What to decide before demolition starts: layout, waterproofing, ventilation, storage, and the order of work that keeps a bathroom remodel on schedule.
Bathroom remodels go wrong in predictable ways. Almost none of them are about tile selection. They are about decisions made after demo started, and about waterproofing that was never done properly.
Moving a toilet or a drain is expensive because it changes the plumbing rough-in. Decide early whether the layout changes. If it does, budget for it honestly rather than discovering the cost after demo.
Also measure the door swing and the clearance around the vanity. A beautiful vanity that blocks the door is still a problem.
Behind every tile in a wet area there should be a proper substrate plus a waterproof membrane, with correct slope to the drain and sealed penetrations at the valve and shower head.
This is the most commonly skipped step in cheap remodels and the reason bathrooms fail two or three years later. Ask any contractor directly: what membrane are you using, and what is the slope?
A bathroom exhaust fan must actually vent outside, not into the attic. In a wet climate, a fan that dumps moisture into the attic creates mold and rot up there.
Check the fan's CFM rating against the room size, and put it on a timer or humidity sensor so it runs long enough after a shower.
Decide on medicine cabinet versus mirror, niche versus shelf, and whether you want drawers or doors in the vanity. These get built in and are expensive to change later.
Demo, then rough-in plumbing and electrical, then inspection if required, then waterproofing and backer board, then tile, then fixtures, then paint and trim.
Getting this order wrong is what turns a two-week remodel into a six-week one.
For a full remodel, expect one to three weeks without a functional bathroom. Plan where you will shower. Ask whether the contractor can keep a toilet usable longer by staging the work.
Cosmetic refresh: $8,000 to $15,000. Mid-range full remodel: $18,000 to $35,000. High-end with custom tile: above that. Add 10 to 15 percent contingency for what is behind the walls.
One to three weeks for most full remodels, assuming materials are on site before work begins. Material delays are the most common cause of overruns.
Layout changes involving plumbing or electrical usually require a permit. Cosmetic work often does not. We confirm what applies before starting.
Yes, almost always. Dust control and daily cleanup matter, so ask how the contractor handles it.
Free, no-pressure estimate — usually back within one business day.