Short answer: before you call a contractor, decide what isn’t working in the bathroom, whether the tub stays, whether the toilet, sink, and shower stay where they are, and a budget range. Keeping the layout keeps the plumbing simpler and the job shorter. The rest of this checklist gets you ready for the first meeting. Print it with your browser’s print button.
1. Goals
- ☐ What bothers you most: the shower, storage, light, ventilation, the look?
- ☐ Who uses this bathroom, and when (the morning rush, guests, kids)?
- ☐ Anyone in the house who needs a step-free shower or grab bars, now or later?
- ☐ Photos of bathrooms you like
2. Tub or shower
- ☐ Does anyone actually take baths? If not, a tub-to-shower conversion usually fits the existing footprint.
- ☐ If this is the only tub in the house, think about resale. Families with small kids often want at least one.
- ☐ Shower extras: bench, niche, rain head, handheld, frameless glass
- ☐ Custom tile over a waterproof membrane, or a panel or liner system? (the tradeoffs)
3. Layout and plumbing
- ☐ Keep the toilet, sink, and shower where they are, or move them? Moving them means new supply and drain runs and permits.
- ☐ One sink or two?
- ☐ Any walls or doors you’d like to change
4. Finishes and storage
- ☐ Tile: floor-to-ceiling in the shower or a surround, plus the floor
- ☐ Vanity: stock or custom, wall-hung or floor-standing, drawers or doors
- ☐ Storage: medicine cabinet, niche, linen space
- ☐ Lighting at the mirror, and a fan that actually clears steam
- ☐ Heated floor?
5. Budget
- ☐ A range you’re comfortable with. Tile scope, moving plumbing, fixture quality, and the vanity and glass drive the number most.
- ☐ A contingency for an older house: rot behind old tile is common in Portland (how we handle it)
6. Timing and living arrangements
- ☐ Is this your only bathroom? Plan for the days you’ll need a backup, and ask the contractor for those dates in advance.
- ☐ Rough construction time: 1–2 weeks for a tub-to-shower conversion, 2–3 for a same-layout update, 4–6 for a full gut, plus 1–2 weeks for a typical permit (the full timeline)
- ☐ Order special-order tile, vanities, and glass early
7. Questions to ask every contractor
- ☐ Is your Oregon CCB license active? (CCB license search)
- ☐ What waterproofing system goes behind the tile, and is it installed to the manufacturer’s spec?
- ☐ What happens if you find rot when the old tile comes off?
- ☐ Who pulls the permits, and which inspections will we need?
- ☐ Is the estimate itemized? What’s the warranty, in writing?
Once the bids come in, here’s how to compare estimates.
Bring this list to a free consultation
We’ll look at the room with you and turn your answers into a line-item estimate.
