9 Questions to Ask a Bathroom Remodeler (With Our Answers)
Nine questions to ask a bathroom remodeler before you sign: insurance, waterproofing, permits, price, changes, payment and warranty. With our answers.
Ask nine things before you sign: proof of registration and insurance, the waterproofing system, who does the work, who pulls the permit, what the price covers, how changes are priced, the payment schedule, the written warranty and the start date. Our own answers to all nine are below.
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A bathroom remodel goes better when you ask the right questions first. Ask them before you sign, and ask for the answers in writing. Below are nine questions, and what we answer when a homeowner asks us.
- Texas has no state license for general contractors. Ask for the city registration and proof of insurance.
- Ask which waterproofing system goes behind the tile.
- Ask which bathroom the price is for, and what it covers.
- Ask how a change is priced before the work starts.
- Get the scope, the price and the warranty in writing.
The nine questions in one list
| Question to ask | Our answer in short |
|---|---|
| 1. Are you registered and insured? | City-registered in Fort Worth and Aledo (#RB026782 / #25-000007), insured. |
| 2. How do you waterproof the shower? | A Schluter waterproofing system in every shower we build. |
| 3. Who does the work? | Our own in-house crew. |
| 4. Who pulls the permit, and is it in the price? | Licensed trades pull the permits. Permits are billed at cost and are not in the quote. |
| 5. Which bathroom is the price for, and what does it cover? | The written scope says it. We never quote a bathroom without knowing which one you mean. |
| 6. How do you price a change? | At cost plus 25%, in writing, before the work continues. |
| 7. How do payments work? | Under $60,000: 50% down and 50% at completion. |
| 8. What is the warranty? | Written. 3 years on everything we touch and 5 years on our workmanship. |
| 9. When can you start? | Typically 1 to 2 weeks out, depending on the schedule. |
Questions 1 to 4: who is in your home, and how the shower is built
1. Registration and insurance. Texas has no state license for general contractors. So insurance and local registration are your real protection. Ask for the city registration number and for proof of insurance. Our answer: we are a Fort Worth & Aledo city-registered building contractor (#RB026782 / #25-000007), insured. We give you the insurance certificate on request.
2. Waterproofing. Ask the contractor to name the system that goes behind the tile. Our answer: every shower we build gets a Schluter waterproofing system. Our guide shows how we waterproof a shower.
3. The crew. Ask who does the work. Our answer: our own in-house crew does it. The crew works Monday through Friday, 8am to 6:30pm, plus a couple of Saturdays a month when the schedule calls for it.
4. The permit. Ask who pulls the permit and if its cost is in the price. Our answer: licensed trades pull the permits. The plumber pulls the plumbing permit and the electrician pulls the electrical permit. Permits are billed to you at cost and are not in the quote. Our bathroom permit guide has more on permits in Fort Worth.
Questions 5 and 6: the price, and what can change it
5. What the price covers. Ask which bathroom the price is for, and ask for the scope in writing. Our answer: a full primary bathroom remodel runs $25,000 to $45,000. A full guest or hall bathroom runs $15,000 to $20,000. A half bath or powder room runs $5,000 to $10,000. Those are different rooms with different scopes, so we never quote a bathroom without knowing which one you mean.
Our list of what is included in a bathroom remodel shows the parts. The bathroom remodel cost guide shows the budgets.
6. Changes. Ask what happens when demo shows a problem, and how a change is priced. Our answer: if demo uncovers past leaks or rotten subfloor, we stop, show you photos and price the fix in writing before any extra work begins. Change orders are priced at cost plus 25%, in writing, before the work continues. Our change order guide explains it.
Questions 7 and 8: payment and warranty
7. Payment. Ask for the payment schedule before you sign. Our answer: bathroom projects under $60,000 run 50% down and 50% at completion. We accept check, Zelle, bank transfer or cash. Credit cards carry a 3% processing fee. Quotes are good for 30 days. The payment schedule guide shows each schedule.
8. Warranty. Ask for the warranty in writing, with its terms. Our answer: every job carries a written warranty with two terms. It is 3 years on everything we touch and 5 years on our workmanship. Manufacturer warranties on materials pass through to you on top of it.
Question 9: the start date and the schedule
9. Start. Ask when the job can start and what can move the schedule. Our answer: a typical project starts 1 to 2 weeks out, depending on the schedule.
The biggest schedule killers are late material decisions and mid-project changes. So we lock selections before demo starts. You get a working schedule with your written scope, and we tell you right away if something shifts it.
Our guide on how long a bathroom remodel takes shows the phases.
How to use the answers
- Ask every contractor the same nine questions. Then you can compare the answers.
- Get the answers in writing. We put scope, selections and price in writing on every job.
- Compare the same bathroom and the same scope. A shower-only price and a full-remodel price are not for the same job.
Our older post on why to hire a local bathroom remodeling contractor has a short list of questions too.
It starts with a free walk-through. We look at the actual bathroom, we write the scope, and we price it. To set a walk-through, call or text 817-210-7117.
Questions homeowners ask
Does Texas license general contractors?
No. Texas has no state license for general contractors. On our jobs, licensed trades pull the permits. Ask any contractor for the city registration number and for proof of insurance.
What should I ask a bathroom remodeler first?
Ask for proof of registration and insurance. Then ask which waterproofing system goes behind the tile.
What waterproofing system do you use?
A Schluter waterproofing system, in every shower we build.
Do you charge for the estimate?
No. The walk-through is free.
How long is your quote good?
Quotes are good for 30 days.
Do you take credit cards?
Yes. Credit cards carry a 3% processing fee. We also accept check, Zelle, bank transfer or cash.