Homeowners ask us the same question early on almost every time: how long is this actually going to take? For a full bathroom remodel, here’s the honest week-by-week breakdown.
Week 1: Demo and rough-in
Everything down to the studs. Once the old tile, vanity, and fixtures are out, plumbing and electrical get roughed in for any new layout, like moving a shower drain or adding a second vanity light. This is also when we catch problems a walkthrough can’t: water damage behind an old tub surround, undersized wiring, that kind of thing. Better to find it in week 1 than after the tile is set.
Week 2: Waterproofing and tile
This is the step that determines whether the bathroom looks good for five years or fifteen. Waterproofing membrane goes down and gets inspected before a single tile is set. Shower tile, floor tile, and any niche or bench work gets built out here. This is the slowest week on the schedule, and it should be. Rushed tile work is the single biggest source of bathroom callbacks industry-wide.
Week 3: Vanity, fixtures, and finish carpentry
Vanity gets set, countertop templated and installed, plumbing fixtures connected, and any trim, casing, or built-in shelving gets finished out. Lighting and mirrors go up. The room starts looking like a bathroom again.
Week 4: Paint, hardware, and final walkthrough
Paint, caulk, hardware, and a final punch list. We walk the finished space with you before we call the job done, not after.
What changes the timeline
A straightforward bathroom in the same footprint runs close to four weeks. Moving plumbing, expanding the footprint, or custom tile patterns can add one to two weeks. Material lead times, especially for special-order tile or a specific vanity, are usually the biggest variable, which is why we get selections locked in before demo starts, not during it.
Thinking about a bathroom remodel in Naperville or the surrounding DuPage County area? Request an estimate and we’ll walk you through what your specific project would look like.