There’s no denying that a bathroom remodeling project isn’t for the faint-hearted. There is a lot to plan, consider, and manage, even in small bathroom projects. For those reasons and more, it makes sense to use a professional bathtub and tile shower contractor.
The trouble is, with so many companies out there offering bathroom remodeling services like shower remodels, how do you know which is the right one for you? Learn more about the most common qualities you’ll find in the best contractors within the industry.
It’s always a good idea to spend time doing some research into potential bathroom remodeling providers. As you’ve probably noticed, you have an almost limitless choice of professionals from the bathtub and tile shower remodeling sector.
Most will offer similar services. But, the service offering is where the similarity ends. For example, each contractor will have different work ethics, with some placing more emphasis on profit instead of customer satisfaction.
With that in mind, the following five qualities are ones you should look out for when reviewing potential contractors:
One quality to check in a bathtub or tile shower remodeling professional or company relates to their professional endorsements. What certification, qualifications, and accreditation does your potential contractor have?
Any industry professional or business will be more than happy to give you details of the industry certification, qualifications, and accreditation they have.
If you come across contractors that refuse to provide you with those details or come up with excuses, look elsewhere.
After all, the last thing you want to do is pay a contractor that won’t complete the project correctly and safely.
When it comes to looking for the best in the business, one thing you should do is look for remodeling contractors that have a wealth of industry experience. These are people and companies that have completed hundreds of projects like yours successfully.
Of course, experience isn’t the sole determining factor when looking for reputable people that can remodel your shower or bathroom. But, when looking for local contractors that are the best at what they do, experience is something you need to consider, among other things.
Anyone in the bathtub and tile shower remodeling sector can say they are professionals, and they may have the certification, qualifications, accreditations, and experience to back that up. However, that doesn’t automatically make them honest and trustworthy.
As you can appreciate, trying to determine whether someone is honest and trustworthy can be challenging at the best of times. You could, of course, listen to your inner voice and decide on whether to shortlist contractors on that basis.
But, it makes sense to check out reviews from previous customers to form a more solid opinion about a contractor’s honesty and whether you can trust them or not to do a good job.
It might surprise you to learn that creativity is another good metric to consider when looking at the top qualities of good bathtub and tile shower remodeling professionals and businesses. As you can imagine, some people may not totally know what they want or which changes are possible.
If a remodeling contractor has a creative streak, they can recommend ideas for your bathroom that help you achieve your goals and even save money.
Last but not least, a good bathtub and tile shower remodeling professional will be reliable. When looking at the best providers in your area, why is that an important quality, you might ask yourself?
The answer is simple: unreliable contractors will never finish your project on time. That can result in frustration and anger, especially if you’ve had to take time off from work while the work was getting done (particularly if you work from home).
You know about the qualities you need to consider when selecting the best people for your project. But, how exactly do you work out which bathtub or tile shower remodeling professional or company is right for you?
The following points will ultimately guide you to choosing the right contractor to turn your bathroom concept into reality:
Firstly, you need to think about what work you’d like carried out in your vision of a new and improved bathroom. For example, do you want the entire bathroom gutted and an entirely reconfigured and redesigned tile shower fitted in its place?
Perhaps you only want to have a tile shower installed in the corner of your bathroom to complement an existing bathtub? Knowing precisely what you want will help you get the correct result.
Next, the one thing you should never do is accept the first estimate from a remodeling professional or company. You need to get estimates from several shortlisted contractors for a few reasons.
First of all, you can determine an average price for your project. Secondly, you can work out which company or remodeling professional is the right fit for your needs. Lastly, you can avoid providers that are overcharging for their work.
Arguably one of the best ways to measure the quality of a contractor’s work is by scrutinizing their previous projects. You can easily do that by asking to see examples of past work similar to your bathtub or tile shower remodeling project.
Most companies like EZBath have image galleries on their websites that anyone can review at any time. Otherwise, a good contractor will be more than happy to share with you photographs of their previous jobs, whether by email or online, on an image-sharing site.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking to get a new standard bathtub or a complete tub to shower conversion carried out in your bathroom. The work will cost some money, and you need to know how much you’re likely to pay for it.
That’s why you should always get all estimates in writing. Doing so will ensure that you’ve got written evidence of an estimate if a contractor tries to charge you an excessive amount of what they’ve agreed with you verbally.
When you’ve decided on a contractor and you’re happy with the price estimate or quotation, you’ll need to have the work scheduled. It’s undoubtedly something you agree with the individual or company in question.
But, you should always confirm the schedule with the contractor shortly before it takes place. That way, if there are any issues, you’ll have time to make new arrangements if someone needs to be at home, for example.
Another thing you should confirm is the work that should get carried out. It’s essential the work carried out meets your expectations, and that the contractor won’t remove or replace anything by mistake.
Usually, a detailed estimate or quotation will list all the things that will get carried out. If yours doesn’t, make sure to have that information from them in writing. If there are issues at any stage, you’ll have written evidence to back up what was initially agreed.
There might be some bathroom elements you want to keep and reuse, partly to save money on your new bathtub or tile shower project, and possibly because you don’t think it makes sense to have some existing items removed or replaced.
Make sure you think about which bathroom elements you’d like to reuse or keep, and ensure that the remodeling professional or company you use is aware of your wishes.
The sad truth is that some contractors lie and claim they have specific industry certifications or accreditations when that’s not the case at all. They do this because it means they can attract more customers and increase their profits.
When a contractor claims to have certain specific credentials, you should always independently verify each one with the issuing organization. When you do that, you’ll avoid using an unscrupulous bathtub or tile shower remodeling contractor.
Last but not least, consider asking your contractor to sign a legal contract. It’s a legal document that both parties sign and will detail the particulars of your project, including costs and schedules.
Contracts also give you some legal leverage in case things don’t work out and your contractor refuses to remedy the situation to a satisfactory outcome.
Choosing a bathtub or tile shower professional or company is easier than you think when you determine if providers have the right qualities. Plus, knowing what else to check before selecting one will save you time and money.
Schedule your free in-home consultation today.
Deal with the experts in the remodeling industry.
Providing bathroom remodeling services in the Houston Metro area.
Proud father and husband. A big comic book nerd and sweets are my kryptonite. I fell in love with the remodeling industry in 2008 and it's held a tight grip on me ever since.
