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How Long Does a Bathroom Remodeling Project Typically Take from Start to Finish?
Once you’ve made the decision to remodel your bathroom, you need to arm yourself with information. After all, having a bathroom out of commission can be rather inconvenient. You won’t want the project to drag on indefinitely and that’s why having the right contractor for a bathroom remodel is so important.
How long does a bathroom remodel take, and what are the possible delays? Let’s take a closer look.
Factors Affecting Remodeling Time
At some point, almost every building or remodeling project will be subject to some delay. Accepting this ahead of time will help you remain flexible during your bathroom remodel. That said, it is helpful to know which factors can affect your timeline.
Before beginning your bathroom remodel, answer the following questions.
1. Is the project a cosmetic remodel or a strip-to-the-studs rebuild?
A basic bathroom makeover will take half as much time (or less) as a complete bathroom remodel. If you plan on replacing a few cabinets, repainting, and changing the flooring, carve out a few weeks. If you plan on tearing out your bathroom down to the studs, plan on it taking a few months.
2. Are you doing the work yourself or are you hiring a contractor?
Even if you are experienced in home renovation, chances are high that you have a work schedule to keep. The great thing about contractors is, not only are they knowledgable and quick, renovating your home is their full-time job. This alone means they’ll finish your remodel a little quicker than you probably would on your own.
That said, if you have the skill and the time, a DIY remodel can save you money, and you may not lose any time at all.
3. If you’re hiring the work out, is the contractor an owner-operator, or is he/she subcontracting electricians, plumbers, and carpenters?
Good subcontractors are vital to a job well done. Make sure you ask your contractor if he/she has help or if it’s a one-person show.
4. Are all materials readily available or are they special-order goods that may cause you to wait for delivery?
One of the biggest delays in home renovation is caused by a lack of materials. If a certain task depends on a certain material, and that material is not delivered on time, everything is immediately held up.
An Idealized Timeline
The timetable below assumes the work is being done by a good general contractor working with competent subcontractors, that all tradesmen show up on time, that no one gets sick, materials are readily available, and that you, the homeowner, do not issue any change orders that slow down the progress. In addition, all “dead days” have been removed.
| TASK | TIME (DAYS)…….. | NOTES |
| Demolition……………………… | 2 | May take longer if the bathroom is on a second story or otherwise difficult to remove refuse. |
| Rough Carpentry | 2 | Optional |
| Plumbing Rough-In | 1–2 | Plan on the full 2 days or more if you are moving services such as tub and toilet. |
| Electrical Rough-In | 1–2 | A good professional electrician can move swiftly, so it would be unusual for this to go more than a day. “Rough-in” means to run the electrical lines but stop short of hooking up the final connections. |
| First Inspection | 1 | The first inspection prior to buttoning up the work with drywall goes fast and should only add one day to the total timetable. However, since scheduling inspectors can be a problem, this may slow down the remodel by a week or two. |
| Insulation | .5 | Insulating a bathroom should go very fast, as usually only one or two walls are involved. |
| Hang Drywall | 1 | Drywall may be begun the minute insulation is up. It is fast work for a contractor. |
| Finish Drywall | 2 | Finishing means applying joint compound, letting dry, sanding, and sometimes repeating. |
| Paint | 1 | Painting a bathroom while it is still in its bare state is relatively simple and fast. Except for the ceiling, no masking is required. |
| Final Inspection | 1 | Like the first inspection, final inspection itself does not take very long—perhaps less than 20 minutes for each inspector. However, scheduling the inspector may slow down your work. |
| Tile Work | 2 | Optional: you may not be doing tile work, but like drywall, there is the applying/drying cycle that takes time. |
| Cabinetry and Trim | 1 | There tends to be minimal cabinetwork in bathrooms, so this should go quickly. |
| Flooring | 2 | Plain vinyl floor could go down in a morning; tile, engineered wood or other flooring will take longer. |
| Hookups, Fixtures, Etc. | 2 | Hooking up toilet, sink, etc. |
| Miscellaneous | 1.5 | Allow time for contingencies. |
|
TOTAL |
23 |
Need Some Help With Your Remodel?
For over 30 years, Caruso Kitchens has created thousands of award-winning dream kitchens for Colorado residents. However, kitchens aren’t our only area of expertise! We also love helping homeowners with cabinetry, countertops, and appliances all over their home.
With over 150 years of combined experience, our skillful designers will help you create the bathroom of your dreams. If you have any further questions or would like to schedule an interview, call us today. We are located in Lakewood, Colorado, and serve the entire Denver Metro Area.
