Bathroom renovation: stages, order and how long it takes
The stages of a bathroom renovation in the right order — demolition, plumbing, waterproofing, tiling and fixtures — and how long each one usually takes.
A bathroom renovation is small in area, but it packs almost all of the house's installations into one room. Doing the stages in the right order is what keeps you from breaking the new floor because of a leak. A full bathroom usually takes three to five weeks, depending on its size and the crew.
1. Demolition and removal (about 4 days)
Taking out fixtures, tiles and, if needed, the subfloor. Agree beforehand where the debris goes and protect the rest of the house from dust.
2. Plumbing and electrical (about 5 days)
New pipes, water and drain points and outlets. This is when you decide where the shower, toilet and vanity go — moving them later means breaking things again. Pressure-test the pipes before closing the walls.
3. Waterproofing (about 4 days)
The stage nobody sees and the one that matters most. The floor and the shower walls get a membrane or waterproofing mortar, with a flood test (water standing for 72 hours) before tiling.
4. Tiling (about 8 days)
Floor and wall tiles, with the right slope to the drain. Buy extra material, from the same batch.
5. Fixtures and faucets (about 4 days)
Toilet, sink, faucets, shower, valves and accessories.
6. Shower enclosure and accessories (about 3 days)
A glass shower enclosure is usually measured once the tiling is done, and it takes a few days to make — order it as soon as the tiling is finished.
7. Final cleanup
Clean grout, sealant on the joints, and a test of everything working.
What delays it most: waiting for the shower glass, a missing finishing piece and redoing waterproofing that failed its test. Order early whatever takes time to make.
Start with the template
Minha Obra's Bathroom renovation template already has these stages, with expected dates. You adjust what's different in your renovation, add each stage's amount and track the expenses.