By the time you decide to take the plunge and remodel your bathroom, chances are the project has already been seething in your mind for some time. However, once you have finally chosen to start, it is very important to set expectations around the length of a bathroom remodel.
If you decide to hire a remodeling contractor, the process can be broken into a few stages, each of which you should consider carefully. We have divided the phases you should expect from a traditional bathroom remodeling project into groups of tasks. This will give you a good idea of what the bathroom remodel process would look like.
Factors to Consider While Remodeling a Bathroom
Remodeling your bathroom is an extensive process, and there are several factors to consider before you begin the project. Below are some of the most time-consuming aspects of the bathroom remodeling process to better help you plan out the project.
What Takes the Most Time?
It is important that you manage the length of a bathroom remodel to save time and money. Logistical systems such as flooring, plumbing, and electrical will take much more time than just installing a new bathtub or sink.
Further, depending on the state of your home, logistical systems can anywhere from a few days to a week to replace.
Similarly, you can install a new bathtub within a day or two, and even less time for a new sink. Therefore, you must plan out your remodel carefully and prioritize the items that will be the most time-consuming to make sure that you don’t delay your project.
The Current State of Your Bathroom
Inspecting the current state of your bathroom can give you a better idea of its immediate needs. Therefore, it is recommended that you try to repair and upgrade the existing elements instead of starting from scratch.
If this isn’t an option, remember that implementing infrastructures such as flooring and walls will need a significant amount of time. Besides, other logistical elements such as the bathroom layout, electrical work, and plumbing needs can bog down your project.
DIY or Professional Project
The main advantage of DIY for a project is that you can manage the length of a bathroom remodel. This means that you can complete a project quickly compared to a professional because you don’t have other clients like a contactor.
But the drawback is that you have to do everything yourself, which can be quite challenging both physically as well as financially. Further, due to your inexperience, you may make mistakes that can be time-consuming and expensive to fix.
On the other hand, a professional will complete your project with a definite level of quality, so you need to understand that both will require a fair amount of time to complete.
How Many Contractors are You Hiring?
Different bathroom remodeling contractors near you can provide you with different expertise. This is useful because you can have a contractor for logistical systems and another for infrastructure that can work on your walls and interiors.
This ensures that your project has a high level of quality in several different aspects. We can summarize a typical length of a bathroom remodel into two parts. Below we will walk you through the main aspects of a remodel:
Phase 1: Pre-Construction
With your project in mind, you can begin remodeling your bathroom. But before you can continue, we need to complete the following steps:
Choose a Contractor
Before you can begin remodeling, you need to choose a bathroom remodel contractor. A contractor will be working closely with you for weeks, so it is important to find someone who can deliver.
Go through their credentials and make sure that their skills and work ethics are reputed. In case not, you may find yourself with many issues down the road.
Sign the Contract and Get Permits
With your contractor secured, they should help you get the necessary permits. These permits tell the city about your intentions, and you must receive their approval before you can continue any construction project.
If you don’t obtain the proper permits, no construction work can begin. Moreover, the typical length of approval can be anywhere between 4-6 weeks, so you need to be patient.
Purchase All Items
While you are waiting for the permits, you can go about purchasing the required materials. This is best done now before the actual project begins, as you have a fair bit of time to wait for the approvals, and you want all materials on hand before continuing with the project.
This includes building materials such as wood and nails and also bathtubs and sinks.
Phase 2: During Construction
With the permits signed off and materials, you can now start the bathroom remodel.
Clearing out The Bathroom
Before you can start construction, you need to demo the old bathroom. This involves removing all the structural elements such as the frame and existing additions like your bathroom and sink.
Once all the elements of the old bathroom have been removed, you should clean the exposed surfaces for new bathroom flooring and structure to be inserted easily. This process will roughly take around 1 to 2 days.
Flooring, Plumbing, and Electrical Work
With the bathroom cleaned out, you can now begin installing flooring and the frame of your bathroom. Besides, this step includes sorting out your plumbing and installing the electrical lines that will run your bathroom.
Floor and Structure Work
Once the plumbing and electrical work are complete, you can now work on reinforcing your structural components. Your frame should be sturdy, and your flooring needs to be stable for supporting a great deal of weight. This process will add 4 to 6 days to the length of a bathroom remodel.
Bath, Sink Vanity, and Toilet Installation
Now you can go for installing your bathroom additions such as your bathtub, sink, and toilet. When installing these items, make sure that the plumbing is accurately connected and is without any loose connections. You can expect around 2 to 3 days for this process to complete.
Bathroom Clean up
With all the components in place, you can now begin cleaning up excess debris from your construction. This includes polishing rough surfaces, cleaning wood shavings, and adding any final touches you want for your bathroom before wrapping up.
Phase 3: Post Construction
Your bathroom remodeling is now complete. All that remains is to review the work with the contractor.
Contractor Walkthrough
Contractor walkthrough provides you an extensive review and reports on the materials used and the changes made to your home.
This is beneficial to you as you can review the work and provide feedback to see if it is up to your standards. Finally, a walkthrough allows you to request changes if needed.
