Bathroom Remodel Warranties: Workmanship, Waterproofing and Product Coverage

The parts of a bathroom most likely to cause trouble later are the ones you cannot see: the waterproofing under the tile, the valve inside the wall, the drain connections under the floor. That makes warranties more important in a bath than in most rooms, and also more confusing, because several different companies stand behind different layers of the same shower. This page sorts out who covers what, what Washington law adds, and how to keep coverage intact. The general rules are in the kitchen guide's kitchen remodel warranties page; this one focuses on what is specific to bathrooms.

The layers of coverage in a bathroom

The two most common questions after a leak are whose problem it is and who pays. If the valve body cracks, that is a product defect; if the valve was installed without a proper seal at the tile, that is workmanship. In practice the contractor who built the shower is the one who can tell the difference, which is why the workmanship warranty is usually the first call.

What Washington law adds

We found no Washington statute that sets a warranty term for remodeling work. Coverage comes from the contract, so a written warranty is worth having. What the statutes do provide:

• The contractor's bond. RCW 18.27.040 conditions a registered contractor's bond on paying amounts adjudged against it "by reason of breach of contract including improper work in the conduct of the contracting business." The bond is $30,000 for a general contractor and is shared among all claimants. More on that in if your bathroom remodel goes wrong.
• Time limits. A claim on a written contract has a six-year limitation period (RCW 4.16.040). For construction, claims must accrue within six years after substantial completion (RCW 4.16.310), which is when the improvement "may be used or occupied for its intended use."
• Your maintenance duty. In a defect claim a builder may argue that the homeowner failed to follow written maintenance recommendations, if "the homeowner had written notice of the schedule, the schedule was reasonable at the time it was issued, and the homeowner failed to substantially comply" (RCW 4.16.326(1)(c)). The same section lets a builder raise an unreasonable failure to minimize damage or to give timely notice.

L&I's hiring advice says a contract should include "Warranties and processes for change orders", that you should compare "the warranties offered" between bids, and that a contractor who will "Offer exceptionally long warranties" is a warning sign.

Shower waterproofing: the warranty that matters most

Tile and grout are not waterproof; the layer behind them is. Waterproof membranes for tile are covered by the ANSI A118.10 standard, and TCNA says that for bonded-membrane shower methods "The membrane must cover the solid backing under the entire area to be tiled." TCNA also advises specifying installer certification for sheet and liquid membranes.

Some membrane makers offer warranties on their waterproofing system when their own components (membrane, drain, corners, seam material, setting mortar) are used together and installed according to their instructions. The terms vary by manufacturer and are set out in their documents, so ask your contractor:

• Which waterproofing system will be used, and is it named in the contract?
• Will all components come from the same system, as the maker's warranty requires?
• Will the shower be flood-tested before tile, and will you get a record or photo of it?
• Who registers the system warranty, if registration is required, and who keeps the paperwork?

How the systems work is explained in bathroom waterproofing explained and shower pans and bases.

What can void a bathroom warranty

Read the exclusions before you sign. Common ones in bathroom work include:

• Changes by others. Someone else modifying the plumbing, drilling through tile into the waterproofing, or altering the wiring.
• Cleaning products. Harsh or acidic cleaners on natural stone, grout or fixture finishes, where the maker's care instructions say otherwise. See grout and sealing.
• Skipped maintenance. Not resealing stone or grout when the instructions call for it, or not recaulking movement joints.
• Running without ventilation. Moisture damage where the exhaust fan was not used.
• Late notice. Letting a known leak continue. Both your warranty and your insurance can suffer; see water damage and insurance.

The records to keep

1. The signed contract, all change orders and the final invoice.
2. The written workmanship warranty.
3. Model and serial numbers, receipts and warranty documents for every fixture, the fan and any heated floor.
4. The waterproofing system name, any flood-test record and photos of the walls and floor before tile.
5. Permit records and final inspection approvals.
6. The maintenance and care instructions you were given.

Photos taken before the walls close are the single most useful record in a bathroom. They show where pipes and valves run, what was used behind the tile and how it was installed.

JDI's workmanship warranty

JDI Construction gives a 5-year written workmanship warranty on its remodeling work, in addition to the manufacturers' warranties on the products installed. The terms are on our warranty page; read them as you would any contractor's. To start a conversation about your bathroom, visit our Vancouver bathroom remodeling page.