Why We Focus Only on Bathrooms: The OakWood Remodeling Difference

When homeowners across Sacramento and Placer County start looking for a bathroom remodeler, they usually find two types of contractors: general contractors who do everything from kitchens to additions to roofing, and specialists who focus exclusively on one area. At OakWood Remodel, we made a deliberate decision to be the second type. We only do bathrooms — and that single decision shapes everything about the quality, speed, and results we deliver.

Some people hear that and think it is limiting. We see it as liberating. When you do not have to be good at everything, you can become exceptional at one thing. And bathrooms happen to be one of the most complex, detail-intensive rooms in any home.

The Story Behind Our Bathroom-Only Focus

Like many remodeling companies, we started as generalists. We took on kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and everything in between. But we noticed something telling in our project data: our bathroom projects consistently received the highest client satisfaction ratings, the fewest callbacks, and the strongest referral rates.

When we dug into why, the answer was clear. Bathrooms require a unique intersection of skills — plumbing expertise, waterproofing knowledge, tile mastery, electrical work in wet environments, ventilation engineering, and design sensibility for small spaces. Every bathroom remodel demands all of these skills simultaneously. The more bathrooms we completed, the better we got at integrating these disciplines seamlessly.

So we made the bold decision to stop doing everything else. We turned down kitchen projects, declined addition requests, and said no to basement finishes. We went all-in on bathrooms. And our business — and our clients' results — transformed overnight.

The Specialization Advantage: Why It Matters for Your Remodel

Think about the professionals you trust most in your life. Your cardiologist is not also performing knee replacements. Your tax accountant is not also doing corporate mergers. Your auto mechanic specializes in specific makes and models. In every field, specialization drives excellence.

Home remodeling is no different. A general contractor who completed 50 projects last year might have done 8 bathrooms, 12 kitchens, 10 additions, and 20 miscellaneous jobs. Their bathroom-specific experience for the year: 8 projects.

In that same year, our team completed over 100 bathroom projects. Every single one. That means our crew encounters and solves bathroom-specific challenges — hidden water damage, tricky drain configurations, load-bearing wall modifications for shower expansions, proper shower pan waterproofing — with a frequency that general contractors simply cannot match.

This concentration of experience creates what we call the specialization multiplier effect. Each bathroom we complete teaches us something that makes the next one better. After hundreds of projects, our collective knowledge covers virtually every bathroom scenario that exists in Sacramento-area homes.

Depth of Knowledge That General Contractors Cannot Match

Bathroom remodeling requires expertise in areas that most homeowners never think about until something goes wrong. Here are the critical knowledge domains where our specialization makes the biggest difference.

Waterproofing Mastery

Waterproofing is the most critical element of any shower remodel, and it is where we see the most failures from general contractors. A shower that is not properly waterproofed will eventually leak, causing mold, rot, and potentially thousands of dollars in structural damage behind the walls where you cannot see it.

Our team is certified in multiple waterproofing systems including Schluter KERDI, LATICRETE HYDRO BAN, and Custom Building Products RedGard. We understand which system works best for each application, how to properly handle transitions between shower walls and floors, how to waterproof around shower niches and benches without creating weak points, and how to test the waterproofing before any tile goes up.

A general contractor might install waterproofing membrane twice a month. Our team installs it multiple times every week. That repetition builds muscle memory and attention to detail that is impossible to develop when bathroom work is just one of many services.

Plumbing Configuration Expertise

Sacramento-area homes span every era of construction from the 1940s through 2026, and each era brought different plumbing materials, configurations, and challenges. Cast iron drain pipes in older Roseville homes. Polybutylene supply lines in 1980s Auburn construction. ABS versus PVC drain configurations. Galvanized steel in vintage Folsom properties.

Because we work in bathrooms exclusively, our plumbers have developed specialized knowledge of how these different plumbing systems behave in bathroom-specific applications. We know how to properly tie new PEX supply lines into existing copper systems for tub-to-shower conversions. We understand the exact drain configurations needed for curbless showers with linear drains. We can reconfigure vent stacks when moving toilet locations without creating code violations.

Precision tile installation requires specialized skill and experience — the kind that comes from focusing exclusively on bathroom projects.

Tile and Design Excellence

Tile work in bathrooms is fundamentally different from tile work in kitchens, entryways, or fireplaces. Bathroom tile must be installed on waterproofed substrates, cut precisely around plumbing penetrations, sloped correctly toward drains, and selected for appropriate slip resistance and water absorption characteristics.

Our tile installers work exclusively in bathrooms. They understand how to create proper slope on shower floors using mortar beds. They know how to install large-format tiles on shower walls without lippage. They can execute herringbone, chevron, and basket weave patterns that require precise mathematical layout to ensure symmetry. And they do this every single day.

Ventilation Science

Proper ventilation is one of the most overlooked aspects of bathroom remodeling, but it is critical for preventing mold and protecting your investment. Many general contractors install the cheapest exhaust fan available and call it done. Our team sizes ventilation systems based on bathroom volume, shower type (standard versus steam), and ductwork configuration. We ensure ducts are properly routed to the exterior — not into the attic, which is a common code violation we find in homes throughout Placer County.

Faster Project Timelines Through Focused Experience

One of the most tangible benefits of hiring a bathroom specialist is speed. Not rushed speed that sacrifices quality, but efficient speed that comes from knowing exactly what needs to happen, in what order, and how long each phase takes.

Our typical bathroom remodel follows a refined 5-phase process that we have optimized over hundreds of projects:

1. Pre-construction (1-2 days): Material delivery, protection of surrounding areas, and prep work
2. Demolition and rough-in (2-3 days): Removal of existing fixtures and installation of new plumbing and electrical
3. Waterproofing and substrate (1-2 days): Complete waterproofing system installation and cement board
4. Tile and surfaces (3-5 days): Tile installation, countertop templating and installation
5. Fixtures and finish (1-2 days): Toilet, vanity, mirrors, accessories, glass enclosure, and final details

A general contractor attempting the same scope of work typically takes 30-50% longer because their team is switching between bathroom-specific tasks and other project types. Their subcontractors are not dedicated to bathroom projects and may have scheduling conflicts with kitchen jobs or additions. Our team is always on bathroom projects, always available, and always in rhythm.

Supplier Relationships That Save You Money

Because we purchase bathroom-specific materials in significant volume, we have established preferential relationships with the top tile suppliers, fixture manufacturers, and specialty bathroom product companies in the Sacramento region. These relationships translate directly to savings for our clients.

We buy more shower glass, more bathroom tile, more toilet and vanity units, and more shower valves than most general contractors buy in several years. That volume gives us access to contractor pricing, early access to new products, priority scheduling from glass fabricators, and direct relationships with manufacturer representatives who help resolve warranty issues quickly.

For our clients, this means better material selection guidance (we know which products perform and which ones do not), competitive pricing, and access to materials that retail customers and general contractors cannot always source.

A Process Perfected Over Hundreds of Bathrooms

Every business has processes, but ours are refined specifically for bathroom projects. This means we have eliminated the waste and confusion that plagues general contracting operations.

Design Consultation

Our design consultations focus entirely on bathroom functionality and aesthetics. We are not distracted by kitchen cabinetry or addition framing details. When we visit your home, we evaluate your bathroom with trained eyes that have seen hundreds of similar spaces. We quickly identify potential challenges, design opportunities, and the most efficient path to your dream bathroom.

Project Management

Our project managers manage only bathroom projects. They know exactly which materials need to arrive on which day, which inspections to schedule, and how to coordinate plumbing, electrical, tile, and glass subcontractors for optimal workflow. There is no juggling between a kitchen in Rocklin and an addition in Roseville — our full attention is on your bathroom.

Quality Control

We have developed bathroom-specific quality checklists that cover every detail from waterproofing integrity to grout consistency to fixture alignment. These checklists were built from real lessons learned across hundreds of projects. They catch details that a general contractor might not even know to look for.

The OakWood difference in action — transforming dated bathrooms into modern, functional spaces is what we do every day.

Addressing Common Concerns About Hiring a Specialist

We understand that the idea of a bathroom-only contractor raises questions. Let us address the most common ones directly.

"What if I also want to remodel my kitchen later?"

We focus on bathrooms because that is where our expertise creates the most value. For kitchen remodels, we are happy to recommend trusted kitchen specialists in the Sacramento area. Just as you would not want a kitchen contractor doing your bathroom, you benefit from having the right specialist for each project.

"Is a specialist more expensive?"

Our pricing is consistently competitive with — and often lower than — general contractors for comparable bathroom work. Our efficiency, supplier relationships, and lack of overhead from managing multiple project types keep our costs controlled. More importantly, our expertise means fewer surprises, fewer change orders, and a project that is done right the first time.

"Can you handle everything, or will I need other contractors?"

We handle every aspect of bathroom remodeling in-house or through our dedicated subcontractor team. Plumbing, electrical, tile, drywall, painting, glass, vanity installation, fixture installation, ventilation — we manage it all. You get a single point of contact and a single team responsible for every aspect of your project.

"What about permits and inspections?"

We handle all permitting and inspections required for your bathroom project. Our familiarity with local building departments across Placer County, Sacramento County, and El Dorado County means we know exactly what each jurisdiction requires and how to move permits through efficiently. Licensed as CSLB #1125321, we carry all required insurance and bonding.

The Results Speak: What Our Clients Experience

The proof of our bathroom-only approach is in the results. Our clients consistently report three things that set their OakWood Remodel experience apart from previous contractor interactions:

Confidence from the first meeting. When homeowners meet with our team, they immediately sense the depth of bathroom-specific knowledge. We can answer every question about shower waterproofing, tile selection, fixture specifications, and accessibility features without hesitation. That confidence is contagious — our clients feel secure knowing they hired a team that truly understands their project.

A smooth, predictable process. Because we have completed this exact type of project hundreds of times, our process runs like a well-oiled machine. Materials arrive when expected. Subcontractors show up on schedule. Phases transition smoothly. Our clients are regularly surprised by how stress-free the experience is compared to their expectations.

Results that exceed expectations. When every member of the team is a bathroom expert, the details come together in ways that general contractors struggle to achieve. Perfectly aligned tile patterns. Flawless grout lines. Fixtures installed at exactly the right height. Glass enclosures that fit perfectly. These details compound to create a finished bathroom that genuinely impresses.

We maintain a 5.0-star rating across our review platforms because our focused approach consistently delivers results that our clients love. They refer their neighbors, family, and friends because they experienced something different — something better — from a team that has made bathrooms their entire professional life.

Our Commitment to Sacramento-Area Homeowners

Whether you live in Rocklin, Roseville, Auburn, Granite Bay, Folsom, Citrus Heights, Orangevale, Loomis, Newcastle, or any of the 170+ communities we serve, our commitment is the same: to deliver the best bathroom remodeling experience available in the Sacramento region.

We do not chase trends or expand into services we are not experts in. We wake up every day thinking about bathrooms — how to make them more beautiful, more functional, more durable, and more valuable. That singular focus is our competitive advantage, and it is the reason our clients trust us with the most important room in their homes.