A bathroom remodel can be a great upgrade for your home, but hiring the wrong contractor can turn a fairly simple project into a long and expensive headache.
A bathroom remodel can be a great upgrade for your home, but hiring the wrong contractor can turn a fairly simple project into a long and expensive headache.
Bathrooms may be small compared with kitchens or basements, but there is a lot going on behind the walls. Plumbing, electrical work, ventilation, waterproofing, flooring, tile, drywall, and carpentry may all be part of the same project.
If you live in Minnesota, there are also state licensing rules and local permit requirements to think about.
So, how do you hire a contractor for a bathroom remodel and feel comfortable with your choice?
Here are the things we recommend homeowners look at before signing a contract.
Know What You Want to Change
You do not need to have every tile and faucet picked out before contacting a contractor. It does help, however, to have a basic idea of what you want done.
Are you planning to:
- Replace the tub or shower?
- Build a walk-in shower?
- Move the toilet or sink?
- Install a new vanity?
- Replace flooring?
- Add or move lighting?
- Install a bathroom fan?
- Replace drywall?
- Change the bathroom layout?
- Remodel the entire room?
There is a big difference between replacing a vanity and completely changing a bathroom layout.
When contractors understand the same scope of work, it is much easier for you to compare their estimates.
Make Sure the Contractor Is Properly Licensed in Minnesota
This is one of the first things Minnesota homeowners should check.
In Minnesota, a company that contracts directly with a homeowner on a one-to-four-unit residential property and provides work involving more than one special skill generally needs a residential building contractor or residential remodeler license. A residential remodeler license covers work on existing homes.
You can check a contractor’s license through the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry’s license lookup. The state system can also show the status of a license and whether enforcement actions are associated with it.
Do not be afraid to ask a contractor for their license number.
A legitimate contractor should have no problem giving it to you.
Ask About Insurance
Licensing and insurance are not the same thing.
Before hiring someone, ask whether the contractor carries the proper insurance for the type of work being done.
This matters because remodeling involves real risks. Someone could get hurt. A pipe could leak. Something in the home could be damaged.
Ask the contractor for proof of insurance rather than relying only on a verbal answer.
Find Out Who Will Actually Be Working in Your Home
The person giving you an estimate may not be the person doing every part of your bathroom.
That is normal.
Bathroom remodeling often involves different trades, such as plumbers and electricians. A remodeling contractor may handle some work with their own crew and bring in licensed trade contractors for other parts.
Ask questions such as:
- Who will be working in my home?
- Do you use subcontractors?
- Who handles the plumbing?
- Who handles the electrical work?
- Who installs the tile?
- Who will be my main contact during the job?
You should know who is responsible for the project before work starts.
Ask Who Will Pull the Permits
Do not assume a bathroom remodel does not need permits just because the room already exists.
The permits needed depend on what is being changed and where the home is located.
For homeowners in St. Cloud, for example, the city states that separate plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permits are required when those systems are installed, altered, repaired, relocated, or replaced. The City of St. Cloud also says that when you hire a contractor, the contractor should obtain the permits.
There are even bathroom-specific details to consider. In St. Cloud, tiled shower installations are subject to a flood-test record requirement before the final plumbing inspection.
Rules can vary by city, so ask:
“What permits will this bathroom remodel need, and who will be responsible for getting them?”
A contractor who regularly works in your area should be able to explain the process.
Be careful if someone tells you to skip a permit simply to save money or avoid an inspection.
Get a Detailed Written Estimate
Price matters, but the total at the bottom of the page does not tell you everything.
Imagine receiving these two estimates:
Estimate A:
Bathroom remodel — $18,000
Estimate B:
Lists demolition, plumbing, electrical work, shower installation, flooring, vanity installation, drywall repair, painting, fixtures, cleanup, materials, allowances, and payment schedule.
The second estimate gives you a much better idea of what you are actually paying for.
A good estimate should make it clear what is included and, just as importantly, what is not included.
For example, find out whether the price includes:
- Demolition
- Disposal of old materials
- Plumbing
- Electrical work
- Shower or tub installation
- Waterproofing
- Tile
- Flooring
- Vanity installation
- Countertop
- Faucets and fixtures
- Lighting
- Bathroom fan
- Drywall repair
- Painting
- Permits
- Cleanup
This also makes it easier to compare contractors fairly.
Do Not Automatically Choose the Cheapest Bid
Everybody has a budget. There is nothing wrong with looking for a fair price.
But the cheapest estimate is not always the least expensive choice in the end.
If one contractor is much cheaper than everyone else, find out why.
Maybe the scope is different. Maybe certain materials are not included. Maybe permits are not included. Maybe the contractor expects you to buy fixtures yourself.
There may be a perfectly reasonable explanation.
The important thing is to know what you are comparing.
Instead of asking only, “Who has the lowest price?”, ask:
“Which contractor gives me the clearest plan for the money I’m spending?”
Get the Bathroom Remodel Contract in Writing
This is especially important in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Attorney General explains that state law requires contractors to put home-improvement contracts and change orders in writing. The contract should include a detailed summary of the work, the materials being used, and the total price or how that price will be calculated.
Your bathroom remodeling contract should clearly spell out things such as:
- Work being completed
- Materials being supplied
- Fixtures being installed
- Price
- Payment schedule
- Expected start date
- Expected completion date
- Permit responsibility
- Cleanup
- Change-order process
- Warranty information
If the contractor promises something important during a conversation, get it written into the contract.
Do not rely on, “Don’t worry, we’ll take care of that.”
Write it down.
Understand How Changes Will Be Handled
Changes happen during remodeling.
You may decide you want a different shower door. Once a wall is opened, old plumbing may need to be replaced. You might choose more expensive tile than what was originally included.
That does not automatically mean something is wrong.
What matters is how those changes are handled.
Minnesota requires change orders to be put in writing.
Before approving additional work, you should know:
- What is changing?
- Why is it changing?
- How much will it cost?
- Will it add time to the project?
This prevents a surprise bill at the end.
Ask About the Payment Schedule
Be cautious about paying the entire project price before the work is completed.
The Minnesota Attorney General recommends that payment schedules reflect the work being completed and warns homeowners about contractors who insist on a large upfront payment.
A payment schedule should be clearly explained in your contract.
Before handing over money, make sure you understand what each payment covers and when it is due.
Check Past Work and References
Bathroom remodeling has details that are easy to notice when they are done poorly.
Look at photos of previous bathroom projects when possible.
Pay attention to:
- Tile lines
- Shower edges
- Trim
- Flooring
- Vanity installation
- Caulking
- Paint
- Finished corners
You can also ask for references from past customers.
When talking with a previous customer, ask questions beyond, “Did you like the contractor?”
Try:
- Was the contractor easy to reach?
- Did the project stay close to the original price?
- Did they show up when expected?
- How did they handle changes?
- Was the home kept reasonably clean?
- Would you hire them again?
Those answers can tell you quite a bit.
Talk About the Timeline Before Work Starts
Bathroom remodels can be inconvenient, especially when you only have one bathroom in the house.
Ask the contractor for a realistic idea of the schedule.
Find out:
- When can the project start?
- About how long should it take?
- Will work happen every weekday?
- Could there be days when nobody is on site?
- Are materials being ordered before demolition begins?
- What could cause delays?
Nobody can guarantee that every remodeling project will go exactly according to schedule. Materials can arrive late, inspections can affect timing, and hidden problems sometimes appear after demolition.
You should still have a basic idea of what to expect.
Red Flags When Hiring a Bathroom Remodeling Contractor
Not every warning sign means someone is dishonest, but slow down if a contractor:
- Will not provide a written estimate
- Will not give you their Minnesota contractor license information
- Wants a very large payment before work starts
- Tells you permits are unnecessary without explaining why
- Pressures you to sign immediately
- Gives you a price that is far below every other estimate without explaining the difference
- Will not explain who is doing the plumbing or electrical work
- Makes important promises but refuses to put them in writing
- Cannot explain how change orders are handled
A bathroom remodel is too important to hire someone just because they can start tomorrow.
Questions to Ask a Bathroom Remodeling Contractor
Before making your decision, ask these questions:
- Are you licensed to do residential remodeling work in Minnesota?
- Can I have your license number?
- Are you insured?
- Have you completed bathrooms similar to mine?
- Who will be working in my home?
- Do you use subcontractors?
- Who handles the plumbing and electrical work?
- What permits will my project need?
- Who pulls the permits?
- What exactly is included in the estimate?
- What is not included?
- How are changes and extra costs approved?
- What is the payment schedule?
- When could the project start?
- About how long will it take?
- What warranty comes with the work?
- Can I see examples of past bathroom remodels?
- Can you provide references?
You do not need to turn the estimate into an interrogation. A normal conversation can cover most of these questions.
Hiring a Bathroom Remodeling Contractor in St. Cloud, MN
If you live in St. Cloud or elsewhere in Central Minnesota, hiring someone familiar with local homes and local permit requirements can make the remodeling process easier.
Older homes may have plumbing, wiring, framing, ventilation, or previous repairs that need attention once demolition starts. Newer homes can have their own challenges.
That is why a bathroom remodel should be looked at as more than replacing the things you can see.
The work behind the tile matters just as much as the tile itself.
At DG Homes, we help homeowners with remodeling and home repair projects in the St. Cloud area. If you are thinking about remodeling your bathroom, we are happy to talk through what you want to change, look at the space, and help you figure out the next steps.
Contact DG Homes to discuss your bathroom remodeling project in St. Cloud, Minnesota.