Should I hire separate trades or a general contractor for my Vancouver bathroom renovation?

For most Metro Vancouver bathroom renovations, hiring a general contractor (GC) or an experienced bathroom renovation specialist who manages the subcontractors is the better choice — coordinating separate trades yourself saves 15–25% on the GC's markup but adds significant risk, stress, and the potential for costly mistakes if you don't have renovation project management experience. The right answer depends on your project's complexity, your available time, and your comfort level managing tradespeople.

A bathroom renovation involves 4–6 different trades that must work in a precise sequence. Demolition comes first, then rough-in plumbing, then electrical, then framing and substrate preparation, then waterproofing, then tile, then fixture installation, then painting and finishing. Each trade depends on the one before it being completed correctly and inspected (where permits require it). A plumber who arrives to find the electrician hasn't finished, or a tiler who starts before the waterproofing membrane has cured, creates delays, rework, and finger-pointing about who's responsible for problems.

When a general contractor makes sense. If your renovation involves any layout changes, plumbing relocation, electrical modifications, or structural work, a GC provides critical value. They coordinate scheduling so each trade arrives at the right time, they understand the sequence and dependencies, they pull and manage all necessary permits, they handle municipal inspections, and they take responsibility for the finished product. In Metro Vancouver, an experienced bathroom GC typically charges a markup of 15–25% on subcontractor and material costs, or works on a fixed-price basis that includes their management fee. For a mid-range renovation costing $20,000–$30,000 all-in, the GC's coordination fee represents $3,000–$6,000 — which is modest compared to the cost of a mistake.

A GC is especially valuable for strata and condo bathroom renovations in Metro Vancouver. Strata corporations require specific documentation — proof of contractor insurance (minimum $2 million liability), WorkSafeBC clearance, detailed renovation plans, waterproofing specifications — and compliance with building-specific bylaws regarding work hours, noise, elevator booking for materials, and hallway protection. An experienced GC handles all of this; a homeowner managing separate trades must handle it themselves for each individual tradesperson.

When managing separate trades can work. If your renovation is a straightforward fixture-for-fixture swap — new vanity on existing plumbing, new tile over properly prepared substrate, new toilet in the same location, new fixtures on existing rough-in — the coordination is simpler and managing separate trades is more feasible. You'd hire a plumber for fixture connections ($300–$800), a tiler for the tile work ($3,000–$8,000), and possibly an electrician for lighting and fan upgrades ($500–$1,500). With no permits required (cosmetic renovation, same fixture locations), the scheduling is more forgiving.

However, even for simpler projects, managing separate trades means you are the project manager. You schedule each trade, ensure materials are on-site when they arrive, coordinate the sequence, handle any disagreements about scope, and take responsibility for the overall result. If the tiler discovers the plumber left the drain in the wrong position, it's your problem to resolve. If the waterproofing fails two years later and the tiler blames the waterproofing installer (or vice versa), you have no single point of accountability.

The hybrid approach works well for some Metro Vancouver homeowners. Hire a bathroom renovation specialist — not a full-service GC, but a contractor whose core business is bathroom renovations and who brings their own tile and finishing crew while subcontracting licensed plumbing and electrical. These specialists are common in Metro Vancouver, understand the specific sequence and requirements of bathroom work, and typically charge less than a full-service general contractor while still providing single-point accountability. Expect to pay $15,000–$35,000 all-in for a mid-range bathroom renovation with this approach.

Cost comparison for a mid-range Metro Vancouver bathroom renovation. Managing separate trades yourself: $12,000–$22,000 in direct trade and material costs, plus your time (expect to invest 20–40 hours in coordination, shopping, and problem-solving). Hiring a bathroom specialist or GC: $15,000–$30,000 all-in. The 15–25% premium buys you professional coordination, a single warranty, and accountability if something goes wrong.

Regardless of which approach you choose, every tradesperson working in your home should carry WorkSafeBC coverage, and any plumbing or electrical work must be performed by licensed tradespeople as required by the BC Building Code. Always get written quotes, confirm scope in writing, and never pay the full amount before the work is complete. In Metro Vancouver's competitive market, good bathroom contractors and trades are booked weeks in advance — start your search early, get at least 3 quotes, and choose based on credentials, communication, and references rather than price alone.