How long does a bathroom remodel take?
Are you planning a bathroom remodel? Have you been wondering how long it will take?
How long should a bathroom remodel take? How long does the design and planning phase of a bathroom remodel take? How long does the construction phase of a bathroom remodel take? How long does each part of a bathroom remodel take?
Don’t worry, we’ll answer all of these questions!
When people ask us, “How long will my bathroom remodel take?”, they are usually referring to the construction phase of their bathroom remodel. It is important to know how long this will take because this is the time when they will be without a bathroom.
An equally important, and often missed, question is, “How long will the design and planning phase of my bathroom remodel take?” The timeline for the design and planning phase doesn’t seem as important, because you won’t be without a bathroom during that time.
Unfortunately, we can’t get started on your remodel until the design and planning are done, so the time spent in this phase will affect the completion date of your remodel. This is especially important to understand if you need your bathroom remodel to be complete for a certain time or event.
So, why don’t we start with the timeline for the design phase, and then we’ll get into how long the construction phase will take!
How long will the design phase of my bathroom remodel take?
The design phase of a bathroom remodel can be broken up into a few parts:
Bathroom layout & design
Product & finish selections
Scope of work & estimate creation
The first two of these will require a lot of input from you, the homeowner. After all, it’s your bathroom! So, you get to decide how it needs to function, look, and feel to best meet your needs!
Because these decisions require your input, the timeline for this phase will depend on how much time you have available to make the necessary decisions.
The design & planning phase of a typical bathroom remodel, where the room layout will stay the same, generally takes about 4-5 weeks from start to finish. If the room layout needs to change, this process will generally take an additional 2-3 weeks.
If you are very busy, it may take you longer, if you have more time available, it may go faster. Either way, we will work with your schedule to get this done in a way that is manageable with your schedule!
Here is what will need to be done in the design and planning phase of your project:
How long does it take to create a layout for a bathroom remodel?
At our initial consultation & dreaming session (the Explore It phase of Our Process), we will gather the measurements for your space and get an idea of what you are looking for in your transformed space.
If you need the room layout to change in order to make your new bathroom more functional, we will start the design and planning process by creating a plan for the new bathroom layout.
We will work with you to decide where the various fixtures, like the bathtub, vanity, toilet, etc., will go. Then we will create a plan that describes where everything will go in your new bathroom. When the entire room needs to be reconfigured, this process generally takes approximately 2-3 weeks.
How long does it take to select the products & finishes for a bathroom remodel?
Once we know where everything needs to go in your new bathroom, it will be time to pick out all of the fixtures and finishes. We will work with you to pick out the bathtub, tub surround, vanity, faucets, shower heads, flooring, medicine cabinet, vanity lights, paint colors, and any other fixtures and finishes you need for your new bathroom.
You may choose to pick out some of these products online, but you will likely need to make at least a few trips to various local bathroom stores and/or showrooms to select all of the products for your new space.
These decisions can be made as slowly or as quickly as you need them to. If you are in a hurry, you might be able to make all of the decisions in a week, but we find that 2-3 weeks is a reasonable expectation for an average homeowner with commitments at home and work.
How long should it take to get a quote for a bathroom remodel?
Once the room layout is done, we will start creating a scope of work for your project. There will be a few things that need to be finalized after you have selected the fixtures and finishes for your project. So, we will need some time to finalize these details after you are done selecting these products.
We will generally need about 2 weeks to verify the final details and get pricing from our suppliers and trade partners after the design decisions and product selections are complete.
At the end of these 2 weeks, you will receive a “no-surprises” fixed-cost construction contract that includes a detailed scope of work, a thorough list of all of the products that will be used in your new bathroom, and a timeline for the construction phase of your project!
How long will the construction phase of a bathroom remodel take?
Just like the design phase, the construction phase of a bathroom remodel is composed of a few different parts, all of which can vary in time from project to project.
These parts are:
Demo
Framing
Rough-in
Drywall
Shower/Tub surround
Flooring
Trim work
Plumbing & Electrical trim-out
Paint
Hardware & punch list
All of these tasks will need to be completed during the construction phase of your bathroom remodel.
If your bathroom remodel doesn’t require room layout changes, the construction phase of the project will generally take between 3 and 4 weeks from start to finish.
If your bathroom layout will be reconfigured, it will likely take between 4 and 6+ weeks to complete the construction phase of your bathroom remodel.
How long will each part of your remodel take?
How long does it take to demo a bathroom?
The demo phase of a bathroom remodel goes really quickly! With a 1 or 2 man crew, most bathrooms can be demolished, down to the studs, in 1 day. If your remodel includes taking down walls, and expanding your bathroom into adjacent rooms, the demo phase can take a little longer, but even a larger-scale project like this can usually be demolished in a couple of days.
How long does it take to frame a bathroom?
If your bathroom layout stays the same, there will usually be little to no framing required for a typical bathroom remodel. On a typical project, we plan on about a half day for a carpenter to install any additional studs we need for the shower or tub surround and to install blocking for grab bars, towel rings, robe hooks, etc.
If you decide to expand your bathroom into the adjacent closet or bedroom, there will be some more extensive framing that needs to be done. The timeline for this work will be very project-dependent, and will usually take anywhere from a day to a week or more, depending on the changes that need to be made to the structure.
How long does the plumbing rough-in take in a bathroom remodel?
The plumbing “rough-in” is the phase of a bathroom remodel when the plumbers install the pipes in the walls and floor. Basically, anything that gets installed before the drywall. This includes the bathtub, the part of the shower valve that is in the wall (the rough valve), drain and vent pipes, and hot and cold water pipes.
The plumbing rough-in can take anywhere between a day and a week or more, depending on how much plumbing needs to be reworked. If the existing plumbing in your home is in pretty good shape, a plumbing rough-in for a typical bathroom remodel will usually take 1-2 days.
How long does the electrical rough-in take in a bathroom remodel?
Just like the plumbing rough-in, the electrical rough-in is where the electrical wires and boxes are installed in the walls, floor, or ceiling before the drywall goes up. This includes the wires, vent fan, and electrical boxes for the ceiling lights, vanity lights, outlets, switches, thermostats, or other electrical accessories.
If the existing wiring in your home is in good shape, the electrical rough-in will usually take about 1 day. If there is a large amount of wiring that needs to be reworked in your bathroom, this could take 2-3+ days.
How long does it take to install drywall in a bathroom?
Once the framing, plumbing rough-in, and electrical rough-in are done, and the building inspections have been done, it is time for drywall!
Hanging the drywall in a typical bathroom will usually only take 1 day. Finishing the drywall will often take a bit longer. Applying joint tape and joint compound to all of the drywall flat joints and corners, and sanding the joint compound smooth, will usually take about 2 days of work, in a typical bathroom.
Even though the drywall finishing is only a couple of days work, the process can sometimes take longer, because the joint compound needs to dry before it can be sanded. Many bathrooms are small and oddly shaped, which can make it a challenge to get the airflow necessary to dry the joint compound.
If it is humid and getting good airflow is challenging in your bathroom, the drywall phase of your project could take a few additional days.
How long does it take to install a tub surround?
There are many different types of bathtub surrounds. They all get installed differently, with varying degrees of complexity. The three most common types of tub surrounds are:
Acrylic/fiberglass
Solid surface
Tile
Let’s discuss each of them
How long does it take to install an acrylic tub surround?
Acrylic/fiberglass tub surrounds are actually installed in the rough-in stage, before drywall, when the bathtub is being installed.
While most homeowners (and contractors) dislike them because they are described as feeling and looking “cheap”, acrylic tub surrounds are inexpensive to purchase and fast to install. An acrylic tub surround can be installed in an hour or two, in the rough-in stage. So, when the plumbing rough-in is done, the surround is complete!
How long does it take to install a solid surface tub surround?
Solid surface tub surrounds are a step up from acrylic tub surrounds. They are made of a composite material that can look like tile, marble, or any number of beautiful materials.
Solid surface tub surrounds are installed after the drywall is complete. The installation method includes using silicone sealant to adhere the panels to the drywall above the bathtub. The panels will be installed in a day, but the silicone sealant will need to dry overnight before the installation is complete.
How long does it take to install a tile tub surround?
For many, tile tub surrounds are considered the best option for a tub surround. Tile tub surrounds have a lot of flexibility in adding customization, like accents, niches, or shelves.
Tile surrounds are also the slowest to install. Installing a tile tub surround includes installing tile backer and waterproofing, then installing the tile in mortar, and, finally, grouting the tile installation. This process will generally take somewhere between 3 and 5+ days, for an average-sized tub surround, depending on the complexity of the installation.
How long does it take to install a shower?
Maybe you have a shower instead of a bathtub. How long will it take to install a shower? Will it be the same as a bathtub & surround?
The timeline for a shower installation is pretty similar to the timeline of a bathtub and tub surround, with some notable exceptions.
How long does it take to install an acrylic shower?
Just like acrylic/fiberglass tub surrounds, acrylic/fiberglass showers are installed in the rough-in stage, before the drywall is installed.
An acrylic shower can be installed in a few hours, or roughly the same amount of time as an acrylic/fiberglass bathtub and surround. When the plumbing rough-in is done, the acrylic shower is complete!
How long does it take to install a solid surface shower?
Solid surface showers are also installed in a very similar way to a bathtub with a solid surface tub surround. In this case, the shower pan is installed in the plumbing rough-in phase and the shower wall panels are installed after drywall.
After the drywall is complete, the shower walls will be installed in a single day, but the silicone sealant will need to dry overnight before the installation is complete.
How long does it take to install a tile shower?
Tile showers are a bit more work than tile tub surrounds. This is mostly due to the fact that a bathtub acts as the shower floor and lower portion of the shower walls. When we install a tile shower, we will need to tile the area, from floor to ceiling. This will add a bit more time and cost to the installation.
The process for installing a tile shower is pretty similar, and it includes installing tile backer on the walls, a shower pan on the floor, and waterproofing throughout. The tile will then be installed and grouted on all of these surfaces. This process will generally take somewhere between 4 and 6+ days, for an average-sized tile shower, depending on the complexity of the installation. Large tile showers can take much longer, we have seen a huge, high-end, custom tile shower take a month to install!
How long does it take to install a bathroom floor?
There are many different flooring options out there, but when it comes to flooring that is rated for a wet environment, there are only two popular options: tile and vinyl. These products require different installation methods, which creates a difference in installation speed between the products.
How long does it take to install a vinyl bathroom floor?
There are many different vinyl flooring products, including sheet vinyl, Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP), Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT), Engineered Vinyl Tile (EVT), and many more. There are also many different installation methods for these products, floating sheet, glue-down sheet, click-together plank or tile, and glue-down plank or tile.
There is a difference in the time it takes to install these different products, but in a small room, like a bathroom, the difference is negligible. Most vinyl flooring products can be installed in most average-sized bathrooms in less than a day.
How long does it take to install a tile bathroom floor?
Installing a tile bathroom floor properly is a tedious process that includes installing an underlayment called “uncoupling membrane”, setting the tile in mortar over the uncoupling membrane, and grouting the tile floor when it’s done.
This process will take approximately 2 days, in an average-sized bathroom, and it can take 3-4+ days in a large, master bathroom.
How long does it take to install trim in a bathroom?
Once the drywall and flooring are installed, we can install the trim. This will generally include the door casing, window casing, and base trim. Sometimes we will also need to install crown molding, chair rail, or paneling.
For a standard bathroom remodel, with 1 door and 1 window to trim, and no crown, chair rail or paneling to install, the trim work will generally take about 1 day.
How long does it take to install door & window trim in a bathroom?
Installing the door and window casing in a typical bathroom remodel will usually take a couple of hours.
How long does it take to install base trim in a bathroom?
It’s hard to say exactly how long it will take to install base trim in your bathroom. A simple bathroom, with straight runs, minimal cuts, and a very flat floor could take as little as an hour or two. A complex bathroom with a lot of cutting and fine-tuning of the trim could take a full day!
A typical bathroom will usually take around 3 or 4 hours for the base trim installation.
How long does it take to install a bathroom door?
Installing a new pre-hung bathroom door in a typical bathroom remodel (we are already doing a remodeling project at your home) will usually take a couple of hours.
How long does it take to install crown molding in a bathroom?
You have a lot of options for crown molding in your bathroom. A simple, 1-piece crown molding will likely take a few hours to install, in an average bathroom. Awkwardly shaped bathrooms, complex moldings, or installations that require the build-up of multiple moldings will take considerably longer.
How long does it take to install a chair rail in a bathroom?
Chair rail is similar to base trim, it can usually be installed in a couple of hours, in a standard bathroom. Awkwardly shaped rooms, and/or the need to make a lot of cuts, or fit awkwardly shaped pieces can add to the time spent on the installation.
How long does it take to install paneling in a bathroom?
There are many different options for paneling, with many different installation methods. There are 4x8 beadboard panels, 1x6 nickel-gap boards, and 1/4” thick planks made specifically for wainscot paneling. These all require slightly different installation methods, with varying degrees of skill and time required.
Installing a “standard” 3’ high wainscot in an average-sized bathroom will usually take a day or maybe two. If we were to install intricate, full-height paneling on all the walls of a large bathroom (as we have done in the past), we would likely be working on it for a week or two.
How long does a plumbing trim-out take in a bathroom?
The next phase in a bathroom remodel is the plumbing “trim-out.” This is where all the plumbing fixtures that go in after the drywall are installed. This includes the vanity, vanity sink, vanity faucet, shower valve, shower heads, toilet, etc.
The trim-out phase of an average bathroom remodel will take approximately 1 day. Projects with more fixtures, or more complicated fixtures (like high-end fixtures) will take a bit longer.
How long does it take to install a vanity sink and faucet?
Installing the vanity, vanity sink, and vanity faucet will usually take 2-3 hours, including the installation of the drain trap, valves, and feed lines.
How long does it take to install a shower faucet, shower head, and tub spout?
The installation of the tub/shower fixtures: the tub/shower valve, tub spout, shower arm, shower head, etc., will generally take an hour or two. This, of course, is after the rough-in has been done in an earlier phase of the project.
How long does it take to install a toilet?
Installing a new toilet in the trim-out phase of a bathroom remodel (after the water lines have been installed in the wall) will generally take between 1 and 2 hours.
How long does an electrical trim-out take in a bathroom?
Just like the plumbing trim-out, the electrical trim-out is the phase where the electrical fixtures are installed. This includes anything that gets installed after the drywall: the vent fan cover, vanity lights, ceiling lights, outlets, switches, thermostat, fan timer, etc.
This usually takes less than a day, for an average bathroom. This phase may take a bit longer if you decide to add some electrical upgrades, like a towel warmer, audio system, or accent lighting (yes, you can have all of these in your bathroom!).
How long does it take to install lighting in a bathroom?
An average bathroom doesn’t have much lighting. You likely have a vent fan with a light, you may have a ceiling light in the shower, and you will almost always have some vanity lighting, whether that is a single light or a pair of sconces.
Installing all of this lighting will usually take a few hours.
How long does it take to install electrical outlets and switches in a bathroom?
Since the wires and electrical boxes are already in the wall, installing the outlets and switches goes pretty fast. An average bathroom will have an outlet by the sink, 2 or 3 light switches, a vent fan control switch or timer, and maybe a thermostat. Installing all of these will usually take an hour, or maybe two.
How long does it take to paint a bathroom?
If you were to simply “freshen up” your existing bathroom by applying 1 or 2 coats of paint to the ceiling and walls, you would likely be done in a day.
But, when we are remodeling a bathroom from the studs out, there will be quite a bit more to paint. First, we will have to prime the new drywall. Then, we will have to putty, sand, caulk, and prime the trim. After that, we will need to apply 2 coats of paint to the trims, walls, and ceiling.
This process will usually take a couple of days time, for an average bathroom. A large bathroom, or a bathroom with paneling, accent walls, or other features that need to be treated differently will require additional time for the painting work.
How long does it take to install a grab bar, towel ring, and toilet paper holder in a bathroom?
We’re getting close to completion! It’s time to install the bathroom accessories! The cabinet pulls, door knob, and door stop will need to be installed in addition to the grab bars, towel bars, towel rings, robe hooks, and toilet paper holders that need to be installed.
Installing these accessories will generally take about a half day.
How long does the punch list phase of a bathroom remodel take?
The punch list is the technical term for little things that need to be addressed before your project is 100% complete. This may include “dings” in the paint, or a special order product that hasn’t come in yet. Generally, taking care of these issues will only require a day’s work, often less.
If special order or replacement products are involved, it can take some time to receive the products we need to complete the punch list. We appreciate your patience when this happens! Believe us, we want your project to be 100% complete just as much as you do!
How long should a bathroom remodel take?
Thanks for sticking with us! We have talked about a lot of things today!
We talked about how the time spent in the design phase will affect when your project can be started and completed.
We mentioned that the timeline for the design phase of your project will be tailored to your schedule. It can go as quickly or slowly as your schedule allows.
We then described all of the tasks involved in the construction phase of your bathroom remodel. We talked about how long each of these tasks generally takes.
We explained that the following timelines are what you can expect, on average, for an average-sized bathroom remodel:
When the room layout doesn’t change:
The design phase will normally take 4-5 weeks.
The construction phase will normally take 3-4 weeks.
When the room will be reconfigured:
The design phase will normally take 6-8 weeks.
The construction phase will normally take 4-6+ weeks.
Where can I learn more about bathroom remodeling?
We hope this has been helpful as you plan for your bathroom remodel! If you need some help with your project, feel free to reach out here. We would love to help make your dreams come true!
In the meantime, if you need more information on what is involved in a bathroom remodel: How much does a bathroom remodel cost? What flooring is best for a bathroom? or What is the process for remodeling my home? Be sure to check out our Learning Center!
