Walk-In Tubs in Dover, DE

The median home in Dover was built in 1983, and about 47% were built before 1980. Many homes of this age still have their first kitchen or bathroom. 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.

Kent County is in IECC climate zone 4A, a mixed, humid climate, 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.

About 34% of homes in Dover are in buildings with five or more units. Condo buildings often need approval before a remodel and may limit work hours. Only about 47% of occupied homes in Dover are lived in by their owners, so many residents rent. Renters should check with the property owner or manager before hiring anyone for a walk-in tub installation.

Moving plumbing, adding electrical circuits or changing walls usually needs a permit; swapping fixtures in place usually does not. In Dover, permits come from the city's building department, or from Kent County for addresses outside city limits. Ask the company who pulls the permit, and keep a copy of it.

Delaware has no statewide general contractor license; the Division of Professional Regulation licenses plumbers, HVACR contractors and electricians. For other trades, ask your city or county building department which license applies, and ask the company for its license number.