Should I Use a Specialist For My Bathroom Remodel?
When you’re ready to remodel your bathroom, you’ll most likely hire a general contractor (otherwise known as a GC) to assist you with your project. A GC is instrumental in a project adhering to expected schedule and budget. They’ll find the qualified tradesmen, organize and schedule the project appropriately, as well as help with the design & overall process by utilizing their experience in the industry. Most companies that offer remodeling services are true general contractors - meaning they do not personally perform the work. Instead, they hire subcontractors and manage projects. Hiring a GC has several benefits but when it comes to bathroom remodels, there can be additional incentives to hiring one with a trade specialty.
Why hiring a general contractor with a trade specialty is beneficial:
Hiring a trade specialist will result in savings and/or better quality of work.
General contractors have a general understanding of the trades, but a specialist will possess additional in-depth knowledge of their specific area of expertise.
Tile specialists are closely acquainted with aesthetics, design, and current trends and can offer supplemental assistance in these crucial areas of project planning.
A trade specialist will not markup their own services, resulting in less commission expenses for the homeowner.
Most GC’s will use the cheap tile guy to stay competitive in pricing, often resulting in a failed shower or other aspect of the build.
Why Hire a General Contractor in The First Place?
The livelihood of a general contractor is based off of a commission, or markup in services. A 30-40% markup is standard in the residential construction industry. While this may seem substantial, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the consumer pays an additional 30-40% more than they otherwise would if they managed their own project. General contractors typically receive better pricing on materials and discounts on services from subcontractors that the average homeowner wouldn’t have access to. These factors negate some of the additional commission costs that a GC will apply to their projects. Also, some of the markup applied is for “coincidentals” such as the purchase of a few extra supplies, delays in the work performed, and small changes in scope of work that may not justify the creation of a formal change order. On top of all these cost savings, having someone experienced and knowledgeable with the process can save unforeseeable amounts as a result of efficiency and act as a sort of insurance against oversights. For example, if a homeowner attempts to manage their own project and schedules a subcontractor too early in the process, this could easily result in a substantial increase to the final bill.
Should I Hire a Specialist?
Put simply, hiring a specialized tradesman as a general contractor will save the homeowner on markup costs for at least one of the trades involved in the remodeling process. When it comes to bathroom’s specifically, the most expensive aspect of these projects tends to be the tile work (i.e., showers, tub deck, tub surrounds, vanity backsplash, flooring etc.). So, using a general contractor who specializes in tile will save you on the markup cost of the tile work, the most expensive aspect of your project. Hiring a “tile guy” to manage your project will provide you with all the benefits of hiring a general contractor and then some. A tile contractor is on the front lines of bathroom remodels, so they will have a unique perspective on the position of their subs. Maintaining subcontractor moral during any project is important for the overall outcome and quality of work delivered. Trade specialists are often the subcontractors in a project and know how to treat the workers in a way that keeps everybody happy. A specialized general contractor will also be on-site for more of the project and have their finger on the pulse of the process much more than a typical general contractor would.
Hiring a Tile Specialist Will Save on Future Issues
Due to tile being such an expensive aspect of a bathroom build, it’s extremely common for a GC to use the cheaper option when it comes to tile. This no doubt makes them more competitive on pricing, but at what cost? A tile failure is an expensive and extremely inconvenient occurrence, and it can lead to the replacement of more than just the tile itself. Tile floors can sometimes be installed with somewhat subpar methods and the issues that arise will not be extremely detrimental. However, subpar methodology on tile showers will cause major issues if even a minor aspect of the building process is overlooked. These issues are usually not considerably cheap or easy fixes. Even on the low end, a tile shower will cost several thousand dollars- all-in to build. Now factor in the cost of a failure. You’ll have to purchase the tile a second time, you’ll have to hire a more qualified (and therefore more expensive) tile installer to not only build a new shower, but to remove the old one, and in the worst of cases you’ll have moldy rotting studs or subfloor that will have to be repaired or replaced as well. All of these extra services will incur extra expenses. When the average cost of a bathroom remodel in America is between $40-60k, it’s no wonder why most consumer’s want to find savings anywhere they can, but it is crucial that the tile (especially in wet areas) is done by only the extremely qualified.
Better Quality of Work
Tile projects are unique in the sense that they are equal parts form and function. Nobody wants a beautiful looking shower that lasts only a year or two, just as nobody wants a shower that lasts a lifetime but has uneven tiles with out of level lines and ugly design choices. It takes more than just a knowledgeable technician or skilled artisan to provide a proper tile job. A proper tile job requires the installer to be both an artist and technician simultaneously. It’s rare to find these traits in the pool of “cheaper options”, and it’s important that this is not the route one chooses when building a new bathroom that’s intended to last the long haul. Another benefit of hiring a tile specialist to GC a bathroom remodel is their experience with aesthetics and design. Though they may not have the eye of an interior designer, they are generally more familiar with design than most other trades. A tile specialist that offers turnkey bathroom remodeling can be something similar to a design-build firm on a smaller scale. We can offer our knowledge of design, layout, and current trends to help curate the overall vision of our client’s dream space. Another important point, a quality tradesman tends to know more quality tradesmen. Generally speaking, a craftsman will have a network of craftsman and subpar “construction workers” will tend to have a pool of similarly skilled construction workers to hire from.
We love what we do and love to forge new relationships and increase our clientele, so if you’re looking to have a bathroom remodeled, use a reputable, well reviewed trade specialist who offers turnkey bathroom remodeling. Platow Home & Tile offers these services as well as several other adjacent services. Feel free to contact us to find out more or to schedule a free consultation at (346) 573-2816, or email us at carley@platowhomeandtile.com. We look forward to hearing from you!