No two bathroom renovations are the same. Neither are two timelines. Therefore, the average time to remodel a bathroom really varies, depending on the type of project and materials you’re looking at.
Let’s just consider two bathrooms with the same floorplan, the same features, and the same plumbing and electrical infrastructure. The two owners, however, have different needs and tastes. Voila! You’re looking at two very different renovation projects.
If you’re diving into a traditional remodel, you can expect a timeline that looks something like this. A standard remodel can take as little as a month, but can also run as long as 4 months. The average time, especially in areas with stricter building codes, is between 9 and 12 weeks, accounting for working business days.
Based on what each owner wants out of their new bathroom, the length of time it takes to complete the project could be wildly different. The details can make a big difference, sometimes adding days or weeks to a project.
Here’s what to look out for when setting your expectations:
Replacing Fixtures
Swapping out electrical and plumbing fixtures can be pretty simple. On one end of the scale, one owner might just have one faucet or light fixture removed for another. Unfasten the old, fasten the new. This simple construction involved can take place in just one day.
This can get a bit more complicated if you want to change the placement of the lights. To do this, there is more intensive construction involved. For moving either electrical or plumbing placements in your bathroom, a contractor will have to devote a day or two to the roughing-in of the new infrastructure. Plumbing is more likely to take a full two days if you move the position of your toilet or shower/bathtub.
In either of these cases, an inspector will need to be scheduled in to make sure the new wiring or plumbing is up to code. While an inspection will only take part of day, booking the inspector might cause a delay of up to a week or two before work can continue.
Once the inspection is complete, your contractor can install the new fixture in its new placement. From delivery of the piece to installation and hookup, this part of the process can take between two and three days.
The expected range it can take to replace fixtures can range from 1 day to 3 weeks, depending on what fixtures you want to replace and whether or not their placement is moved.
Expanding the Bathroom Space
Some bathroom renovations involve demolishing walls to provide more floor space. Needless to say, this sort of heavy-duty construction will add several days to your project length. And if you live in an apartment building, especially on a higher floor, your location can add a day or two to the disposal of this debris. Overall, the demolition will take 2 to 3 days.
Once the space is cleared out, your contractor will hang new drywall and take a few days finishing it. All together, this construction should take between 2 to 4 days, depending on how extensive the changes are.
Tilework
Not every bathroom renovation involves tilework, so this step will add a few days to your overall schedule than if you don’t do it at all. If you already have tiles on your walls, it will take about a day to remove your old ones and prepare the space for the new material. While the length of time it takes to apply the tiles and let them dry will vary, depending on how many tiles you want, the process typically takes a couple days. In total, including tilework in your renovation will last from 3 to 4 days.
Flooring
The time it takes to renovate your bathroom floors depends largely on how many pieces need to be put into place. Installing vinyl flooring can take as little as a day. However, if you decide to spring for more luxury and install a tile or wood floor, this step will take from 2 to 3 days for installation.
The timeline for renovating your bathroom can range widely, depending on your tastes and budget. A new coat of paint on the walls plus a few new plumbing and electrical fixtures can take less than a week. If you want to move your electrical and plumbing fixtures, swap in a new shower or bathtub, break down a wall, and add new tiles and flooring, you can expect a project that lasts up to 5 weeks. And that’s assuming everything goes according to plan!
So as you plan your bathroom renovation, keep in mind that, as your wish list gets longer, so will the length of your construction timeline.
