Bathroom remodeling: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering bathroom remodeling

Bathroom remodels make or lose money on waterproofing and the hidden condition behind the tile, so customers want to know how you will protect the walls and floor. Win them by showing your waterproofing method and your hidden-damage plan in the quote.

What customers ask

  • How do you keep water out of the walls behind the shower?
  • What happens if you find rot under the floor or behind the tub once it is removed?
  • Can you move the toilet or the shower drain, and what does that involve?
  • How long will the room be out of use, and can I keep one toilet working?
  • Will the fan vent outside, and who runs the duct?

How to win the job

  • During the first visit, check the tub, shower and floor for soft spots, flexible tile and staining, and photograph every area you suspect before you quote.
  • Name the waterproofing product and the membrane location in the quote, and explain the flood test you run on the shower pan before tile goes in.
  • Give the customer a hidden-damage clause that says how rot or old wiring will be shown to them and how the extra work is approved.
  • Show the fan duct route to the outside on a sketch, so the customer knows the moisture will not end up in the attic.
  • Quote the plumbing, electrical and fan work as separate lines with the permit and inspection steps named.
  • Bring tile and grout samples in the actual format and size you plan to install, not only small chips.
  • Put the curing and drying times in the schedule so the customer sees why the room stays closed for a stretch.

What to put on your profile

  • Photos of the shower before tile goes on, showing the membrane, the pan and the corner details
  • Before and after photos of at least three bathrooms, with the fixture and tile types named
  • Photos of the fan duct run to the outside and the new ventilation grille on the roof or wall
  • A note on the waterproofing system you use and the tests you run before tile is set

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • A care guide for grout and caulk, with the first recommended resealing date
  • A check visit after a few weeks to look at caulk lines, the shower door and the fan operation
  • Advice on when to replace the exhaust fan or add a heater, offered only when the customer asks

Licenses and permits

Bathroom remodels that move plumbing, add circuits or change ventilation often need licensed trades and permits, and waterproofing is often inspected. Confirm your contractor registration, trade licenses and insurance in your state and locality before you accept the work.

Questions

Should I warranty the waterproofing?

Only warranty what you control and can document. Put the membrane product, the installation steps and the flood test results in the file, and state the warranty length and what it excludes in the quote.

What if the customer wants a tile pattern I have not installed?

Ask for a sample and a sketch of the pattern, then measure the layout and note any extra cutting in the quote. Patterns with small pieces and inside corners need more labor and waste, and the quote should say so.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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