Bathrooms are deceptively complex. The room is small, the budget often is too, but the consequences of doing it wrong are big — water in places water shouldn’t be, ruined finish work, tile that delaminates in two years.
1. How do you waterproof a shower?
The right answer involves a specific waterproofing system (Schluter, RedGard, or similar), a vapor barrier on the studs, a sloped pre-pan, and proper flashing at the curb and corners. If the answer is “with the cement board, that’s enough” — that’s not enough.
2. What’s your typical timeline for a bath remodel?
For a standard hall bath, 3–4 weeks of active work is normal. For a primary bath with a custom shower, 5–7 weeks. If a contractor quotes you 10 days for a full bath remodel, they’re either underestimating or planning to cut corners.
3. Who’s doing the plumbing and electrical?
Some general contractors have licensed in-house plumbers and electricians; many use subcontractors. Either is fine, but you should know who and you should be sure they’re licensed.
4. What happens if you find rot or mold behind the tile?
Old bathrooms often hide damage. A good contractor has a clear protocol for what happens when they find it: stop work, document, call you, write a change order with a real number. Surprise charges nobody talked about are how relationships go bad.