How Long Does a Bathroom Remodel Take in 2024?

A bathroom remodel can be a fantastic way to upgrade your home, but it can be quite a lengthy and frustrating process. Today we will look into the most time-consuming aspects of a remodel so that you can better plan and avoid these hurdles

The Answer:

A bathroom remodel can take anywhere from 3-4 weeks, but this answer largely depends on the size of the remodel. Larger remodels will take anywhere from 4-6 weeks, but generally, you should prepare for most remodels to take at least a month to complete. 

Phases of a bathroom full remodel and their time estimates 

A typical bathroom remodel can be summarized into three parts. Below, we will walk you through the main components of a remodel:

Broken down into 3 phases: 

A bathroom remodel can be broken down into three parts:-pre-construction, during construction and post-construction.

These three parts help to break down the project into easy to organize sections. 

• Pre-construction-This step is the organizational aspect where all materials are gathered, contractors are hired and all plans are written out. This step usually ends when permits are acquired and actual building can begin. 
• During construction-This step encompasses the main part of the project where construction occurs. This step includes removing the existing space and building a new area, having your work inspected, and finalizing the bathroom.  
• Post-construction-With the construction done, this step covers walkthrough and comprehensive breakdowns of what was removed, what was added, and final contractor thoughts. Payments are finalized and the project is now complete. 

Pre-construction – Phase 1

With your project in mind, we can begin remodeling your bathroom. But before we continue, we will need to complete the following steps: 

Post your job

Posting your job informs other contractors and professionals of your project needs. This will attract professionals of varying expertise to your door, giving you a choice in who you want to work with. The sooner you can do this, the more options are available to you before a contractor’s schedule fills and your choices are more limited.  

Schedule site visits and bids

While you continue hunting for the right contractors, you should schedule site visits and bids. You want to ensure that the space you are building can accommodate what you have in mind. In general, if you do not have a site secured, you should delay or postpone your project before you continue.  

Choose your contractor

With your site secured, you should now choose your contractor. Your contractor will be working closely with you for weeks, so it is important to find someone that can deliver. Go through their credentials and ensure that their skills and work ethic are reputable. If not, you may find yourself with many issues down the road.   

Sign the contract and obtain permits

With your contractor secured, they should help you obtain the necessary permits to continue. These permits tell the city of your intentions and you must receive their approval before you can continue on any construction project. If the proper permits are not obtained, no construction work can be done.

Typical approval length can be anywhere from 6-8 weeks, so you must be patient.

Ensure all materials will be purchased

While you wait for the requisite permits to be approved, you can go about purchasing materials. This is best done now before the project begins as you have a fair bit of time to wait for the permit approval and you want all materials on hand before you continue with the project. This includes building materials such as wood and nails but also encompasses additions such as bathtubs and sinks. 

Warn the neighbors

No matter which neighborhood you live in, most do not enjoy unwelcome loud noises. While it will be unavoidable during construction, it is still courteous for you to warn your neighbors of your project so they can prepare accordingly. Upsetting your neighbors can lead to further project complications, so it is best to be as civil as possible.  

During Construction – Phase 2

Now, with your requisite permits signed off and your materials gathered, we can now start our project. 

Clearing out the old bathroom

Before we can start on construction, we need to remove the old bathroom. This involves removing all the structural aspects such as the frame and existing additions such as your bathtub and sink. After all elements of the old bathroom have been removed, you should clean the exposed surfaces to allow for new flooring and structure to be inserted much more easily. 

Flooring, plumbing, and electrical work

With the bathroom cleaned out, you can now begin inserting flooring and the frame of your bathroom. This step also includes sorting out your plumbing and establishing the electrical lines running in your bathroom. Remember that this step is meant to establish the framework of your bathroom and is not meant to have any finalized touches. These are the expected time windows you can expect: 

Demolition: One to two days

Depending on the extent of the demolition work, this number will vary. Cosmetic demolition simply removes elements such as an old vanity or toilet, which should only take a few hours. Full demolition, such as removing bathtubs and surrounding walls, will need roughly a day-2 day to complete. 

Plumbing and Electrical Work: Two to four days

This number will vary drastically between contractors and the availability of professionals. Relocating plumbing for fixtures and changing the electrical layout will take anywhere from 2-4 days. Traditionally, this will need to be inspected before you can continue remodeling.

Insulation, Drywall, and Painting: One to four days

In order to hang new drywall, insulation must be installed. Afterward, you can hang new drywall, and a joint compound is applied. This process will take anywhere from 1-2 days after, you will need to paint your drywall, which should be finished within a day. 

Tiling Preparation and Installation: Seven days or more

Tiles can be very tedious and time-consuming to install. If you are working with a professional, this job should take roughly a week depending on the size of your bathroom. If your tiler is less experienced, it can take anywhere from 7-10 days to fully complete. The smaller the job, the quicker it will be to complete.

Flooring Installation: One to two days

Depending on the size of your bathroom floor, floor installation should take anywhere from 1-2 days. This time will be dedicated to ensuring that the floor bonding agent fully dries and is safe to support any weight.

Bathroom Remodel Full Overview:

Bathroom remodels are lengthy and span multiple days, so plan accordingly. Keep in mind that delays are quite common, so always overestimate your time windows just to be safe. Here is what goes into a full remodel:

Demolition- May takes longer depending on the extent of the demolition or the bathroom is on the second story. 1-2 days

Rough Carpentry- You may not need carpentry work done if your underlying structure is sound and in good shape. 1-2 days

Plumbing Rough-in- Expect roughly 2 days or more if you are allocating a bathtub and a toilet as well.

Electrical Rough-in- Should be finished within a day. This step runs electrical lines through your home but does not connect them. 

First Inspection- First inspection verifies that all parts of your project are up to code. This step should not take more than a day, but remember that you are on the schedule of the inspectors, so it can delay your project. 

Insulation- Should be finished within a day, but some areas will require insulation inspection, which can delay your project. 

Hang Drywall- Drywall can begin as soon as the insulation is established. This should not take longer than a day.

Finish Drywall- To finish drywall, a joint compound is applied, dried, then sanded down and repeated until complete. This process will take anywhere from 1-2 days to finish fully. 

Paint- With the wall exposed, it is now time to paint through it all. This process will take a maximum of a day. 

Final Inspection- Final inspection is similar to the first inspection: schedule an inspector and wait for them to approve your project. 

Tile Work– Tile is laid out, bonded with grout or another bonding agent, and then repeated until the surface is covered. The total time is extended because the bonding agent needs to dry. 

Carpentry and Trim- Cabinets are usually already built or assembled, so they should be installed within the day. 

Flooring- Depending on the floor material, this process will either take 1-2 days. More complex material will need to be sealed to prevent moisture penetration. 

Hookup Fixtures –Hook up the sink, bathtub, toilet, lighting, and other elements that need to be connected. This process will take roughly 1-2 days, depending on the number of connections and complexity. Afterward, you can thoroughly begin to clean up as your remodel is complete. 

Post Construction – Phase 3

Your bathroom is now complete! All that remains is to review the work with your contractor. 

Contractor walkthrough

Contractor walkthroughs provide you with an extensive review and report on the materials used and the changes that have been made to your home. This is not only beneficial to you as you can review the work, but also allows you to provide critiques on the work to see if it is up to your standards. Lastly, a walkthrough also allows you to request changes before the project is wrapped up. 

Changes based on walkthrough

With the changes you requested, the contractor is able to rework your bathroom. This walkthrough provides a final review for your project unless you have more changes in mind. This will continue until you are fully satisfied with the job.  

Final inspection with contractors

After the changes are made, the contractors will provide one final inspection for safety concerns. This step is necessary as many things can often go wrong during the construction process so you need an expert to inspect the work before it is finalized. These inspections are recorded for posterity to ensure that your bathroom is safe to use.  

All Payments Finalized

Finally, with all the aspects of your bathroom inspected and ready to use, payments can be finalized. All parties are paid for their work and you are the owner of a brand new bathroom. 

What time factors to consider when remodeling a bathroom 

Remodeling your bathroom is a lengthy process and there are many factors to consider before you remodel. Below are some of the most time-consuming aspects of the remodeling process to better help you plan out your project. 

What takes the most time? 

To save time and money, it is important that you manage your time appropriately. Logistical systems such as plumbing, flooring, and electrical will be much more time-consuming than just installing a new sink or bathtub. Depending on the state of your home, logistical systems can take anywhere from a few days to a week to replace. Conversely, a new bathtub can be installed within a day or two, and even less time for a new sink. Because of this, it is important that you plan out your remodel accordingly and prioritize the items that will be the most time-consuming to ensure that your project isn’t bogged down and delayed. 

What is the current state of the bathroom?

Inspecting the current state of your bathroom can provide you with a better idea of its immediate needs. It is advisable that you try to repair and upgrade existing elements rather than start from scratch. If this is not an option, remember that implementing infrastructures such as flooring and wall frames will require a significant amount of time. Additionally, other logistical elements such as plumbing and electricity needs can bog down your project as well.

Is this a DIY or professional project?

The advantage of DIY for a project is that you are on your own timetable. This means that a project can be completed quickly compared to a professional as you do not have other clients and a schedule like other contractors. However, the drawback is that you have to do everything yourself, which can be quite taxing both financially and physically.  Also, due to your inexperience, you are likely to make mistakes that can be time-consuming and costly to fix. A professional, on the other hand, will complete your project with a certain level of quality, so understand that both will require a fair bit of time to complete. 

How many contractors are being hired?

Different contractors can provide you with differing expertise. This is useful as you can have a contractor for logistical systems, and another contractor for housing infrastructure that can work on your bathroom’s frame and interiors. This can ensure that your project has a high level of quality in many different aspects.

Numerous contractors also mean that your project will be completed faster as there are more people working on it. However, having more people can cause delays as they all have varying schedules and it may be harder to co-ordinate if the number grows too large. 

How long the contracts and potential permit approvals are needed?

No housing project can be completed without the correct contracts and permit approvals. Since this is a necessary and time-consuming step, it is advised that you research and obtain all the necessary building permits you require before starting on your project. This process can take anywhere from 4-6 weeks, so complete this step as soon as possible to avoid any major headaches with contractors. 

How long will it take to get materials

A large part of your project cost will come down to building materials. In addition to spending a fair bit of money, materials also require a fair bit of time to organize and be assembled. Obtaining items such as the correct tile, your sink, stone, tile, and wood will add more time to your project and you need to account for it before your project can begin.  

How to Avoid issues with your remodel

Many potential issues can spawn from your remodel, so try to be patient. While you can’t predict everything, you can at least attempt to mitigate issues where you can. Always keep these steps in mind to ensure that your remodel goes smoothly:

1. Make all payments on time or early: Contractors depend on your payments because they, in turn, need to pay other people.
2. Be available: Return every call, text, and e-mail from the contractor as soon as possible. If you wait an extra day to get back to the contractor, you’ve set the entire timetable back by one day.
3. Avoid unnecessary changes: Prior to signing that initial contract, ask yourself if you’re good with this. Will you be satisfied if you see the project completed exactly to these specifications?
4. Consider the weather

A bathroom remodel can breathe new life into your home and increase its value over time. That being said, the remodeling process can be a time-consuming process, so it is best to be prepared and plan accordingly so that you encounter fewer headaches.