Bathroom Remodeling in Missouri

Census estimates put the median build year in Missouri at 1978; about 18% 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 Missouri's counties are in climate zone 3A (warm, humid), 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. Check your own county's zone, since conditions differ across the state.

About 71% of homes in Missouri are single-family houses, and about 68% 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 Missouri, 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.

Missouri has no statewide general contractor license; cities and counties handle contractor licensing, and the Attorney General takes consumer complaints. Ask your city or county building department which license applies, and ask the company for its license or registration number.