It usually starts on an ordinary morning: a cold shower, water on the floor, a stain on the ceiling under the bath. Hiring a bathroom remodeler after that is easier than it feels. Good remodelers welcome the same few questions, and homeowners who ask them end up with a bathroom that stays dry for years. We even made a song about it.
The song: Seal It Tight (Do It Right)
Seal it tight, do it right,
waterproof the walls, sleep tight tonight.
Three bids, same list, side by side,
seal it tight, seal it tight, do it right!Go get that bathroom bid!
Every line is a real tip. Here they are.
First moves when the bathroom gives out
- Shut the water off at the fixture valve or the main
- Take photos of every stain, soft spot and crack, including the ceiling below
- Write down what you want: tub or shower, storage, the look you like
- Layout first: keeping the toilet, the drain and the sink where they are keeps the job simpler; moving them is the biggest change
Before you call: what to check
- License where your state or city requires one
- Insurance: liability and workers' compensation; ask for the certificate
- Reviews from your area and photos of bathrooms they built
- Who does the work and who runs the job day to day
12 questions to ask a bathroom remodeler
- Are you licensed (where required) and insured? Can I see the certificate?
- Who will do the plumbing, electrical and tile work?
- What waterproofing do you use behind the tile and on the shower floor?
- How will the shower floor slope to the drain?
- Where will the fan vent, and is it sized for the room?
- Are the outlets near water GFCI protected?
- What happens if you find damage under the floor or in the walls, and how is it priced?
- Who orders the fixtures, and when do they need to be on site?
- Do you pull the permit where one is needed, and who schedules the inspection?
- How long will it take, and how will I use the house meanwhile?
- What warranty do I get, in writing?
- How and when do I pay, and when is the walk-through?
What a bathroom bid should include
| Item | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Demolition | Removal, haul-away and protection of the rest of the house |
| Subfloor and framing | How damage is handled and priced, with photos |
| Waterproofing | The system behind the tile and under the shower floor |
| Shower floor | The slope to the drain and the drain type |
| Tile and fixtures | What is included, and who supplies what |
| Fan, lighting, outlets | Fan vented outside, GFCI outlets, lighting plan |
| Permits | Who pulls them and schedules inspections |
| Schedule and payments | Start date, how long, and when each payment is due |
| Warranty | In writing |
Ask two or three remodelers to price the same list, then compare the bids side by side. Totals only compare when the work compares.
During the job
- Ask for photos of the subfloor and the waterproofing before the tile goes on
- Agree on how surprises are handled before more work is added
- Keep fixtures and tile on site before they are needed, so the job doesn't stall
After the job: the last payment comes last
- A walk-through together and a written punch list
- Run the shower, check the drain and the fan
- The final inspection where a permit was needed
- The warranty in writing, then the last payment
For remodelers: why good pros like these questions
Clear questions mean clear bids, fewer surprises and happy customers who send their neighbors. Remodelers who show their waterproofing photos and put their name on the work stand out every time a homeowner compares bids side by side.
Go get that bathroom bid on BidHandyman
Post your bathroom once, free, with photos, and local remodelers send you bids. Only pros approved by BidHandyman can bid. Compare them side by side, message the pros and hire the one you trust, with no obligation. Request bathroom remodel bids, or read bathroom remodel ideas and how to choose a roofer.