Our process
How Your Cedar Valley Remodel Comes Together
Six clear steps, one coordinated team, and a Waterloo showroom where you can see your choices before you commit. Here's what working with Fishsticks looks like, from the first call to the final walkthrough.
- Free in-home estimates
- Selections at our Waterloo showroom
- Written scope before work starts
- Family-owned since 2003
Step by step
What happens at each stage
Every project is a little different, but the path is the same. The photos follow real Fishsticks bathroom projects in Cedar Falls and Independence.
Step 1
Initial conversation & free consultation
We talk through your goals, your space, and your priorities to see if we're a good match for the project.
What you can expect
- Call (319) 987-3091, request a consultation online, or stop by the Waterloo showroom
- Share what you'd like to change, any photos you have, and a working budget
- A straight answer on whether your flooring, kitchen, or bath project is a good fit for us
Cedar Falls bathroom — before Step 2
In-home project review & measurements
We visit your home, measure the space, and look at existing conditions — like the floor and subfloor — so your estimate reflects the real scope.
What you can expect
- A free, no-obligation in-home estimate visit
- Accurate measurements of the rooms involved
- A first look at the layout and conditions that can shape the plan
Independence bathroom — existing conditions Step 3
Showroom design & material selections
At our Waterloo showroom you compare flooring, cabinetry, countertops, tile, and fixtures in person while our designers help narrow the options to fit your style and budget.
What you can expect
- See and handle materials side by side, in real light
- Design guidance that ties flooring, cabinetry, and tile together
- Fewer, clearer choices so selections feel manageable
Cedar Falls bathroom — material selections Step 4
Detailed scope, pricing & agreement
We define the scope of work and prepare a written estimate based on your actual scope and selections, so you can review what's included before the project moves ahead.
What you can expect
- A written scope of work you confirm
- Pricing based on your real measurements and selections — not a generic range
- Time to ask questions before you approve the project
Cedar Falls bathroom — design rendering Step 5
Ordering, scheduling & professional installation
Materials are ordered and the project is prepared before work begins. Then our team completes the flooring installation or remodeling work, with design, products, and installation coordinated by one team.
What you can expect
- Materials ordered and the project prepared before work starts
- Installation or remodeling handled by our team, not pieced out to separate vendors
- Clear communication: what's been decided, what's next, and who to ask
Cedar Falls bathroom — shower tile in progress Step 6
Final walkthrough & continued support
We review the finished space with you, take care of any final details, and answer care questions. After that, our Waterloo showroom team is still just a phone call away.
What you can expect
- A walkthrough of the finished space together
- Final details taken care of
- Answers to care questions for your new floors, cabinets, or tile
Cedar Falls bathroom — finished
The Waterloo showroom
Where selections get easier
Pictures help, but there's no substitute for seeing materials in person. At 706 Ansborough Ave you can compare flooring, cabinetry, countertops, tile, and finishes side by side — and get design guidance from our team while you look.
- Designers help narrow the options to fit your style and budget
- Flooring, cabinetry, and tile chosen together so they work as one design
- Open Monday 9am–6pm and Tuesday–Friday 9am–5pm
Communication & coordination
One team keeping every piece connected
Design, products, and installation are handled together instead of pieced out to separate vendors. Throughout your project you'll know what's been decided, what's next, and who to ask.
Clear next steps
We keep you informed at every step, so decisions and timing never feel like a guess.
Coordinated project care
Selections, ordering, and installation are planned by the same team that measured your space.
When the house surprises us
Older homes can hide issues that only show up once work starts. Read how we handle surprises during a remodel.
In their words
What the process feels like
5.0
117 reviews on Google
“I loved working with Fishsticks! From my first visit to the store to the last email confirming the work was complete to my satisfaction, it was an overwhelmingly positive experience. The staff take a personal interest in the project, Danielle is a rockstar project manager with fantastic communication, and the quality of the work that was done is excellent. All of our work was also done much quicker than I had anticipated. I highly recommend Fishsticks and will be using them again!”
“Forever grateful for Danielle's assistance picking and ordering my flooring. Within 30 minutes, she had guided me to the perfect options using the poorly lit photos I provided. Interior design choices always cause me stress, and Fishsticks eliminated all of that for me. I am fully satisfied with the quality of the products but even more impressed by the customer service and how easy they made the process. They streamlined the coordination with my installer and me. I owe them a lot for helping fix a potential design flaw that would have changed the entire project. Instead of using the same flooring on the stair risers, they sent examples of how to break it up. Made a huge difference that elevated the design.”
“Wow. From start to finish the people at Fishsticks were great. Knowing how much an investment home flooring is, they took the time to make sure things were done right. From the time we walked into the showroom, until the last board was slipped into place, we knew we had made the right choice. There is true value when you choose to shop local other than through the big box stores. Fishsticks comes highly recommended by us.”
“We were extremely impressed with his (Zach Zimmerman's) level of knowledge and his willingness to share it openly. He explained everything in a way that was easy to understand and never made us feel rushed or uninformed. Thanks for the great service and we love our cabinets and flooring!”
Swipe to read more reviews
Source: Google. A hand-picked selection of reviews from our Google Business Profile — not a live feed.
Read all reviews on GoogleProcess questions
Ready for step one?
Tell us about your flooring, kitchen, or bathroom project and we'll set up your free consultation.
Serving Black Hawk County, Bremer County, and Buchanan County from our Waterloo showroom.