Bathroom Remodeling in Michigan

Census estimates put the median build year in Michigan at 1972; about 22% of homes were built before 1950. Kitchens and bathrooms from this era often keep their original layout and plumbing. Decide early whether you want to move fixtures, since that changes the permit and the scope. Federal EPA rules require firms that disturb painted surfaces in homes built before 1978 to follow lead-safe work practices. Ask whether the company is EPA lead-safe certified.

About 2% of Michigan's counties are in climate zone 7 (very cold), based on the U.S. Department of Energy's county map. In a damp climate, a bathroom exhaust fan that vents outside (not into the attic) helps prevent mold. Cold winters make exterior walls matter. If walls are opened, ask whether insulation will be added before they are closed. Check your own county's zone, since conditions differ across the state.

About 72% of homes in Michigan are single-family houses, and about 73% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

Moving plumbing, adding electrical circuits or changing walls usually needs a permit; swapping fixtures in place usually does not. In Michigan, building permits are issued by cities and counties, so the rules depend on where the home is. Ask the company who pulls the permit, and keep a copy of it.

LARA licenses residential builders and maintenance and alteration contractors. Look the company up with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) before you sign.