Questions to Ask a Bathroom Contractor Before You Sign

The questions below are grouped the way a bathroom job unfolds, from who is allowed to do the work to what happens after it is finished. Print the list, take it to each meeting, and write the answers next to the questions so you can compare companies side by side. Under each group is a short note on what a good answer sounds like. A contractor does not need a perfect answer to every question, but the important ones should end up in writing.

Credentials and legal basics

• What is your Washington contractor registration number? (Look it up in L&I's Verify tool before the next meeting.)
• Do you have employees on the job, and is your workers' comp account current?
• Can your insurer send me a certificate of insurance directly?
• Will you give me the disclosure statement ("Notice to Customer") and L&I's lien information before work starts?
• If my house was built before 1978: is your firm lead-safe certified by the Washington Department of Commerce, and will I get the Renovate Right pamphlet?
• How will we determine whether there is asbestos in the flooring, mastic or wall texture before demolition?

Good answers: numbers given without hesitation, and a clear plan for testing. RCW 18.27.114 requires the disclosure statement before work starts on a residential job of $1,000 or more. The Southwest Clean Air Agency requires the owner or the owner's agent to determine whether suspect asbestos-containing materials are in the work area before any renovation, and its owner-occupant exception does not cover work done by a contractor. See asbestos in old bathrooms and lead paint rules.

Plumbing and electrical

• Which licensed plumbing contractor will do the plumbing, and what is its license number?
• Will a certified plumber be on site for the rough-in and the valve?
• Which licensed electrical contractor will do the wiring, fan and lighting?
• Who buys the plumbing and electrical permits?
• What shower valve are you planning, and is it pressure-balancing, thermostatic or a combination?

Good answers: named companies with license numbers you can check in Verify. RCW 18.106.020 requires a certificate to engage in the trade of plumbing, and plumbing work for you must be done by an L&I-licensed plumbing contractor using certified plumbers. On permits, L&I is blunt: if someone you have hired asks you to buy the electrical permit for their work, "This is against the law, and the permit is not valid." The shower valves page explains the three valve types.

Waterproofing and tile

• What waterproofing system will you use on the shower walls and floor: mortar bed over a pan liner, sheet membrane, liquid membrane or foam board system?
• Does the membrane cover the whole tiled area, including the niche and bench?
• Do you test the shower pan for leaks before tile goes on?
• Who sets the tile, and are they certified in membrane or large-format tile installation?
• How will the tile layout be decided, and will I see it before cutting starts?
• What grout are you using, and does it need sealing?

Good answers: a named system written into the scope, not "the usual." The Tile Council of North America describes shower methods by number (B415 for a mortar bed over a pan membrane, B421 for a bonded membrane) and says that for B421 and B422 the membrane "must cover the solid backing under the entire area to be tiled." TCNA also advises specifying installers certified for membranes and for large tile. Read shower waterproofing explained before this conversation.

Ventilation and glass

• Is the exhaust fan ducted all the way outside, and how is it controlled?
• Will the fan's airflow be verified after installation?
• When is the shower glass measured, and how long after measuring is it installed?
• Is the glass tempered and labeled?

Good answers: Washington's residential code requires bathroom exhaust fans to be ducted directly to the outside and tested to deliver at least the minimum flow (50 cfm intermittent or 20 cfm continuous, WAC 51-51-1505). Glass is normally measured after tile is finished, which adds a gap in the schedule. See bathroom ventilation code.

Schedule and living through it

• When can you start, and what has to happen first (design, selections, permit)?
• How many weeks on site, and how long will I be without this bathroom?
• What are the inspection points, and what happens if one fails?
• What days and hours will crews be in the house?
• What happens to the schedule if you find rot or water damage behind the wall?

Good answers: a written schedule that separates design and permit time from on-site time, and a plain explanation of the inspections. Hidden damage does turn up behind old showers; the honest answer is a written change order with a price before the extra work. See how long a bathroom remodel takes.

Price, payments and change orders

• Does the price include sales tax and permit fees?
• Which items are allowances, and what does each allowance buy?
• How are change orders priced and approved?
• What is the payment schedule, and what work does each payment follow?
• Will you provide lien releases from suppliers and subcontractors before final payment?

Good answers: L&I advises a written contract stating the price including sales tax, payment terms, permit fees, the specific work, materials and the change order process, and says to "Avoid verbal contracts or amendments." It also suggests paying as phases are completed and requesting lien releases before final payment. See contracts, allowances and change orders.

Cleanup and protection

• How will you protect floors and the path from the door to the bathroom?
• How is dust contained during demolition and tile cutting?
• Where will debris go, and how often is it hauled away?
• Will the work area be cleaned at the end of each day?

Good answers: specific methods, such as floor protection, a sealed doorway and tile cutting outside or with dust control, rather than "we're clean."

Warranty and communication

• Is the workmanship warranty in writing, how long does it last, and does it cover leaks and waterproofing?
• Who handles a warranty call, and how fast?
• Who is my day-to-day contact, and how often will they be on site?
• How will I get updates and see decisions recorded?
• Can I talk to two or three recent bathroom clients?

Good answers: a warranty document you can read now, a named contact and a regular update routine. L&I suggests comparing the warranties offered between bids and being wary of exceptionally long ones.

Asking JDI

We expect these questions and are glad to answer them in writing. JDI Construction's Washington registration is #JDICOCN932KZ. Our workmanship warranty is written and runs five years, we handle permits and project management, updates go through a client portal, and after a free in-home visit we send a firm written quote, typically within a week. When you are ready, compare our answers with others using comparing bathroom remodel estimates, read about our bathroom remodeling in Vancouver, or book a consultation and bring this list.