A bathroom remodel is a contract between you and a business that will have workers, tools and materials in your home for weeks. Washington gives homeowners several protections, but most only help if you use them before work starts. Here's a checklist, in order.
1. Verify the contractor's registration
Washington requires construction contractors to register with the state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). L&I's online "Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson, or Business" tool shows whether a registration is active or suspended. Contractors must display their registration number in advertising, on business cards, on estimates and on bid proposals. Working while unregistered is a gross misdemeanor. L&I says it will never call to ask for licensing or registration fees over the phone.
2. Understand the bond and insurance
Registration requires a continuous surety bond, $30,000 for general contractors and $15,000 for specialty contractors, with the higher amounts applying as each registration renews after July 1, 2024. Registered contractors also carry general liability insurance, with L&I listed as a certificate holder. The bond is some financial protection, but it may not cover everything, so don't treat it as a guarantee.
3. Ask for the disclosure statement
For residential work of $1,000 or more, a contractor must give you a disclosure statement before starting. It states that the contractor is registered and bonded, warns that the bond may not fully protect you, and explains that unpaid workers or suppliers could place a lien on your home. It also tells you that you may withhold part of the payment, called retainage, and may ask for lien releases. A contractor who doesn't provide it can lose the right to file a lien.
4. Check the licensed trades
Plumbing and electrical are separately licensed trades. When a remodeler does this work for you, it should be done by people licensed in those trades, and the permit should be in the right name. Ask who will do each part and request the license information.
5. Get the scope in writing
A good bathroom contract names the work and the materials. Look for:
- the full scope, what's demolished, rebuilt and left alone
- fixtures, tile, vanity and countertop by model or allowance
- the waterproofing method and how the shower pan is tested
- the exhaust fan rating and where it vents. See bathroom ventilation
- who pulls permits and handles inspections
- how hidden damage is priced, so you aren't surprised mid-project
- the schedule, payment terms and warranty
6. Tie payment to progress
Pay as work is completed rather than far in advance, and ask for lien releases from the contractor and from major subcontractors and suppliers as you pay. Subcontractors and suppliers can file a mechanic's lien if they aren't paid, even if you already paid the contractor, and a lien must be cleared before you can sell the property. For projects over $5,000, a contractor must post a Notice to Owner at the job site.
7. Know your right to cancel
If a contractor pressures you at your door to sign quickly on expensive home work, federal rules generally give you three business days to cancel in writing. Keep a copy and proof of delivery.
Red flags
- no registration number on the estimate or truck
- pressure to sign today, or a price that's only good "right now"
- a request for a large payment up front
- vague scope or no written contract
- a suggestion to skip a permit your project needs. See bathroom remodel permits in Kirkland
If you're ready to talk with a local contractor, start from bathroom remodeling in Kirkland or call (425) 555-0172. Our cost guide explains how to compare estimates once you have them.