Rencraft
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Frequently asked questions

Honest answers, before you call.

Pricing, timelines, permits, warranty, what holds up in our humidity, what recoups at resale. Numbers are sourced.

Pricing & quotes

Pricing & quotes

How much does a full bathroom remodel cost in Atlanta?

Most full hall-bath remodels in metro Atlanta land between $18,500 and $32,000 depending on scope and finish level — that's also where Angi's 2025 Atlanta-area average ($13,129–$19,039 for most homeowners) and the national mid-range Cost vs. Value figure (~$25,000) cluster. Powder-room refreshes start lower (around $9,500) and master / primary suites with structural changes can run $55,000–$85,000+. We publish three tiers on the pricing page so you can self-qualify before the consultation.

Why are quotes from different contractors so far apart for the same scope?

Three reasons, in descending order. First, what's actually in the contract — some firms exclude tile, demo, electrical, or permits and add them later as 'change orders.' Second, allowance levels — a $1,500 tile allowance and a $4,500 tile allowance produce very different bathrooms. Third, labor cost — in-house W-2 crews cost more than rotating subs but ship faster and don't disappear mid-project. When comparing quotes, ask for line-item itemization and identical allowance numbers across bidders.

Is the price you quote actually fixed, or will it change?

Fixed. After the in-home consultation we deliver a written proposal with every line item itemized — demo, framing, plumbing, electrical, drywall, tile, paint, fixtures, and material allowances. Once you sign, the price is locked. The only time the number changes is if you request additional scope (a different tile, an extra recessed light, an extra fixture). Those become a separately-quoted, signed change order before any work proceeds — no surprise bills at the end.

How are change orders handled and priced?

Only when you request a scope change. Each change is documented as a one-page line-item with its own fixed price and your signature before any work proceeds. We don't issue 'discovery' change orders for hidden conditions we should have caught at the in-home consultation — that risk is on us, not on you.

Do you require a deposit, and how much is normal?

Yes. Atlanta mid-market design-build firms typically take a 25–30% deposit at contract signing, with milestone payments tied to demo completion, rough-in approval, and substantial completion. The exact schedule is in your written proposal. Avoid any contractor who asks for 50%+ up front before any work — that's a red flag for cash-flow problems.

Timeline & process

Timeline & process

How long will my bathroom be unusable?

Powder-room refresh: 5–10 working days. Full hall bath: 18–28 working days (typical 21). Master / primary suite refresh: 26–32 working days. Master with structural changes: 35–45 working days. These ranges assume in-house crew, materials staged on site, and no surprise demo findings — which is what we plan for. Industry benchmark from Sweeten's 2025 data is 20–30 working days for full bath construction; we sit at the fast end of that range.

Can I stay in my home during the remodel?

Yes — most of our homeowners do. We contain dust with plastic sheeting and zipper-door at the bathroom entry, lay floor protection in adjacent hallways, and vacuum the work area at the end of every day. Plan for the bathroom itself to be unavailable for the full duration; if it's a one-bath house, we coordinate scheduling so plumbing is reconnected the night the toilet has to come out.

What does the design phase look like, and how long does it take?

One to three weeks, between contract signing and demo. We help you select tile, vanity, fixtures, mirrors, lighting, and paint — either from our supplier portfolio (Floor & Decor, Daltile, Kohler, Delta, Moen) or by you shopping independently with our allowance numbers. We place orders, track delivery, and stage materials so construction starts on schedule. Allow extra time if you're sourcing custom cabinetry or imported tile (lead times 4–8 weeks).

Who is on site each day, and who is my point of contact?

One project manager is your single point of contact through the entire project — sales hands off to PM, PM stays through final walkthrough. Day-to-day, the same in-house crew handles framing, drywall, tile, paint, and trim. Plumbing and electrical inspections are scheduled at rough-in and final stages. You don't chase three subs to get an answer on a question.

What happens if you find rot, mold, or bad plumbing behind the wall?

At the in-home consultation we open access panels where possible to catch the obvious issues, and we price conservatively for the typical 1980s–2000s Atlanta-area home. Genuinely-hidden conditions (rotted subfloor under a leaking toilet, abandoned plumbing in a wall) become a separately-quoted, you-approved change order with options. On a properly inspected project these are rare and small — usually under $1,500 when they occur.

Materials & finishes

Materials & finishes

What tile and grout choices hold up best in Atlanta humidity?

Large-format porcelain on shower walls (12×24 and up) — fewer grout lines means less surface for mold to colonize. Epoxy grout instead of cement-based on horizontal shower surfaces. Schluter Kerdi or Wedi waterproofing membrane behind every tile — that's our baseline spec, not a luxury upgrade. Atlanta humidity from May through September is no joke; the right substrate prevents the slow-mold problem you see in 1990s bathrooms.

Do you help with selections, or do I source materials myself?

Both. Our supplier portfolio (Floor & Decor, Daltile, Kohler, Delta, Moen for the typical mid-market spec; expanded options on request) covers most projects without you stepping into a showroom. If you'd rather shop independently — Pinterest in hand at Daltile in Norcross — we provide allowance numbers and you bring back receipts. Either path, our markup on materials we source is at supplier list price; we don't pad the allowance.

Quartz vs. marble vs. porcelain slab — what should I choose for the vanity top?

Quartz is the right choice for most projects. Non-porous, mold-resistant, no sealing required, holds up to bathroom-counter splashes without staining. Marble looks beautiful and develops patina if you like that, but requires sealing every 6–12 months and stains permanently from common bathroom products. Large-format porcelain slabs are increasingly popular for primary suites — quartz-like maintenance, slab-marble looks. Stay away from natural granite for bathroom vanities; the look is dated and the porosity is worse than quartz.

Are heated floors worth it in Georgia?

In master baths, often yes — daily-use, barefoot-on-tile in February. In hall baths used by guests or kids, usually overkill. Mid-Atlanta winters are short. Cost: $800–$2,000 for the heating element and thermostat in a typical bathroom, plus the labor to install before tile. We'll quote it as an itemized line item so you can decide; we don't push it.

What's the difference between a curbless and curbed shower?

Curbed: a 3–4 inch threshold separates the shower floor from the bathroom floor. Cheaper, faster, more forgiving on drainage. Curbless: the shower floor is flush with the bathroom floor, with the slope and drain engineered into the substrate. Better aesthetics, much better for aging-in-place, requires more careful waterproofing and pour planning. Adds $1,500–$3,000 to a typical shower and 2–3 days to construction.

Permits & code

Permits & code

Do I need a permit for my bathroom remodel?

If we're touching framing, drywall, plumbing piping, electrical circuits, or HVAC vent ducting — yes. Like-for-like cosmetic swaps (paint, faucet, fixture replacement in the same location) are generally exempt across Alpharetta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Marietta, and Atlanta proper. Georgia state law also requires a licensed contractor for any project over $2,500 in combined labor and materials.

Who pulls the permit — me or you?

We pull every permit and coordinate every inspection. You don't talk to the city. Permit fees are itemized in your contract — typically $150–$400 across metro Atlanta jurisdictions for a full bath remodel.

What inspections will happen during the project?

Three to five depending on scope. Rough plumbing (before walls close). Rough electrical (before walls close). Rough mechanical / vent fan (before walls close). Framing inspection if any framing changed (before insulation). Final inspection after fixtures are set and all systems are operational. We schedule each one and coordinate with the inspector; you don't need to be present.

Are you licensed in Georgia?

Yes — Georgia Residential General Contractor license. Number is displayed in the website footer per state requirement and printed on your contract. Georgia Residential-Basic licensing covers projects up to $50,000; for projects above that we hold the appropriate license tier.

Warranty & trust

Warranty & trust

What's covered under your workmanship warranty, and for how long?

Lifetime workmanship warranty for as long as you own the home, in writing. Covers our craftsmanship: caulk separation, grout cracking, tile lippage developing, fixtures working loose, framing or drywall issues we built. Excludes wear, misuse, water damage from a leak we didn't cause, and acts of God. Manufacturer warranties on fixtures, tile, and cabinetry are separate and assigned to you at completion. Georgia state law requires a written warranty on any contract over $2,500 — ours is on top of the regulatory minimum, not a substitute.

Is the warranty transferable if I sell the house?

Today the warranty is owner-tied — it stays with the original homeowner. We're working on a documented transferable warranty option; if you're planning to sell within five years, mention it at the consultation and we'll discuss a transferable upgrade.

Do you carry general liability and workers' comp?

Yes — full general liability coverage and workers' compensation on every person on your job site, whether they're a Rencraft employee or a specialty subcontractor we coordinate (plumber/electrician licensed individually). Certificate of insurance is available on request and accompanies the contract.

How do I verify your license, insurance, and reviews?

Our license number is in the website footer and on your contract — search it on the Georgia Secretary of State licensing portal. Insurance certificate available on request. Reviews are published on Google Business Profile and Houzz with the same name and license number; verifiable with a 60-second search.

Logistics during construction

Logistics during construction

How do you protect the rest of my house from dust?

Plastic sheeting plus zipper doors at the bathroom entry to contain demo dust, floor protection (ram board or canvas) in adjacent hallways and on stairs, and HEPA vacuums on the heavy-dust days. The work area gets vacuumed and walked at the end of every day. We can't guarantee zero dust on a renovation involving plaster or 1980s drywall, but we can guarantee it doesn't end up in your living room.

What hours will your crew be on site?

Typical 8 AM to 5 PM weekdays. We don't work weekends without explicit homeowner consent — even when the schedule is tight. Crew arrives on time, leaves on time, no surprise late-evening hammering.

Where will materials be staged during the project?

We coordinate based on your home's layout — usually garage, unfinished basement, or a corner of an unused room. Materials arrive in delivery batches matched to the construction schedule, so you're not living around a six-week pile of tile boxes.

Resale value & ROI

Resale value & ROI

How much of my bathroom remodel cost will I get back at resale?

The 2025 Cost vs. Value report (South Atlantic regional data) puts mid-range bathroom remodels at 73.5% recouped at resale — a $25,000 mid-range project returns roughly $18,000 in resale lift. Upscale bathroom remodels recoup about 45% in the same region — a $75,000 upscale project returns around $34,000. The drop from mid-range to upscale is dramatic, which is part of why we focus on the $15K–$60K mid-market.

Does adding a tub vs. a walk-in shower help or hurt resale?

Walk-in showers help in primary baths — that's where most buyers want them. The traditional advice was 'keep one tub somewhere in the home,' usually in a hall bath or kid bath, for families and resale flexibility. In a single-bathroom house we'd preserve the tub option. In a 3+ bathroom house, converting the primary tub to a walk-in shower is almost always the right call for both daily use and resale.

Accessibility & aging in place

Accessibility & aging in place

Can you build a curbless, ADA-compatible shower in an existing footprint?

Yes, in most cases. We've built curbless walk-in showers in 80 sq ft master baths in 1980s Atlanta-area homes. Requires careful drainage planning and pour engineering — the shower floor needs the right slope to a linear or trench drain without losing the 'flush with the bathroom floor' look. ADA compliance specifically (36-inch minimum entry, grab-bar reinforcement, fold-down bench at the right height) is a separate spec — call it out at the consultation.

How much do aging-in-place upgrades typically add to the budget?

Less than people expect, especially when planned at the start. Curbless shower entry: +$1,500–$3,000. In-wall blocking for future grab bars at every fixture: +$200. Comfort-height (17-inch) toilet: +$50–$200 over standard. Pre-wiring for a future bidet seat: +$150. Built-in shower bench: +$800. A full aging-in-place package on a master remodel typically adds $2,500–$5,000 — small relative to the value of staying in the home.

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