So, we are now three months removed from the completion of a master bath remodel, and reflecting upon the process may help others in what to expect.

1) Contractors are very difficult to judge, but we found that examining their past work can be very useful. The catch is, will the same people that did the job you looked at do your job? In our case, we picked a 2 man renovation team, that used the same subs for all their work. This allowed us to feel good about comparing previous jobs. The highest bid contract arrived with all her subs, which was impressive, but also delivered an estimate over 30% higher with few references. The lowest bidder asked, before bidding, if this was a permit or no permits job...immediate red flag.

2) Make sure you have an explicit contract with all details laid out. We missed a small detail, and were able to work it out for a small additional charge, so carefully read the scope of the work.

3) Changes cost money, change orders are like money vacuums. It pays to spend time, before you start, nailing down the plans, considering options for "hiccups", deciding on possible necessary compromises and vetting the contract. The contract should also clearly spell out payment percentages and milestones.

4) Floor and Decor, and the like, are often hated on, but can be a great place to get tile. The catch is you have to know what you are looking for and what to avoid. Knowing we needed a rectified tile (if you are considering a remodel and don't know what this is, do more research, please...it's a tile with square and even edges) rather than a pressed tile...knowing we wanted porcelain tiles...understanding the ratings for slipperiness and wear resistence...etc.

5) Also, a bathroom designer or consultent is a godsend for ensuring you understand how elements work together, and is often present at tile stores, if you don't want to hire your own.

6) Living without a bathroom you are used to, even in a house with two other bathrooms, is a real shock.

7) Timelines are almost always optimistic. We intially hoped to be almost done in two weeks, and ended up with that point at about four weeks. The final work was at the end of six weeks, with the bathroom usable from the four week point.

8) Any contractor that glosses over possible plumbing issues is likely setting you up for costly surprises. The contractor we selected had conrrectly noticed a possible $1,500 plumbing issue, so we had it accounted for in the contract. The other bids ignored the issue or simply stated they felt it wasn't an issue.

9) Opening your wall is an invitation to additional costs. We found a small section of termite damaged wood. It had clearly been treated by a previous owners, but never disclosed. Luckliy, it was limited and easily replaced.

10) The skills of your tile person matter much more than your tiles. A good tile setter can make almost any tile look good, a bad one is tossing money down the drain.

11) Waterproofing comes up again and again in these threads, for a reason. Make sure and understand the waterproofing system the contract states will be used and read up on its use and installation. You don't have to be an expert to know that if it says two coats of product A, and the tile guys starts laying over a single coat, it's wrong (didn't happen, just an example).

12) Being considerate to the workers costs you nothing and pays in spades. We made sure the a/c was running whenever possible and that a cooler with water in it was around at all times.

13) Skylights in bathrooms are amazing! We installed a 44" x 42", fixed skylight and love it. We seldom use the lights in the bathroom because it lets in amazing amounts of light, even in the overcast and at night (with any moon). Fixed skylights and bathroom fans work well together if you hace squirrels that make you decline to use a tilt-opening skylight.

14) A good plumbing supply warhouse can beat most, but not all, online prices. We bought some accessories online, but the fixtures were all from the GC's plumbing supplier, with his discount.

15) It is always best if the tradesmen and workers can have entry to the area to be remodeled via an entrance not through the main living area, if you intend to remain resident for the remodel. We were lucky enough to be able to allow access through the garage, across a patio, into the master. Easy access for supplies from the driveway and didn't drive us out of the house.

16) Granite is a wonderful counter and threshold product, but the installer and cutter is critical. With a plain piece, less so, but for a piece with movement and flow, a good cutter/installer can make it look amazing.

17) A handheld by the bench, in a long shower, is the best thing since sliced bread, according to the ladies.

Just a quick look, before the showe rglass went in...