WTS II Contracting handles all permit applications, coordinates required inspections (rough plumbing, electrical, final building, and rental certification if applicable), and ensures your vacation rental bathroom meets all code requirements for continued short-term rental operation.
For New Buffalo beach house bathrooms, we recommend either porcelain tile or rigid-core luxury vinyl plank (LVP). Porcelain tile is 100% waterproof, sand-resistant, and durable for high-traffic vacation rentals—use large-format tiles (12x24 or larger) to minimize grout lines and simplify maintenance. Install with epoxy grout that never needs sealing and resists sand abrasion. Rigid-core LVP is also 100% waterproof, warm underfoot, and simpler to install than tile. Both options perform well in New Buffalo's high-humidity lakefront environment. Never use engineered hardwood, laminate, or bamboo flooring in beach house bathrooms—these materials warp and delaminate from lake effect humidity and sand intrusion, failing within 2-3 years in vacation rental applications.
WTS II Contracting also serves surrounding communities. Learn about our bathroom remodeling services in:
Get a detailed estimate from a licensed Michigan residential builder specializing in winterized, rental-ready bathroom renovations. We schedule off-season construction to avoid losing summer rental income.
Request Your Free Estimate