The Brownsville station's wind and rain figures
NOAA's engineering weather data for Brownsville lists a 50-year basic wind speed of 130 mph (3-second gust at 33 feet), a 100-year rainfall rate of 4.5 inches per hour and about 1 freeze-thaw cycle in an average year.
What this guide covers
This is a cost guide without prices. A bathroom quote is built from the size of the room, the products you choose and what the crew finds once the old finishes come off, and none of that can be priced from a distance. What you can do is understand how a quote is put together, which choices push it up or down, and how to keep the total under control once work begins.
Labor and materials
Every bathroom quote splits into two broad parts. Materials are the things you can point to: tile, a vanity, a toilet, a valve, glass, a fan. Labor is the time of each trade that touches the room, and in a small space with several trades taking turns, labor can add up quickly. Ask each bidder to show the two separately, at least for the big lines, so you can see whether a change in product or a change in scope is driving a difference between bids.
Line items that move the total
- Plumbing changes. Moving a drain means opening the floor and rerouting pipe. Replacing a valve in the same spot is far simpler.
- The shower base. A one-piece pan installs faster than a tiled floor over a sloped bed or a foam tray with a bonded membrane.
- Tub removal. Taking out a cast iron tub takes extra hands and time. Swapping a tub for a walk-in shower brings new waterproofing and often a new drain.
- Tile choices. Small mosaics, patterns and tile to the ceiling take more labor than larger tile in the wet area only.
- Glass. A curtain rod costs least; a framed door sits in the middle; frameless glass costs the most and is usually measured only after tile is finished.
- The vanity. Stock sizes cost less than custom cabinetry, and the top material changes the price again.
- Electrical additions. New lighting, a heated floor, extra outlets or a dedicated fan circuit each add time for the electrician.
- Accessibility features. A curbless entry, a bench, a hand shower on a slide bar and grab-bar blocking are cheaper to plan now than to add later.
Ask for a base price with each upgrade on its own line. That way you can drop one without starting the bid over.
Allowances, contingency and change orders
An allowance is a placeholder in the quote for something not yet chosen, such as tile or a faucet. Ask what each allowance assumes and how the price changes if your choice costs more or less. Set your own contingency apart from the contract for problems nobody can see yet, like soft subfloor under the toilet or a rotted plate behind the tub.
Any change after signing should be written down, priced and signed before the extra work starts. Ask the contractor how a hidden problem will be documented with photos and how you will approve the repair.
When a leak claim is disputed
A bathroom remodel sometimes follows a leak: a failed shower pan, a cracked supply line or a toilet seal that let go. If you filed a home insurance claim for that damage and you and your insurer can't agree on it, the Texas Department of Insurance suggests asking for an appraisal or hiring a public adjuster. TDI takes complaints online or through its Help Line at 800-252-3439, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday.
While a claim is open, keep the evidence: photos of the damage before demolition, the plumber's written finding on the cause, the remodeler's estimate and every letter from the insurer. Ask your insurer before tearing out damaged materials, and keep a copy of what they tell you.
Payments tied to finished work
Agree on a payment schedule tied to stages, not dates: a deposit at signing, a payment after rough-in and any inspection, another after tile, and the balance once the punch list is closed. Hold the last payment until every fixture works, the fan pulls air outdoors and the permits are closed.
Questions before you sign
- Will the electrical work be done under a TDLR license, and what is that license number?
- Which city permits does this job need, and who pulls them?
- Who does the plumbing, and are they on your payroll or subcontractors?
- What waterproofing system will you use, and will the shower floor be flood-tested?
- Can you show proof of liability coverage and workers' compensation?
- What does your written warranty cover, and for how long?
The order of work
1. Selections. Every product is chosen and ordered before demolition, so the job doesn't stall waiting on a vanity or glass. 2. Permits, filed by whoever the contract names. 3. Demolition. Old finishes come out and anything hidden is photographed. 4. Rough-in. Plumbing, wiring, blocking and the fan duct go in, followed by any rough inspection. 5. Waterproofing and the flood test. 6. Backer board, tile and grout, then paint. 7. Fixtures, vanity and glass. Each piece is set and tested. 8. Final walkthrough. Any final inspection, a written punch list and the last payment.
Keep the contract, change orders, permits, model numbers, tile and grout names, warranties and the photos of the open walls in one folder.