Older homes, older bathrooms
Many Sacramento neighborhoods have homes built across many decades, and their bathrooms often show it: original tile set in mortar, galvanized supply pipes that restrict flow and corrode, cast-iron drains, ungrounded outlets and fans that vent into the attic or don't exist at all. A remodel is the time to deal with what's behind the walls. Ask the contractor to inspect the plumbing and wiring during demolition and to price replacements separately, so you can decide with full information.
Older homes may also contain materials that need special handling, such as lead-based paint or asbestos in some flooring, adhesives or plaster. If your house is older, ask the contractor whether testing is needed before demolition and how they handle these materials if they're found.
Ventilation in Sacramento's climate
Sacramento's winters are mild but damp. Most rain falls in winter, and tule fog can settle in for days, keeping the air cool and humid. A bathroom without a working exhaust fan in that weather develops mold on ceilings, around windows and in grout. A properly sized fan vented to the outdoors, with a timer or humidity sensor so it runs long enough after showers, is one of the most valuable parts of a remodel. Confirm the fan won't discharge into the attic.
In summer, long stretches of triple-digit heat, with National Weather Service records showing runs of nine or more consecutive days at 100°F or higher, make attic spaces very hot. If the remodel involves new ducting for the fan or new recessed lights in the ceiling, make sure the ceiling is sealed and insulated afterward, so the bathroom doesn't become the hottest room in the house.
Water heating and electrification
Most of Sacramento is served by SMUD, which has been offering rebates for replacing gas water heaters with heat pump water heaters. If your bathroom remodel adds a larger shower, a soaking tub or multiple shower heads, consider whether your water heater can keep up. If you're thinking about a heat pump water heater, ask your plumber and electrician about space, ventilation, condensate drainage and electrical capacity, and confirm current rebate terms with SMUD before you plan around them.
Slab and raised floors
Moving a toilet or shower drain is more involved on a slab foundation, because the concrete must be cut. On raised foundations with crawlspaces, drains are easier to reach. Ask the contractor how your foundation type affects the cost of layout changes.
Permits
Bathroom remodels with plumbing or electrical changes need permits from the City of Sacramento or Sacramento County, depending on where you live. Ask who pulls permits and how inspections fit the schedule.
Before you hire
Ask Sacramento bathroom remodelers for an itemized proposal, which waterproofing system they use, how they'll vent the exhaust fan, how they handle older materials, and what their workmanship warranty covers. Look up the contractor's California license with the CSLB.