🛁 Bathroom Remodel Timeline: What Happens Week by Week

"How long will it take?" — fair question, and the honest answer for a full bathroom gut in NYC is 2 to 4 weeks of work. Here's how those weeks actually break down.

Week 1: demolition and rough-in

Everything comes out — tile, tub, vanity, sometimes down to the studs. Then plumbing and electrical rough-in: new valve locations, drain moves, outlets, lighting. This is also when surprises surface (old pipes, hidden water damage), which is why good contractors inspect before quoting.

Week 2: closing up and waterproofing

Inspections (where required), then new backer board and shower waterproofing. This step is invisible in photos and absolutely critical — most bathroom failures we're called to fix trace back to skipped waterproofing.

Weeks 2-3: tile

Floor and wall tile, then grout. Tile is where craftsmanship shows: straight lines, aligned patterns, clean corners. Large-format tile and intricate patterns take longer — worth it.

Weeks 3-4: fixtures and finish

Vanity, toilet, glass, mirrors, hardware, paint, caulk. The bathroom looks 90% done at the start of this phase and the last 10% takes the longest — that's normal.

What stretches a timeline?

Materials not on site when work starts (order tile and vanities BEFORE demo), scope changes mid-project, and building/co-op approval requirements. All three are avoidable with planning — which is exactly how we run our jobs.

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