Planning a master bathroom remodel in 2026? Eric G walks through his top 10 tips so you don’t blow the budget, hire the wrong crew, or build a shower that fails in five years.

From checking neighborhood comps on Zillow before you design, to wiring for heated floors and a bidet seat you’ll want later, this episode is packed with hard-won advice from decades in the field. Eric covers why you hire a designer at the drawing stage (not after demo), how to plan for aging in place while the walls are open, and why Rockwool insulation is one of the cheapest upgrades that makes a master bath feel quieter and more solid.

He also digs into the stuff that usually goes sideways: treating the shower waterproofing as one system (Wedi, Ardex, Schluter — pick a brand and stick with it), finding a CTI certified tile installer through the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation, double-vanity wall math that actually works, and sizing ventilation so mold never shows up in a $50,000 room.

In this episode:

• Match your remodel to comps so you don’t over- or under-build
• Hire the designer early — pay once, or pay the contractor twice
• Aging-in-place blocking, curbless showers, and lighting that still looks sharp
• Rockwool for sound and a quieter bedroom
• Wire for 2030: towel warmers, heated floors, bidet outlet, Cat6
• Realistic 4–8 week timelines, inspections, and a real contingency plan
• One waterproof system end-to-end — no mix-and-match parts
• Why a CTI certified tile installer matters (and how to find one)
• Double vanity rules: 76 inches comfortable, 60 inches legal
• Overbuild the fan, duct it right, and keep the mold out

Listen, subscribe, and dig into nearly a decade of episodes at aroundthehouseonline.com.

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Information given on the Around the House Show should not be considered construction or design advice for your specific project, nor is it intended to replace consulting at your home or jobsite by a building professional. The views and opinions expressed by those interviewed on the podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Around the House Show.