How to Choose a Bathroom Remodeler in Metro Detroit

Lead with waterproofing: ask how they build and waterproof a shower. You want to hear about a sloped pan, a sheet or liquid membrane, and sealed penetrations — not just “backer board.” Ask whether their plumbers and electricians are licensed, how they vent moisture, who pulls permits, and how they handle the tile cure schedule. A real bathroom remodeler talks fluently about the parts behind the wall. Someone who only wants to discuss tile color and fixture finishes is telling you where their attention stops.

Walk away from anyone who downplays waterproofing, plans to tile over a questionable substrate, will not pull permits, or cannot show you photos of in-progress shower waterproofing. Be wary of a bid far below the others — in a bathroom, “cheaper” almost always means the membrane, the pan, or the venting got cut. A large cash-only deposit and no written, itemized scope are warnings too. The cost of a failed shower — tear-out, rot remediation, redo — dwarfs anything you save up front.

Bathroom failures are wet, hidden, and costly, so who builds yours is everything. The remodelers in our network are screened for state licensing, insurance, and proof of quality waterproofing work — we look specifically for the contractors who do the invisible part correctly. You still pick from the shortlist and compare quotes, but you are choosing among pros who have shown they keep water out of the walls.