Timeframe for bathroom remodel

[Jeffrey]

Hello all,

My wife and I are planning on remodeling our 2nd floor bathroom. I'm looking for as time frame for doing the work. I would like to do as much of it myself as I can. She wants it done in 2 months. I don't think a contractor could do it in 3 months. Does anyone here have a realistic time frame? I'm working 40 hours a week at my job so most of it will be done evenings and weekends.

Jeff

[CThomp]

Have a plan. I've done two bathroom remodells. Don't just start tearing out walls and then think about what to do. Have everything planned out and maybe even purchased from the beginning. Or maybe even hire somone to plan it for you and stick with the plan.

How big is the bathroom?

Are you gutting everything to the studs?

What don't you know how to do?

The last bathroom remodell I did was extensive. We gutted it down to the studs, rewired it, re-plumbed it and then redid everything. We didn't exactly have a plan until we got started. But it took about 3 or so months and alot of cussing. Then I sold the condo before I ever even used it. Oh well.

My bathroom that i'm about to remodell is only about 5.5ft wide by 7.5ft deep. I'll be keeping the toilet and bathtub for reuse. The bathtub is the original tub from 1950 so it's kinda cool. We'll be gutting down to the studs and sub floor. But I will have every item needed on hand before I start. I plan on gutting on day 1, replumbing, cement boarding, and green boarding on day 2, tiling on day 3, and finishing on day 4. Having said that it will probably end up being a week.

[giddonah]

My first bathroom remodel took a few months working 2-3 days a week (and taking some weekends off). I think now I could do it in a week or two working full time on it. The key to a short timeframe is exactly like CTomp said, having a plan so you're not figuring it out as you go along. It also helps to have a finished plan so you don't have to make changes as you go to make things work.

[Jeffrey]

CThomp,

My bathroom isn't much bigger than yours. We are replacing everything but keeping the layout the same so I don't have to move any pipes or fixtures around. I'm very handy and enjoy building stuff. I was thinking about having a plumber come in and do the rough and final conections. Everything else I can do myself. I've started a materials list of what we will need and a chart to start compareing costs. I'm definatly NOT going to start without a final budget and a plan.

[CThomp]

Good call. If you go crazy hardcore on getting it done it shouldn't take that long then. If your not moving any pipes around why call a plumber? Toilets are about as simple as it gets and everything else comes with directions that you can stumble your way through. The thing I always have trouble with is faucet connections. But I'm 6'2" and 205lbs. I can't get into those places very well. I guess it's a good thing I have friends shorter than me.

The hardest thing on my bathroom remodell is the demo part. My interior is plaster board. It's heavy and hard as cement. That will be the longest part as well. After that it's gravy. Hanging the cement board and green board won't take much time at all. Especially in a room that small. Try to have all your new tile and what not in advance. That way once you have it your wife might be less likely to say she wants something different.

Tiling and area that small is super easy. Do your wall tiles first. That way you won't get you new floor tile mucked up by what your doing. Doing forget to put down some variety of hardi-backer on your floors to give the thin-set something to attach to. And don't skimp on the thinset. By the expensive stuff. It pays off in the end.

[Jeffrey]

giddonah and CThomp,

Thanks for your input. You were confirming stuff that I thought was a smart idea to begin with. Thanks for the confirmation.

Jeff

[What the?]

I agree with the others, get a plan together first, with a timeline. Contract out what you don't want to do. I built my whole house in 9 months, and it has three bathrooms, so one remodel should be a snap.

Start with a rough work schedule, then walk through it with even more detail. Drying time will be the only thing that really delays you: Drywall mud, thinset, grout, primer, paint, etc.

[Dragon]

And once you get started don't put things off.

[David]

And once you get started don't put things off.

Amen, brother! ;)

[BuildWritewell]

Have a plan.
Hire a contractor.
Time frame may be under a month :-).