Before hiring a bathroom contractor in Spain, check that the quote is itemised, that it includes renewing pipes and a separate waterproofing stage, that electrical work is done by authorised installers (in-house or partner), that the contractor has public liability insurance and gives a written guarantee, that the order of work is clear, and that you know who handles any paperwork with the town hall and the community. Ask to see the hidden layers before they are covered.
Is the quote itemised?
- Is each task listed separately, with a description, unit and quantity?
- Are strip-out and debris removal on their own lines?
- Does it say which materials are included and which are labour only?
- Does it state what is excluded, for example decoration outside the bathroom?
A one-line quote with a round total is the hardest to compare and the most likely to grow during the job. For how quotes are built up, see presupuestoreforma.eu.
Does it cover the hidden work?
- Are supply and waste pipes inside the bathroom renewed?
- Is there a separate waterproofing stage, and which areas does it cover?
- Are falls in the shower formed in the base, not in the adhesive?
- How are the drain, corners and pipe penetrations sealed?
- Will you be shown the waterproofing before it is covered?
The waterproofing guide explains what good answers look like.
Who does the electrics?
- Is the electrical work carried out by authorised installers, whether employed by the contractor or working as its partners?
- Are the positions of lights, extractor, mirror light and sockets agreed before work starts?
- Do they take into account the zones around the bath or shower defined in Spain’s low-voltage regulation?
In our renovations, electrical work is carried out by authorised partner installers under our coordination.
Is the contractor insured and is there a guarantee?
- Does the contractor hold public liability insurance (seguro de responsabilidad civil)?
- Is there a written guarantee, and are its terms stated in the quote or contract?
- Who do you contact if a problem appears after handover?
Is the order of work clear?
- Is there a sequence of stages in the quote?
- Who coordinates the different trades?
- Are decisions you must make, such as shower set, niche, screen and tile, tied to the stage when they are needed?
- How will unexpected findings be handled and approved?
Who handles paperwork, the community and logistics?
- Is it clear that the owner files any declaración responsable with the town hall, or who does?
- Have you notified the community’s representative before the works, as the Horizontal Property Act requires?
- How will debris leave the building, and are lift and working hours agreed with the community?
- If you live abroad, how will access be arranged?
Which warning signs should make you pause?
- A price given over the phone without seeing photos or the property.
- No mention of waterproofing, or an answer that “the tiles are waterproof”.
- Reluctance to put the scope and the guarantee in writing.
- Pressure to pay a large share before any work has started.
- Vague answers about who does the electrics.
- No clear contact person for the duration of the job.
None of these proves a contractor is unreliable, but each deserves a direct question before you sign.
For owners who live abroad, add one more: how will access to the property be arranged, and who holds the keys while the works are under way? Agree it in writing before the start date, so that no trade arrives at a locked door and nobody is left waiting for a key-holder.
How should you compare two quotes in practice?
Lay them side by side and match the lines: strip-out, plumbing, waste, electrics, waterproofing, walls, floor, finish, fitting, cleaning. Where one quote has a line the other lacks, ask the second contractor whether it is included elsewhere or missing. Check whether materials are included in both or only in one. Check that the quantities are similar; a large difference in square metres of tiling or waterproofing usually means one of them has measured differently or assumed a smaller wet zone.
Once the lines match, the totals become comparable. Often the cheaper quote turns out to be cheaper because it does less, and the question becomes whether the missing items matter to you. In a bathroom, the hidden ones usually do.
What happens at the end?
- Is a final clean included?
- Will the shower and pipes be tested for leaks before handover?
- Will you receive care notes for the finishes, silicone and any seamless sealer?
We answer every question on this list in our quote for a bathroom renovation. For tiling specifics, see bathroom tiling.
Bauman Raymond Attila · Reforma Baños Málaga · Avenida Antonio Belón 3, Marbella. Last reviewed: 05/11/2026.
