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So, You Want to Remodel Your Bathroom
There are plenty of different reasons to remodel your bathroom. Maybe the flow isn’t right and it’s hard to get ready in the morning. Or there’s some issues with plumbing or other functionality problems. Maybe it’s just outdated, ugly, and needs a serious face lift. Not only will you feel better about getting ready in the morning, it will also increase the value of your home. According to HGTV, bathroom remodels are one of the best investments you can make for your home. If you happen to live in California and you’re still debating whether or not to remodel your bathroom, check out our helpful blog post about average costs for bathroom remodels in California.
Table of Contents:
- Purchasing Products/Supplies
- Best Time to Hire a Contractor
- Hiring a Contractor 101
- How Long will the Remodel Take?
- Best Time of Year to Remodel
- Decorating Your Bathroom
If you’re already on board with remodeling your bathroom, the next step is to figure out when to remodel. There are a lot of factors that go into deciding when the best time to remodel is, and we’re here to help you figure it out. The big question is, is there really a best time to remodel the bathroom?
Purchasing Products/Supplies
The key to purchasing products and supplies for a remodel is planning ahead. Knowing what you want to get done and what you’ll need to accomplish that. As a general rule of thumb, prices for remodeling materials will be lower after the winter months and before the peak summer season. A lot of homeowners are going to be rushing to finish their projects around the house before the holidays. Finishing a remodel before the stress of having guests and family over is priority number one for most people, which is why prices are usually higher before the holidays. Once the holidays are over, you’ll see emptier showrooms and sellers who are a little more desperate to move their product. Some might even be willing to negotiate a better price.
If the timing doesn’t work out for you to purchase after the holidays, it’s still a good idea to plan ahead so you can always be looking for deals. If you have a list of what you need, you can always be on the lookout for flash sales or upcoming deals. According to Consumer Reports, some contractors will give you a discount if they don’t have to deal with purchasing materials. At the end of the day, planning any purchase ahead of time will save you money and make your life a little easier.
Celine Double Sink Vanity – $1,195.00
Best Time to Hire a Contractor
Another great question, when is the best time to hire a contractor? As with most things when deciding to remodel your bathroom, planning ahead is super important. If you’re looking to hire a contractor, hiring them for their busiest time of the year is going to end up being a total headache. They’re going to be juggling multiple projects with multiple different homeowners all over town. There are higher chances of mixing up materials and mistakes happening based on how hectic it might be. Your best bet is to ask around and figure out when things start to slow down. It’s best to call multiple different contractors so you have a better idea of the best time to remodel. If it’s during an especially slow period, you might even get a better deal. If you’re totally clueless about what hiring a contractor might entail, we have some basic tips that can help you get started.
Hiring a Contractor 101
You most likely don’t need a contractor if you’re planning on:
- Painting/Sealing – walls, decks, fences, etc.
- Seasonal maintenance
- Exterior cleaning
- General carpentry
- Basic DIY projects
When it’s time to consider a contractor:
- Structural repairs (roofing, drywall, foundations, tearing down walls, etc.)
- Restoration work on your home
- Renovations that might include demolition
- Electrical and plumbing
A few additional tips and suggestions to consider when you’re going through the process. First of all, ask around for recommendations. If someone had a great experience with a contractor, that goes a long way. Set up some phone interviews so you can gauge whether or not someone will be the right fit. Meet face to face with a few of your best options and lock down some bids and price estimates. Finally, beware of low-ball offers. You’re trusting someone to completely redo your bathroom which could affect the total value of your home, it’s important that you’re sure you made the right choice.
How Long Will It Take?
On average, bathroom remodels will take about 5 weeks or roughly 25 days. This number isn’t set in stone, you never know what could go wrong when taking on such a big task. We put together a general breakdown of costs so you have an idea of how long each aspect of the remodel takes.
| Job | Avg. Time (Days) | Additional Info |
| Demo | 2 | Could take longer if the materials are tough to move out of the bathroom |
| Carpentry Check | 2 | May not be necessary if the original structure is sound |
| Electrical Rough-In | 1-2 | Quick run of electrical lines, not too hard of a task |
| Plumbing Rough-In | 1-2 | Could possibly take longer if you plan on moving sink, tub, shower, etc. |
| Inspection | 1 | This should be a quick and easy job to make sure everything is going in correctly |
| Insulation | 1 | Another quick job – only a couple walls should need insulation |
| Hang Drywall | 1 | Should start pretty quickly after finishing installation |
| Finish Drywall | 2 | Possibility to take a while based on how big the bathroom is – lots of steps involved |
| Paint | 1 | Painting bathrooms is relatively easy in the remodel stage |
| Final Inspection | 1 | Shouldn’t take too long – schedule the inspector in advance to save time |
| Cabinetry | 1 | Usually not a whole lot of cabinets in bathrooms – most are vanities |
| Tile | 2 | The drying/applying might take a little longer than other projects |
| Fixtures | 2 | Have to hook up the toilet, sink, tub, shower, etc. |
| Flooring | 2 | Depending on the material you use, this number could change |
| Misc. | 2 | Sh*t happens! |
| TOTAL | 25 Days |
This guide isn’t a perfect road map of how long a bathroom remodel will take. There are lots of factors that could change any aspect of your remodel. This is a rough guide that should give you an idea of how much time you’ll be committing to a project like this.
Best Time of Year to Remodel Your Bathroom
The best time of the year to actually go through with the bathroom remodel is a hotly debated topic. Many people suggest that remodeling in the summer months is the best option. Their reasoning is that contractors are readily available, the days are longer, and the weather is nice. You also get to avoid the heat outside. The other school of thought is to remodel in the winter months. It’s technically the off season so prices will be a little cheaper and contractors more readily available. The downside is that a bathroom remodel in the middle of the holiday season can be a little stressful.
It really comes down to personal preference because there are pros and cons for both times of year. Planning months in advance and doing plenty of research will lead to an easy and problem free remodel. Go with your gut, and get after that bathroom remodel!
Decorating Your Bathroom
If you’ve made it through all of this and have decided to take on the bathroom remodel, we fully support you! Once you have it finished, you’ll still have to decorate. Check out our bathroom design trends and decorating your bathroom with art posts for some extra inspiration on your remodel adventure.
Woodland Single Vanity – $749.00
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