How To Survive a Bathroom Renovation: Tips, Tricks, and Insider Secrets
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I’ve lived through four bathroom remodels that ran the gamut from simple fixture updates to complete gut renovations. My most recent bathroom renovation was a down-to-the-studs rip-out-and-redo that went off without a hitch, thanks to a good deal of planning on my part and to an excellent contractor.
Of course, my husband and I benefited from living in our old home until the new one was ready, an ideal situation that’s not an option for everyone. But I’ve also experienced the flip side: the “live-in” renovation, where the bathroom in question was the only bathroom—not a walk in the park!
Whether you’re renovating multiple bathrooms or your one and only, and whether you’re living in the home or not, here’s what you need to do to survive a bathroom renovation.
Be realistic about the timeline
We’ve all seen home shows on TV where they miraculously renovate an entire house in a week. That’s not how things work in the real world.
“Typically for us, a full renovation usually takes four to six weeks for a small bathroom, and eight to 12 weeks for a big primary bathroom,” says James Upton, a Seattle-based tile installer-turned-renovator and founder of DIYTileGuy.
It’s not just the size of the bathroom that determines the length of the project.
“How long a bathroom renovation takes also depends on how intricate your finishes are,” says Kelly Marohl, founder and designer at The Greenspring Home. “For example, if you choose a herringbone pattern for your tile floors, it’s going to take longer to install.”
If you want to shorten your bathroom renovation timeline, choose simple, straightforward finishes; keep the current bathtub/shower unit; and don’t alter the room’s footprint.
Move out if you can
Most contractors will expect you to move out when you’re renovating, and that’s in your best interests if you’re gut-renovating your bathroom.
“You aren’t going to want to gingerly step around drying tile,” says Mark Severino, a real estate investor with Best Texas House Buyers. “And the last thing you want is to mess something up.”
Stay at a family or a friend’s house for a while or rent a hotel or an Airbnb, suggests Severino, and let the pros do their work in peace.
Renovating the only bathroom
Even so, there are times when a homeowner may have to stay put during a renovation. For example, it may end up costing more than expected, eating up the temporary housing budget.
Luckily there are workarounds—even if you have only one toilet.
“We work with many condo owners who have one bathroom,” says Anna Gibson, the owner and chief designer at AKG Design Studio. “Many clients hit the gym daily to work out and shower. But we always leave the toilet connected in small projects.”
That’s how my contractor and I worked it out in my live-in reno. There was only one full day when my toilet was out of commission—flooring day.
“The day the floor is getting tiled, there is no access to the toilet for 24 hours,” explains Gibson. “This is to make sure the tile mortar dries, and nothing moves.”
Another option if you can’t move out? Rent a port-a-potty.
“We did a four-week bathroom renovation on a one-bedroom, one-bath condo in Seattle,” says Upton. “The homeowners rented a portable toilet placed on the sidewalk outside their building. Smartly, they put a lock on it so it wouldn’t be used by random strangers, because this was in a neighborhood with a very vibrant nightlife.”
Be careful ordering products
“Supply chain” may be a term you hadn’t heard of pre-pandemic, but these days, it can make or break your timeline. If you want your bathroom renovation to go smoothly, be meticulous when ordering materials. And get everything in and on-site before your contractor begins the demolition.
Here’s a rundown of what you need to do:
Measure everything twice. “In my experience, the worst mistake people make when doing a bathroom remodel is failing to get accurate measurements and then purchasing products with the incorrect dimensions,” says Martha McNamara, head of interior design at Vevano Home.
Review all product specs with your contractor before ordering. There’s so much about bathrooms that the average homeowner will not be familiar with, but your contractor can help.
For example, faucets have a “spread” that has to match the holes in the sink top; shower fixtures require you to purchase coordinating valves that go inside the walls. You want to get these right.
“Many products, like toilets or bathtubs, can’t be returned once the box has been opened,” says McNamara.
Order enough materials. “For items like tile and paint, buy more than you think you’ll need,” advises Severino. “It’s easy to return an overage that’s unused, but time-consuming or even catastrophic to run out of material you need.”
‘In-stock’ items are often not in stock. “It’s not unusual for something to be ‘two weeks out’—and after two weeks, you find out it’s still two weeks out,” says Upton.
Be sure to keep an eagle eye on when something is due to ship, so you won’t be left waiting.
Open every box. Invariably, something will be the wrong color, the wrong size—or an item won’t arrive at all. If you don’t check, you won’t discover mistakes until it’s too late to get a timely replacement.
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