How to Hire a Bathroom Remodeler (2026)
Bathroom remodels fail on waterproofing. A leak behind tile is a $15-40K demolition-and-rebuild bill two years later. These nine steps ensure the GC you hire has the tile-membrane, drain-assembly, and moisture-barrier discipline to prevent that failure mode.
Step 1: Confirm CSLB license class B + Active status
Bathroom remodels involving plumbing relocation, electrical additions (GFCI outlets, heated floor), or structural changes require license class B. Verify at cslb.ca.gov — license status must be Active, not Expired or on Probation.
Step 2: Ask which waterproofing system the GC installs — Schluter Kerdi, RedGard, or Laticrete Hydro Ban
A competent GC names the specific waterproofing product. Schluter Kerdi sheet-membrane is the industry gold standard for high-moisture areas. RedGard and Laticrete Hydro Ban are liquid-applied alternatives. A GC who says 'standard tar paper' or 'we don't need a membrane' is 10-20 years behind code and industry practice.
Step 3: Verify the plumbing sub-contractor holds CSLB C-36 license
California licenses plumbers as specialty contractors under C-36. The GC should name the sub and provide their license number. Look it up — confirm Active status and that the sub's workers' comp is current.
Step 4: Verify the electrical sub-contractor holds CSLB C-10 license
Bathroom GFCI circuit additions, heated-floor wiring, and vanity-light fixtures require an electrical sub licensed as C-10. Same verification process — license number, Active status, workers' comp current.
Step 5: Confirm the GC plans to install a shower-pan liner with pre-slope to the drain
Code (CBC chapter 4) requires a water-tight shower-pan liner installed over a pre-sloped base (1/4-inch per foot minimum) draining to a weep-hole-protected clamping drain. A GC who pours mortar directly onto the substrate without the liner + pre-slope is building a future leak. Ask to see the pan liner and drain assembly before the tile goes down — demand photos if you can't be on-site.
Step 6: Verify the ventilation fan is sized to the bathroom sqft
CMC section 402 requires bathroom ventilation of 1 CFM per sqft of room area, minimum 50 CFM, vented to the exterior (not attic). For a 60-sqft full bath, specify a 70-80 CFM fan; for a 100-sqft master bath, 110-130 CFM. Under-sized fans trap moisture in wall cavities and cause mold within 18 months.
Step 7: Lock tile, fixture, and vanity allowances in writing
Tile is the #1 bathroom cost-overrun line item. $3/sqft porcelain vs $40/sqft natural stone is a 13x spread. Allowance per-line: tile (per sqft), tile labor (per sqft), fixtures (faucet + shower head + tub), vanity (cabinet + counter + sink), lighting. Over-allowance = homeowner funds the delta. Under-allowance = homeowner gets a refund.
Step 8: Confirm permit strategy — LADBS same-day express vs standard plan-check
Like-for-like fixture replacement in the same location: no permit. Moving the toilet, tub, shower, or sink: PermitLA express plumbing permit (same-day approval). Adding a bathroom or converting a closet to a half-bath: standard plan-check (2-4 weeks). Any bathroom work involving gas line changes or structural alterations: full plan-check with structural review.
Step 9: Book the 24-hour shower-pan flood test before tile goes down
Before the tile is installed, the shower-pan liner must be flood-tested: plug the drain, fill with 2 inches of water, leave for 24 hours, confirm zero loss. A competent GC schedules this automatically and photographs the test. Skipping this test is the #1 cause of future leaks — insist on it in writing.
Still have questions?
Ask Baily — pre-seeded for this topic.
Loading chat…
Who is Baily?
Baily is named after Francis Baily — an English stockbroker who retired at 51, became an astronomer, and in 1836 described something on the edge of a solar eclipse that nobody had properly articulated before: a string of bright beads of sunlight breaking through the valleys along the moon’s rim.
He wasn’t the first to see them. Edmond Halley saw them in 1715 and barely noticed. Baily’s contribution was clarity — describing exactly what was happening, in plain language, so vividly that the whole field of astronomy paid attention. The phenomenon is still called Baily’s beads.
That’s what we wanted our AI to do. Every inbound call and text has signal in it — a homeowner’s real question, a timeline, a budget, a hesitation that means “yes but.” Baily listens to every one, 24/7, and finds the beads of light.
Baily was a businessman before he was a scientist. That’s our vibe too.