Remodeling a bathroom can be a very complex undertaking that requires a vast amount of expertise, coordination, and communication between the client, the contractor, and all subcontractors involved. It’s important to hire someone who is going to stay committed through the process from start to finish and has the capacity to make you a priority and finish within reason of the projected end date.
Do You Offer Services That Cover The Scope Of This Bathroom Remodel?
Once you’ve decided on the details of what you’d like your bathroom remodel to include, it’s important to know if the contractor has ever done anything of this scope and if they’re confident that they can get the job done. Bathroom remodels come with varying degrees of complications depending on what you’re changing and how severe the change is. Moving a sink or a vanity from one wall to another may require a whole other trade to get involved in order to ensure the additional plumbing and electrical work gets done properly and is up to code.
Can I See Samples Of Your Previous Bathroom Remodels?
Most contractors will have a section of their website that features a portfolio of their work that you can use as a reference. It’s also a good idea to check the online presence of a contractor and read reviews to get an idea of their overall customer satisfaction.
If you come across any bad reviews, it’s always good to consider the context and if the good reviews far outweigh the bad and also to see if the contractor made an effort to resolve the complaint by responding to the review.
Will You Be Working With Subcontractors Or Will Your Employees Perform All Of The Work?
A bathroom remodel requires several different skills – usually an entire trade is dedicated to just one of the many tasks that need to be performed to ensure a well-functioning bathroom at the end of the makeover. Everything from electrical to plumbing to tile work and painting could all require individual subcontractors to be hired, although it’s not unfathomable that a single contractor would have several employees who each specialize in the needed skills. Asking this question will give you an idea of what the contractor will be taking care of and what they’ll be using other contractors for. This opens the door to ask about who those subcontractors will be and will allow you to do some research on them as well.
In Texas, all plumbing and electrical work is required to be performed by licensed tradesmen regardless if you are within City limits or not. Be sure and ask your contractor if they will be using a licensed plumber and electrician on the project. Ask for the plumber and electrician’s license numbers. You will be able to look them up on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) website and verify they have a current valid license they are in good standing with TDLR with no fines, violations, or suspensions. These license numbers given to you should correspond to the vehicles that show up on your property to perform the work as they must display the license numbers on the vehicles as well. Cross-reference these numbers and make sure they match up with the numbers you were given to verify you have the tradesmen you were promised on your project.
What Permits Are Required And Will You Get Them?
Depending on your municipality, permits may be required to complete your bathroom remodel. Most above-board contractors will know which permits they’ll need and will get them for you. The cost of this task will usually be included in the contract. If a contractor refuses to get permits, it may be an indicator that they are not licensed, insured, or unable to pull the permits required, or they simply do not want to go through the hassle of inspections. Be sure you’re clear if a permit is required or not.
Can You Show Me That You Are Bonded, Licensed And Insured?
You may get a bid from a contractor that is much lower than what other contractors are offering. Sometimes, the reason for this is that the contractor is not doing everything according to the law. It’s best to have the law working in your favor rather than against you. That’s why you should never work with a contractor that isn’t licensed and insured. In some cases, bonding may be needed or required. If something goes wrong, the contractor needs to be held accountable and you need to be taken care of. According to the Texas Department of Insurance, “The coverage provided by the Payment or Labor and Materials Bond guarantees that the contractor will pay for labor and material used to complete the project that is the subject of the contract.” Don’t be afraid to ask for proof that your contractor is bonded, licensed, and insured because if they aren’t, you’ll be sorry you worked with them.
What Will The Daily Work Schedule Look Like?
It’s good to get an idea of what to expect from the general workflow and timeline. Simple things like what time of day should the work begin and end or if every crew will clean up each day should be known before the project is started. You should also inquire about more specific details, such as timelines for each phase of the remodel and which order they’re happening in. Ask about potential delays that may occur due to subcontractors and material availability or other common obstacles that have to be navigated. Bathroom remodels have many tasks that can affect each other, so a delay in one phase of the project can lead to another delay, but a general plan of a timeline for each phase should be available.
How Will We Communicate As The Project Progresses?
Establish expectations of communication throughout the bathroom remodel. Ask how often you can expect updates and who you need to inform in case of an emergency that affects the project as well as the best method of communication. Is the project manager the same person who’s giving you the bid? If they’re different, who will act as the point person for questions you have throughout the process? This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s good to agree on a channel of communication before the project begins to avoid any unnecessary frustration.
Do You Offer Any Warranties?
Many manufacturers offer warranties on their products, but they often depend on who’s doing the installation and if anything happened in the process that would void the warranty. Some contractors are particular about the products they use because the last thing they want to do is install a fixture that fails in the first year. It’s in the best interest of the contractor to make you happy and they might know which brands of product are most likely to do that. A contractor may also guarantee their work or parts of their work. The details of warranties can vary so it’s good to ask and get a clear understanding of what a warranty covers and what it doesn’t.
Butler Contracting Can Do Your Bathroom Remodel!
We have completed bathroom remodels large, small, and everything in between! Start the conversation by sending us some information, uploading a few pictures of what you have in mind and we’ll get you a quote. You can also call (844) 628-8537 and ask us all the questions you want!
