"Fifth Step: Bathroom Remodeling" is the fifth and final article of a series of articles to help home owners know more about the process of remodeling a bathroom.

Now that the work explained in "Fourth Step: Bathroom Remodeling" has been completed, you can move on to the Fifth and final step of the process, "Fifth Step: Bathroom Remodeling". You now have all the material you needed to purchase delivered to the job site and the contractor has inspected and approved their functionality. The next step is to discuss the start date and discuss access to the work site with the General contractor. You should provide the contractor with the easiest and closest access from outside to your bathroom and ask the general contractor to cover the entire path to protect the floor, the walls and the other areas which are not a part of the construction project. On the first day of work the contractor will be doing this work and you should inspect the covered area and make sure all is done to your satisfaction before the demolition work begins. At the same time you might provide the General contractor the keys to your home if you will not be there when the work is being performed. Make sure you keep all your valuables in a safe place and all breakable items away from the set path. Things like lighting fixtures, wall paintings and artworks, vases, should be temporarily removed from the path that the workers will take to access your bathroom from the outside.

In your agreement with the general contractor, you should have a payment schedule and it should be based on the work performed such as passed inspections. You may discuss such payments with the general contractor before the start of work and make sure you are paying for the work that is completed. In accordance to CSLB you should pay 10% of the contract price or $1,000.00 (whichever is lower) as a deposit and I suggest that you keep 10% of the total contract amount to be paid once the work is completed and all inspections including the final inspection is passed. Do not make any advance payments and make sure to pay the contractor on time for best performance.

Most likely you will be faced with change orders during the work process. Change orders are extra costs for extra work that was not mentioned in the contract. There are two types of change orders. The first type is generated when unforeseen extra work arises once the demolition is completed to update or upgrade some items based on the building and construction code. For example a gas line that was not visible within a wall at the time the General contractor was making the bid. However, now that the wall is demolished or opened up the contractor needs to redirect that gas line. This will be an extra charge to the home owner. The second type of a change order occurs when the home owner asks for additional work that was not a part of the original contract, like adding a window or additional lighting. However, no matter which one of these types of change orders you are faced with, make sure to have them in writing which should be approved by you in writing before the work takes place. You can ask the General contractor to detail the extra work and then you may approve that work and additional cost when you are satisfied with the details and the cost.

Once all the work is completed and the final inspection has passed successfully, arrange a walk through with your general contractor. Point all items that need to be fixed or touched up to the general contractor and set a date for when he/she will take care of them. Once everything is done to your satisfaction make the final payment or the 10% you were holding back. If you were satisfied with your General contractor's work quality and his/her attention to detail then be sure to refer him/her to all your friends and family members. Good contractors are hard to find. You will be doing your family members and friends a great service by introducing them to a good general contractor.

"Fifth Step: Bathroom Remodeling" completes the bathroom remodeling series of articles.

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