Start with exact fixture information
Record the model and location of the tub or shower valve, drain, toilet, vanity sink, faucets, lighting, mirror, fan, warming products and outlets. A general label such as new plumbing is not enough to place rough work or confirm compatibility.
Mark what remains. Existing shutoffs, supply lines, branch drains, vent paths, circuits and ducts should not be described as reusable until someone qualified has assessed them. Reuse can be reasonable, but it must be a recorded decision.
Separate plumbing changes from fixture installation
Replacing trim on a compatible valve is different from moving the valve body. Changing a vanity can require supply and waste adjustment even when it stays on the same wall. A shower conversion may move the drain or alter the floor. Ask who performs each regulated connection and who requests the applicable inspection.
Colorado’s State Plumbing Board licenses and regulates plumbers and plumbing contractors. The public record for the selected firm should match the business that appears in the proposal and permit path.
Put lighting and receptacles on the room plan
Show task lighting at the mirror, general lighting, shower-rated fixtures where selected, night lighting, switches, controls, receptacles and any heated product. Ask whether the existing circuit and panel arrangement fit the proposed load. Do not assume that a new fixture can simply use whatever wiring is present.
The Colorado Electrical Board regulates electricians and electrical contractors. Fort Collins also maintains local contractor requirements. Record both the state-regulated trade and the general remodeling responsibility rather than collapsing them into one company name.
Make the fan a complete air path
Choose exhaust performance after room size, shower use, duct route, fittings and termination are understood. The scope should identify the fan, duct material and size, exterior termination, controls and who repairs surfaces opened to create the route.
A quiet product rating does not guarantee a quiet installed system. A powerful fan does not overcome a poor duct route. Ask what must be checked before the model is approved.
Use the correct combined-permit route
Fort Collins routes multi-trade projects through its remodel or alteration process. Review the current building permit guidance for the defined room and confirm any exception with City staff.
For nearby areas, jurisdiction changes the permit path. Loveland has its own Building Division, Windsor uses the Town process and unincorporated areas may route through Larimer County or state trade inspection. The service-area guide keeps those links separate.
Schedule rough checks before surfaces close
The work sequence should allow assessment after demolition, rough installation, any required inspection, wet-area preparation and finish installation. Photographing pipes and wiring before closure can help the homeowner retain a useful property record.
If a change occurs, update the room plan. A moved outlet, fan or supply point can affect cabinetry, mirrors, tile and controls. The most current drawing should be identifiable by date or issue number.
Systems responsibility table
| Task | Required written answer | Evidence to retain |
|---|---|---|
| Water supply | keep, replace or relocate each run | rough location photos |
| Waste and vent | connection, slope and vent responsibility | inspection or provider record |
| Electrical | circuits, devices, controls and listed fixtures | permit and inspection details |
| Exhaust | fan, duct route, termination and patching | product data and route photos |
| Wall closure | who confirms rough work is ready | approval and dated plan |
| Final test | operation, leaks, controls and airflow checks | punch-list signoff |
Take this table into the complete-remodel scope and quote review. The goal is to know who owns each hidden task before the finish conceals it.
trade-systems file
Use this page to close trade-systems file choices. See the 2026 cost guide for trade-systems file costs.
- water shutoffs
- supply changes
- waste route
- plumbing vent
- new circuits
- outlet plan
- light controls
- shower-rated fixtures
- fan size
- duct path
- outside termination
- rough inspection
- fixture model list
- wall closure hold point
Put the trade-systems file in order
Find the water shutoffs. Mark every supply change. Trace the waste route. Check the plumbing vent. Count the new circuits. Place each outlet. Draw the light controls. Use the right wet-location fixtures. Size the fan for the room. Show where the duct ends outdoors. Hold work open for rough checks. Save the fixture list. Note when walls may close.
Questions about trade-systems file
Does the general remodeler’s city licence cover plumbing and electrical work?
Do not assume it does. Colorado separately regulates plumbing and electrical credentials, while Fort Collins has local contractor rules for the broader project.
Should the fan vent into the attic?
The scope should identify an approved exterior termination and a complete duct route. Ask the authority and installer to confirm the project-specific requirement.
Can existing pipes and circuits remain?
They may remain when they are suitable for the plan and accepted by the responsible people. Record that assessment rather than treating reuse as a default.