Unexpected situations are common during home remodeling. If you don’t have a good bathroom remodeler taking care of your project, it can quickly become an absolute nightmare. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps anyone can take to find a competent craftsman.
First and foremost, do your research. There are paid and free agencies such as the Better Business Bureau that can provide contractor reviews in your area. Make sure that the contractor has a good rating.
Find a contractor that has experience working on older homes. Older homes can be especially challenging to deal with. Over the years, construction practices have changed drastically. Older homes have heavier materials that probably require more demolition. Someone that is unfamiliar with old homes might not know how to properly deal with lead paint, asbestos, and other hazardous materials. Addressing those situations incorrectly (or worse, covering them up), can lead to unsafe conditions in the future.
Find someone with knowledge spanning all phases of construction trades. This would include framing, carpentry and trim, electrical, and plumbing knowledge. When unexpected situations arise, someone with inadequate knowledge might sweep them under the rug instead of addressing them. For example, we once went into a project after a group of previous remodelers. They had found some wires in the wall, and instead of correctly addressing them, they tied them together and pushed them back into the wall. It created a very unsafe situation on the inside that looked good from the surface.
Find someone that has many years of overall experience. Customers are often concerned about cost overages. Knowledgable, experienced contractors who have worked on homes of various ages will be able to make an accurate cost assessment when they initially visit your house. They will have the ability to do a mental x-ray of the bathroom to use the home’s age to determine what will be involved in the remodel. They will also be able to create an accurate schedule/timeline. This will save a lot of time in the future, ensuring that the costs won’t become excessive due to any surprises. Inexperienced remodelers may end up going up to 50 percent over budget.
Having someone competent will provide a high-quality result that not only looks good on the outside, but is also safe on the inside for many years to come. Overall, this comes down to doing your research to find someone that has experience in the areas that we discussed.
