How long does it take to remodel a bathroom? The bathroom is a functional and high-use room in any home. As such, being without a fully-functioning bathroom for a while will be more than just an inconvenience. Although remodeling the bathroom can bring life to your home, it is essential to complete it as soon as possible.
Estimating the time it takes to remodel a bathroom can be more complicated than you might have thought. Unexpected structural issues and workers getting sick, amongst other things, can cause a delay in completion time.
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Factors that influence the duration of a bathroom remodeling
Averagely, it takes about 3 to 4 weeks to complete remodeling a small bathroom under ideal circumstances. Generally, a bathroom remodel can take at least four weeks or more to complete. But in the real world, where many variables may arise, the time it takes to remodel a bathroom may double.
Even with the best planning efforts, bathroom remodeling often does not go as planned. Below are some of the factors that can influence the timeline of bathroom remodeling:
Scope of the remodel
Firstly, ask yourself whether you want to schedule a cosmetic rework or strip the bathroom down and start rebuilding afresh. The amount of work to be done influences the timeline. For instance, if you want to tear the whole bathroom down and rebuild afresh, it will take you a couple of weeks to complete.
On the other hand, if you just want to do a few cosmetic works such as changing the wallpaper, installing lighting, mirrors, etc., it will take you only a few days to weeks. As such, it would help to first decide on the entire scope of the remodeling when trying to estimate the project timeline.
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The complexity of the design
Another thing that can influence the timeline of bathroom remodeling is the complexity of the design you want. If the design involves complex designs such as intricate plumbing tiling or even introducing new features to the bathroom, like Jacuzzi, it will take much longer to complete. But if the design is simple, it will take a long time to complete.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that a bathroom remodel is more complex than remodeling any other room in the home. Nevertheless, suppose you want something unique that stands out, such as taking advantage of vertical spaces, zoning, and installing fixtures. They can all take a significant amount of time to complete.
Size of the bathroom
Another factor to consider when estimating the timeline to complete remodeling a bathroom is the size of the bathroom. Generally, it takes a shorter period to remodel a smaller bathroom than a larger one. A large bathroom has more space, requiring more work than a smaller one.
Also, a larger bathroom requires more demolition and removal than a small one. As such, it takes longer to complete, but remodeling costs more. A larger bathroom also requires more construction and installation, which can be time-consuming, except more hands are on deck during the remodeling.
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Professional contractors vs. DIY
Speaking about hands on deck, when you want to remodel a bathroom, you can hire a professional contractor or do it yourself if you know your way around the task. However, when you hire a professional contractor, the contractor may subcontract another aspect of the remodeling, such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical works, and so on, which helps hasten the completion time.
If you plan on doing it yourself, you may complete the project on a budget as you wouldn’t have to pay a contractor. Meanwhile, the project will take longer to complete as you may have to squeeze work time with the remodeling project. Note that the more hands you have on deck, the faster it will take to complete the project.
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Material availability
The availability of material is one of many reasons for the project delay. If the materials have not been sourced yet, note that it can affect the timeline of the bathroom remodeling project. There are cases where a certain material may not be readily available.
In most cases, these materials require special orders, which may cause you to wait for delivery before the project can continue. For example, waiting for imported ceramic tiles to arrive before completing a bathroom remodeling project can cause the project to delay by several weeks.
Permit
Finally, depending on the scope of the remodeling, it may or may not require a permit. If the remodeling requires a permit, it is vital to get the permit processed at the local building department before renovating the bathroom or other aspects of the home.
If the permit is not processed on time, this can cause unnecessary delays in completing the project. So, it’s important to factor in the time it takes to process the permit to the overall period it takes to complete the project.
How to fast-track bathroom remodeling?
If you would like to speed up the timeline to remodel your bathroom, you will need a well-planned schedule. Below are tips you can use to expedite your bathroom remodel timeline.
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- Source for all the materials you need for the project before incapacitating your bathroom.
- If the project requires getting a permit, get it ready and talk to a contractor to discuss availability.
- Make all the necessary payments early to ensure there are no delays due to financing.
- Develop contingency plans in case of unforeseen issues.
- Avoid making unnecessary changes when the remodeling has started.
Conclusion
Since the bathroom is one of the essential rooms in every household, you’d want to finish remodeling it in due time to allow for a resumption of routine activities. However, the time required to remodel a bathroom varies based on various factors. While some of the factors are uncontrollable, at the same time, you can avoid some. So, to create a realistic timeline for the project, ensure you factor in everything that can go wrong with the project.
