There’s no wrong time to remodel your bathroom in Sarasota. Before embarking on this major project, however, it’s best to make sure you can commit to a process that is likely to last several weeks, if not months.
During the course of your remodel, you will spend a considerable amount of time and focus meeting with your remodeler, contributing to the design plans, making selections, and adjusting your family’s routine to accommodate onsite construction. Going into the project with a good understanding of the average bathroom remodeling timeline can help you set realistic expectations and make plans accordingly.
How Long Does it Take to Remodel a Bathroom?
As with most home improvement projects in Sarasota, the duration of your bathroom remodel can vary based on several factors, including the size and condition of the room and what you hope to accomplish with your project. Renovating a half-bathroom and giving it a cosmetic upgrade will require less time for both design and construction compared to a dramatic makeover of your master bath. The timeline also depends on the approach you take to design, whether you have a clear vision before starting, and how quickly you can make decisions during the planning stage.
In general, the average time for a bathroom remodel is about six weeks to three months, from start to finish. It can be helpful when thinking through logistics to break the project down into phases, as each one requires a different type and amount of involvement from you as the homeowner. Here is a brief overview of the typical bathroom remodeling schedule in Sarasota:
Planning and Design Phase
The bathroom remodeling process technically begins by you deciding to undertake the project and then developing a vision for how you want the space to look and feel. You also need to hire a professional Sarasota remodeler to handle the project.
Over the next two to four weeks, you collaborate with your remodeler to develop design plans that capture your project priorities, whatever they may be. You can help expedite this process by having a clear idea of what you’re looking for in terms of function and form. However, you also don’t want to rush the design process, as the choices you make during this phase impact the cost and efficiency of the rest of the project.
After visiting your home to assess the job site and get measurements, your design-build team finalizes a design for your bathroom upgrade that includes cabinet plans, schematics, and interior elevations. Next comes the fun part, where you select fixtures and finishes for your space. This includes the vanity, bathtub, shower, toilet, flooring, lighting, paint color, and other architectural and design elements. Your remodeling team will navigate you through the process and give you insight into how much various items and ideas cost, but ultimately, it’s up to you to make the selections. At this point, your remodeling team can finalize a budget and a detailed construction schedule.
Pre-Construction Phase
The project then moves into the pre-construction phase. Your design-build contractor lines up subcontractors and tradespeople orders materials based on your selections and acquires any necessary permits. The timeline for sourcing materials can vary widely. If you choose custom cabinetry, imported tiles, or other unique items, expect it to take extra time for them to arrive and be ready for installation. However, an experienced remodeler can develop a bathroom remodeling schedule that takes into account staggered arrival times and lays out an efficient plan to keep your project moving forward.
Construction Phase
With permits and plans in hand, your remodeling team is ready to begin the construction phase and turn your vision into reality. This phase generally takes about four to eight weeks, depending on the scope of work and whether the team runs into unforeseen challenges or complications.
Typically, construction begins with site preparation and demolition. If you’re applying a new layout or reconfiguring the space, your bathroom may also be gutted and various walls moved. Next, your construction crew and trade partners spend a few days rearranging the layout, plumbing and electrical rough-ins, and framing and backing. Any custom built-ins included in the plans also get crafted at this point. The team then installs new exhaust fans and ventilation, along with your replacement bathtub and/or shower.
Over the next week or so, they move on to installing a drywall and the tilework for your shower surround, backsplash, and flooring. After priming and painting the walls, they can then add your vanity, countertops, sink, faucets, and other plumbing and electrical fixtures. The last touch is installing accessories, like towel bars and the toilet paper holder.
Once construction is complete, your remodeled bathroom is ready to be cleaned up and inspected, especially for the plumbing and electrical work. You get to walk through the space and ensure everything is completed to your standards. If there are issues, now is the time to address them while your contractor and crew are available.
What Factors Affect Your Bathroom Remodel Schedule?
It’s important to keep in mind that though you have a rough timeline for your bathroom remodel in Sarasota, uncontrollable factors may arise that cause delays. For example, materials and supplies might be back-ordered or your remodeler could uncover hidden issues, such as mold, water damage or structural decay, after starting demolition. These problems need to be fixed before the renovation can progress.
However, there are also potential delay-causing factors that are within your control. Requesting changes to the plan after construction is underway typically increases the overall project price, in addition to pushing back the estimated completion date. That’s why it’s important to invest an appropriate amount of time and effort into the design phase, enabling you to go into construction fully informed and confident about your selections.
What to Expect When Upgrading Your Sarasota Bathroom
Another important factor when it comes to the timeliness and efficiency of your bathroom makeover is the quality of your remodeling team. At Gilbert Design-Build, we provide a variety of services to make your home improvement project from start to finish. Throughout the process, we provide guidance, transparency, and consistent communication to help you understand what to expect and limit surprises while also keeping your bathroom remodel on time and on budget.