Bathroom remodeling is a great way to update one of a home’s most important rooms to make it more functional and beautiful. Even though bathrooms tend to be smaller than other spaces in the home, bathroom remodels are big undertakings that require strong planning and the help of experts.
How Does Bathroom Remodeling Work?
There are a lot of different ways that a bathroom can be remodeled, whether a homeowner is just looking for some aesthetic updates or the entire room needs to be gutted and possibly expanded. Most homeowners enlist the help of a bathroom remodeling contractor to ensure the work is done safely and efficiently.
The Bathroom Remodeling Timeline
Bathrooms are very important rooms in everyday life, and many families wish to avoid the inconvenience of having a bathroom unavailable for an extended period of time. Below is a look at the steps involved in a full bathroom remodel as well as an estimate of the number of days that each step may take.
Pre-Construction Process
The first step of any bathroom remodel is creating a plan. This is crucial for ensuring the outcome of the project matches the vision and can help the project stay on budget. This stage also involves interviewing and hiring contractors. This is one aspect of the timeline that the homeowner has a degree of control over in terms of how much time is spent determining a design and selecting a contractor.
The next part of the pre-construction process is demolition. This entails removing everything from the existing bathroom that will not be retained for the remodel. In addition to personal items, all of the surfaces that will be replaced, such as flooring, tubs or showers, lighting, mirrors and vanities, are removed. What is left at the end of this stage is the blank canvas for the new bathroom.
Although demolition can take around two days on average, it could take longer if tedious work is involved, the bathroom is situated on a second story or there are parts of the existing bathroom that are difficult to remove.
Construction Process
Once demolition has been completed, it is time for the rough-in. During this stage, any changes to the room structure or framing are carried out in order to create new walls. The rough carpentry stage can take around two days, but those who are working within their existing structure may be able to skip this stage entirely.
This is followed by the installation of electrical, plumbing, and HVAC in the walls, floors and ceiling. The plumbing and electrical rough-in can take one to two days each, depending on design choices such as whether toilets must be moved.
A first inspection is carried out at this stage before drywall covers all the new work. This can add another day to the timetable depending on how quickly the inspector can be scheduled.
This is followed by insulation, which generally goes quickly given the small number of walls in most bathrooms. Once insulation is finished, the drywall can be hung. It only takes around a day to hang the drywall, but it will take another two days to apply joint compound, let it dry, sand it and then repeat as necessary.
Next, the bathroom will be painted, which will be relatively simple and should not take more than a day as no masking is required except for the ceiling area. This is followed by a final inspection, which is a quick process but will once again depend on the availability of the inspector.
Post-Construction Process
Once the final inspection has been passed, it is time for the finishing touches to be put on the bathroom. If the new bathroom requires tile work, this can take around two days as the cycle of applying and drying can take time. Cabinetry and trim should take less than a day as bathrooms do not tend to require much cabinetwork.
Flooring typically takes around two days, but this will depend on the type of flooring in question. Plain vinyl flooring takes around half a day, while engineered wood, tile or another flooring could take longer. Finally, installing the sink, toilet, shower and fixtures such as lighting and mirrors should take another two days.
Factors That May Impact The Bathroom Remodeling Time
There are many factors that can affect the timeline of a bathroom remodel. Below are some of the biggest factors to consider.
Type Of Remodel
A cosmetic or aesthetic remodel will take much less time to carry out than a full demolition and rebuild. In fact, if all of the changes are merely cosmetic, the entire project might only take a couple of days.
Availability Of Materials
The availability of the materials involved is another factor that can impact the timeline. If everything is readily available, the project can proceed right away. However, if special-order goods like imported ceramic tile are involved, the project could be significantly delayed. Contractors can generally advise on how long a remodel will take.
Who Is Completing The Work?
The parties responsible for completing the work will also influence how long the project takes to complete. Many well-meaning homeowners try to do all the work themselves in hopes of saving money. However, those who are just fitting in a few steps here and there can find that the project takes many months to complete. Contractors, on the other hand, can get the job done much faster.
How Long Should The Remodel Take?
Once again, the length of the remodel depends on many factors. However, the idealized timetable for a full demolition and rebuild is around 23 days, according to The Spruce. This timeline assumes that a good general contractor is in charge of the work, the subcontractors are competent, the tradespeople show up as expected and the materials are readily available.
It also assumes that once one worker has finished, the next one will step in to carry out their part of the project immediately. This is not always the reality, and it could end up taking longer. Homeowners should also know that if they issue any change orders once the project is underway, it can slow down progress.
Speak With A Professional Bathroom Remodeling Contractor
If you are interested in remodeling your bathroom, get in touch with the experts at DirtConnections to find out how they can help with every step of the process and how long it might take to design and execute the bathroom of your dreams.
Summary
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