Cut Your Bathroom Remodeling Time in Half

Similar to kitchens, bathrooms are often considered a critical area for upgrades when you're either selling, renting, or simply enhancing your living space. Much like kitchens, they tend to demand more time for renovation compared to areas such as dining rooms or bedrooms. When renovating a bathroom, you have to account for elements like the bathtub, toilet, cabinets, countertops, flooring, walls, and tiling—all within a relatively small area. On average, a small bathroom remodel can take around 3 to 4 weeks to finish. In this article, we'll share some tips on how to reduce that timeline by half.

Adjusting the Layout

Modifying the layout of your bathroom can significantly increase both the time and cost involved in the renovation process. Even a minor shift in the placement of a tub or toilet can lead to additional plumbing adjustments, which often require more time for floor modifications and tile work. If you must alter the layout but wish to save on costs and time, try to keep the bathtub and toilet in their original positions. Bathroom fixtures are typically connected to a main drain through horizontal pipes that slope slightly downward to avoid clogs. While moving the sink, cabinets, and other accessories tends to be simpler due to their higher slope, relocating the bathtub and toilet involves more complex plumbing work.

Updating the Bathtub

Even if you keep the bathtub in its current spot, replacing it will still add to both the budget and the duration of the project. Bathtubs can range in price from $200 to $2,000, but removing and disposing of the old tub adds extra time and expense. Additionally, the labor required to separate the tub from the surrounding walls and floor contributes to the overall cost and timeline.

Alternative Solutions for Bathtub Replacement

For those looking to breathe new life into an old, worn-out bathtub, refinishing is often seen as a practical solution. Instead of demolishing and replacing the tub, refinishing allows you to restore its appearance without needing to remove it. Some people also opt for refinishing to update the color of an outdated tub. By refinishing your bathtub, you can cut down your remodeling schedule by about a week. Most refinishing projects can be completed in less than a day.

Transforming Your Bathroom with New Fixtures

Once your tub has been refinished, consider exploring modern fixtures to give your bathroom a fresh look. A newly refinished tub paired with updated shower or faucet trim can completely transform the aesthetic of your bathroom. Adding a shower column not only enhances functionality but also provides a sleek, contemporary appearance.

Maintaining Tile Walls

Bathroom tile walls are a common feature, but if you plan to change the size or shape of the tiles, you’ll need to demolish the existing wall and reinstall new tiles. However, if you’re dealing with minor damage to a few tiles and simply want to refresh their appearance, refinishing offers an excellent alternative. Damaged or missing tiles can be replaced with tiles of the same size, followed by refinishing the entire wall.

This approach can shave several days off your renovation timeline since refinishing your tile wall can be completed within the same timeframe as refinishing your bathtub.

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