Two local facts before the planning
Weather station figures. The NOAA engineering weather station used on this page is Otis ANGB, about 12 miles west of Barnstable on the Upper Cape. In an average year at Otis ANGB, NOAA counts about 161 hours when the wet-bulb temperature is above 73°F, and about 795 hours when it is above 67°F. Those counts belong to the Otis ANGB station.
Drinking water. According to the Cape Cod Commission, the Cape Cod aquifer has been designated a single sole-source aquifer. It is made up of six separate lenses that are not hydraulically connected, and it is replenished solely by precipitation, about 450 million gallons a day. Water suppliers pump about 11 billion gallons a year from it through 160 gravel-pack wells.
Put the job in writing first
Everything from here on is about one room in your house. A remodel goes more smoothly when you can hand each contractor the same short written scope. It does not need to be technical. Cover:
- what stays and what goes: the tub, the vanity, the floor, the wall finish, the light over the mirror;
- what annoys you now, such as a door that bumps the toilet, a cabinet too shallow for towels or a mirror that fogs;
- who uses the room and whether anyone may need a seat in the shower, a hand-held spray or a place for a grab bar later;
- whether the toilet, sink and shower should stay where they are or whether you are open to moving them;
- a rough budget range you are comfortable sharing.
Add photos of each wall, the ceiling and the floor around the toilet base. If there is a room or crawlspace under the bathroom, note how to get to it so a bidder can look.
When the old room comes apart
Demolition shows things no one could see at the first visit. Ask each bidder what they plan to check once the tile and drywall are off, and how they will tell you about it. Useful questions:
- Will you probe the subfloor around the toilet flange and the tub for soft spots?
- How will you judge whether the joists under the room need sistering or blocking?
- Will the old shutoff valves and supply lines be replaced while the wall is open?
- If you find old wiring or a fan duct that ends inside the attic, how will you price the fix?
- Will you send photos and a written price before doing any repair that was not in the contract?
Tub, shower or both
The bathing fixture drives a large share of the decisions that follow. A tub in an alcove can be swapped for a new tub in the same space. Turning a tub into a walk-in shower brings a new base, new waterproofing and often a different drain. A curbless shower needs the floor framing and slope planned from the start. Ask each contractor which option they are pricing and what the floor under it will need.
If you keep a tub, ask whether the new one will be set in a mortar bed or on its own feet, and how the wall flange will be tied into the waterproofing above it.
The layer that keeps water in
Tile, stone and panels are finishes. The protection sits behind them: a sheet membrane, a liquid-applied coating or a board system with sealed seams. Ask for the product name, how high on the walls it will run, how corners, niches and benches are wrapped, and how the drain connects to it. Ask whether the shower floor will be flood-tested before tile goes down, and whether you can see the test or get a dated photo.
Getting steam out of the house
This is general advice that applies to any bathroom. A fan does its work only when the air it moves ends up outside. Ask the remodeler:
- What airflow rating does the fan carry, and how was that chosen for this room?
- Will the duct end at a roof or wall cap outdoors rather than in the attic or a soffit?
- What duct material and route are planned, and how many turns does it take?
- If the duct passes through unheated space, will it be insulated?
- Will a timer or humidity control keep the fan running after the shower is off?
Ask for the fan's sound rating too. A fan that is quiet enough to leave running gets used.
Light, power and comfort
One fixture above the mirror throws shadows on your face. Lights on both sides, a fixture rated for the shower and a low night setting each change the wiring plan. Ask the electrician which code the town applies to outlets near the sink and tub, and what protection it calls for. If you want a heated floor, a heated towel bar or an outlet inside a cabinet, decide before rough-in so the circuits can be laid out.
Permits, trades and coverage
Put these to every bidder and keep their answers with the paperwork:
- Which permits will the town want for this remodel, and whose name goes on them?
- What state license or registration, if any, covers this work, and what is the number?
- Who handles the plumbing and the electrical, and are they your staff or subcontractors?
- Can you send proof of liability coverage and workers' compensation before work starts?
If you have questions about your own homeowner's policy while the room is torn out, call your insurer.
Laying the proposals side by side
Ask every contractor to price your written scope in the same order, so their papers line up:
- protection of floors and hallways, tear-out and disposal;
- each plumbing change, listed by fixture;
- the tub or shower base and the waterproofing product by name;
- tile or panels by product and size, with the area covered;
- vanity, top, faucet, toilet, valve and trim by model;
- fan, duct route and control;
- lighting, outlets and any heated items;
- permits, inspections, cleanup and the written warranty.
Ask how long the room will be out of service and, if it is your only bathroom, how the crew plans around that. Link each payment to a stage of finished work.