Lafayette in public figures
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts lists, for Lafayette, IN over 2020-2024, 32,242 households with 2.16 persons per household, an owner-occupied housing unit rate of 46.7%, and a median household income (in 2024 dollars) of $53,716.
Separately, Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) has its Lafayette plant in the city. In the City of Lafayette's June 25, 2020 news release, SIA's expansion was described as retaining 6,185 existing full-time permanent positions and creating 350 full-time permanent positions, with two new facilities encompassing 110,000 square feet.
Why you will find no prices here
A bathroom quote rests on things a guide cannot see: the size of your room, what sits under the floor, the products you choose and the crew's rates. So this guide works the other way round. It gives you a worksheet for reading any quote, explains the clauses that protect you when the walls hold surprises, and lists the small decisions that quietly raise or lower a total.
A trade-by-trade worksheet
A bathroom is a small room visited by many trades, each waiting on the one before. Copy these headings onto a sheet and fill in what each bidder includes under them. Blank rows tell you what to ask about.
Demolition and protection. Who covers the floors and doorways, how dust is contained, and who hauls the debris away.
Carpentry. Subfloor repair, sistered or replaced joists if needed, framing for a niche or bench, blocking for grab bars and the vanity.
Plumbing. New or reused valve, drain changes, supply lines, shutoffs, and setting the toilet, sink and shower trim.
Electrical. New circuits, lighting, outlets, the fan wiring and any heated floor.
Ventilation. Fan model, duct material and route, outdoor termination and the control.
Waterproofing. The product or system by name, how high it runs, and the flood test of the shower floor.
Tile and finishes. Backer board, tile setting, grout, caulk, paint and trim.
Fixtures and glass. Who supplies each item, who installs it, and when the glass is measured.
Permits and inspections. Which ones, who files them, and whether the fees are in the price.
Cleanup and punch list. What "done" looks like, in writing.
If one quote fills every row and another leaves half of them blank, the lower number may simply be covering less.
Hidden conditions and how the contract handles them
An old bathroom can hide things: a subfloor softened by a slow toilet leak, a corroded valve, a drain with the wrong slope, wiring that needs replacing. A good contract says in advance how such a find is handled. Ask that it spell out:
- that work stops and you are told the same day;
- that the problem is photographed before it is covered or removed;
- that the repair is priced in writing and signed by you before it goes ahead;
- whether the price uses a set hourly rate and a materials markup, and what they are.
Keep a contingency in your own budget, separate from the contract, so a find like this does not force you to cut the finishes you wanted.
Small choices that add up
A single small decision may not move a quote far. Several together can. Watch for:
- Grout and caulk. Epoxy and high-performance grouts cost more than standard cement grout; ask what is quoted.
- Tile layout. Herringbone, diagonal or a feature band takes more cutting than a straight lay.
- Trim pieces. Bullnose, metal edge profiles and matching niche shelves are separate line items.
- Faucet finish. The same faucet can cost more in some finishes than in chrome.
- Fan upgrades. A quieter model, a humidity sensor or a built-in light changes the fan line.
- Mirror and lighting. A lit mirror or extra sconces bring new wiring.
- Accessories. Towel bars, hooks, paper holders and a robe hook are cheap alone and add up in a list.
Ask for these to be priced as named items rather than buried in a general figure.
Changes after you sign
Ideas grow once the room is open. That is fine, if each change is written down with its price and its effect on the schedule, then signed before the work starts. Ask the contractor what form they use and how the change shows on the next invoice.
Paying by stage
Agree on a payment plan tied to work you can see:
1. A deposit at signing, as the contract states. 2. A payment after rough plumbing, wiring and framing, and any rough inspection. 3. A payment once waterproofing is tested and tile is set. 4. The balance after fixtures, glass and fan are working, any final inspection is closed and the punch list is finished.
Before you sign, ask which city permits the job needs and who pulls them, what state license, if any, covers this work, and what the number is, and ask for proof of liability coverage and workers' compensation.
What to keep when it is done
Ask for a closeout packet: the signed contract and every change order, permit cards and inspection results, product names and model numbers, the tile and grout names and color codes, warranty papers, and photos taken while the walls were open. File it with your house papers. When a cartridge needs replacing or a tile cracks, that packet saves a guessing game.