Get the condition down in writing
Location, how long it’s been an issue, any relationship to weather, and how it’s changed all matter. Photos and rough measurements speed up the first conversation.
Read the Local Context
A bathroom original to that furniture-era housing boom was typically a single small room built for one fixture layout, plumbed to the standards of whichever decade -- 1840s through early 1900s -- the home actually dates to, and a remodel in one of Grand Rapids' older homes usually has to work around that original layout rather than assume a modern one.
Ask what gets covered up
What determines whether the room lasts is behind the tile: drain location, framing, how waterproofing transitions are detailed, ventilation, electrical capacity, and access all shape the actual scope. The written scope should explain exactly what gets prepared and checked before it’s no longer visible.
Compare the whole scope, not one number
Protection, access, materials, permits, testing, cleanup, restoration, exclusions, warranty terms, and change-order rules should all be part of the comparison.
What official local sources add
Grand Rapids participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, and land near the Grand River and its tributaries can fall within FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas, where projects may require an Elevation Certificate and compliance with the city's floodplain development standards under Chapter 32 of its code of ordinances. The city promotes Low Impact Development as its preferred stormwater strategy, and a 2021 state MS4 permit added a requirement that most development and redevelopment projects retain the runoff difference for the 2-year, 24-hour storm.
Sources were reviewed 2026-07-26. Confirm parcel-specific flood zones, historic-district status, permits, and current requirements with the relevant authority before authorizing work.