Planning and budget
The most useful preparation you can do before calling anyone is to decide what actually bothers you about the current bathroom. 'It looks dated' leads to a different project than 'the shower is too small and the storage is inadequate.' The second statement produces a better remodel.
Set the scope before the style. Once you know whether plumbing is moving and what the wet area requires, material selection becomes a straightforward set of choices within a known budget rather than an open-ended wish list.
During construction
- The bathroom being remodeled is out of service for the duration
- Dust containment and protected pathways limit the impact on the rest of the home
- Demolition is the loudest phase and is normally confined to standard working hours
- Hidden conditions are documented with photographs and priced before proceeding
- Changes requested after rough-in can require reworking completed stages
After completion
Maintenance is straightforward but not optional. Run the exhaust fan during and after every shower and for a stretch afterward. Squeegee glass to reduce mineral spotting. Clean tile with products suited to the material — acidic cleaners are hard on natural stone and on some grouts.
Sealant joints at corners and changes of plane are consumable and will eventually be renewed. That is normal maintenance, not a failure of the installation.