Should I Buy Bathroom Fixtures Myself or Let the Contractor Supply Them?

Short answer You can buy the visible finishes you care about, such as the mirror, accessories and light fixtures. I prefer that we source the parts inside the wall and floor: valves, drains, waterproofing membrane and setting materials. Whatever you buy has to be on site and checked before demolition.

How allowances work

Our estimates list materials as named allowances: a dollar amount for the tile, the vanity, the toilet, the shower valve and trim, and so on. The allowance is a budget, not a fixed product. If you choose something that costs less, the difference comes off. If you choose something that costs more, you see the difference before we order.

That gives you two ways to supply a fixture:

We buy it within the allowance. You choose the product, we order it, receive it and deal with damage or wrong parts.
You buy it yourself. The allowance for that item comes out of the estimate, and you handle the purchase and delivery.

What goes wrong with owner-supplied items

Most of the time nothing. When something does go wrong, it costs days, and in a bathroom remodel days are the expensive part.

Damaged boxes. A cracked vanity top or a chipped toilet often shows up only when the box is opened.
Wrong or missing parts. A shower trim that does not match the valve, a drain in the wrong finish, a faucet for a different number of holes.
Return delays. Online returns can take a week or more, and the crew cannot set what is not there.
Split warranty. The manufacturer's warranty covers the product. Our workmanship warranty covers the installation. If a cartridge fails, the claim goes to the manufacturer, and you are the buyer of record. The details are written in the estimate.

What works well to buy yourself

Item	Buy yourself	Better if we source it
Mirror and medicine cabinet	Buy yourselfYes	Better if we source it
Towel bars, hooks, paper holder	Buy yourselfYes	Better if we source it
Light fixtures you have picked	Buy yourselfYes	Better if we source it
Faucet and showerhead	Buy yourselfPossible, with the model checked first	Better if we source it
Shower valve and trim	Buy yourself	Better if we source itYes
Shower drain and membrane	Buy yourself	Better if we source itYes
Thinset, grout, cement board	Buy yourself	Better if we source itYes

Items in the last three rows sit inside the wall or under the tile. Our technical supervisor checks each stage, and the waterproofing system works best when the membrane, drain and setting materials are designed to go together. If one of them fails, it means removing finished tile, so I want them chosen and bought by the people responsible for the installation.

For lights and faucets, send me the model number before you order. I check that it fits the box, the valve or the vanity, and that faucets and showerheads meet California flow limits: 1.2 gallons per minute for bathroom faucets and 1.8 for showerheads.

Mirrors and light fixtures are among the easiest items to buy yourself. Faucets too, once I have checked the model.

The deadline: on site before demolition

Whatever you buy, it needs to be delivered, opened and checked before we start demolition. Not on the way, not arriving next week. A bathroom without a toilet or shower waits on the slowest part, and I would rather start a week later than stop halfway. You can read how this fits into the full schedule in How long does a bathroom remodel take.

Can I change a fixture after the estimate is signed?

Yes, until it is ordered. The allowance stays the same and the difference in price is added or taken off. After it is ordered or installed, a change costs return fees and time, so I ask for final choices before demolition.

What if a fixture I bought arrives damaged during the job?

We stop work on that item, photograph the damage and tell you what is affected. You arrange the return or replacement with the seller, and we plan the schedule around the new delivery date.

Should I buy the fixtures myself or let the contractor supply them?