What to Expect During a Bathroom Remodel: Week by Week Timeline

One of the most common questions we hear from homeowners is: "How long will this actually take?" It's a fair question — a bathroom remodel disrupts your daily routine, and knowing the timeline helps you plan ahead. At Showerly, we provide a detailed project schedule before work begins, and our Quality Gates process ensures nothing is rushed or skipped. Here's a realistic week-by-week breakdown of what to expect.

Before Work Begins: Preparation Week

Once you've accepted your proposal and paid the 40% deposit, we schedule your project start date (typically 2-3 weeks out to allow for material ordering and scheduling).

What You Should Do to Prepare

• •Clear the bathroom: Remove all personal items — shampoo, towels, rugs, toiletries, medications, and anything stored in the vanity or closet. Even if we're only working on the shower, demolition creates dust that reaches everything.
• •Identify your alternative bathroom: You'll need access to another bathroom in your home for the duration of the project. If your home has only one bathroom, discuss temporary arrangements with your project coordinator.
• •Protect adjacent areas: We lay down floor protection and hang dust barriers, but removing breakable items from nearby rooms and hallways is a good idea.
• •Plan for noise: Demolition is loud. If you work from home, plan to be in a different part of the house during demolition day or arrange to work elsewhere.
• •Pets and children: Keep pets and young children away from the work area. Demolition creates sharp debris, and construction dust isn't healthy to breathe.

Week 1: Demolition and Substrate Preparation

Day 1: Protection and Demolition

This is the loudest, messiest day. Our crew arrives and immediately sets up:

• •Floor protection: Ram Board or equivalent protective covering from the front door to the bathroom
• •Dust barriers: Plastic sheeting sealed with painter's tape across doorways
• •Demolition: Removal of existing tile, shower pan, fixtures, and cement board. For tub-to-shower conversions, the tub is cut into sections and removed piece by piece

What to expect: Significant noise from 8am to approximately 3pm. Hammer drills, reciprocating saws, and pry bars are loud. Dust will be present despite our barriers. All debris is hauled away the same day.

Day 2: Inspection and Framing

With the walls opened up, this is the critical discovery day:

• •Structural inspection: We examine studs, subfloor, and wall cavities for moisture damage, mold, or rot
• •Quality Gate #1: We photograph the exposed framing and document conditions. If we discover any problems (rot, mold, structural issues), we stop here and contact you with photos and a written change order before proceeding. No surprise charges — you approve the scope and cost of any additional work in writing.
• •Framing adjustments: If the shower footprint is changing (common in tub-to-shower conversions), framing modifications happen now
• •Plumbing rough-in: If fixtures are being relocated or the valve is being replaced, the plumber works on day 2. For our standard packages, the mixing valve rough-in is confirmed at its final position.

Days 3-4: Cement Board and Waterproofing

This is where the real craftsmanship begins:

• •Cement board installation: HardieBacker or equivalent is screwed to studs, creating the substrate for waterproofing and tile
• •Shower pan preparation: For traditional curbed showers, the pre-slope and pan liner (or Schluter KERDI-SHOWER-T tray) is installed. For curbless showers, the pre-slope across the entire bathroom floor section is established
• •Schluter KERDI waterproofing: Our complete KERDI waterproofing system is installed — membrane sheets, pre-formed corners, pipe seals, and all transitions
• •Quality Gate #2: The completed waterproofing is photographed and inspected before any tile goes up. This is the most important checkpoint in the entire project. You receive these photos in your project documentation.

Day 5: Shower Pan Tile

The shower floor gets its mosaic tile installation:

• •Floor mosaic: 2×2 or hex mosaic tile installed on the shower floor with proper slope toward the drain (typically 1/4" per foot)
• •Drain integration: The drain assembly is set flush with the finished tile surface
• •Cure time: Thin-set needs to cure before walls are tiled. We use this time for any additional prep work.

Week 2: Tile Installation and Fixtures

Days 6-8: Wall Tile Installation

This is where your shower starts looking like a shower:

• •Layout planning: Tile layout is dry-fit and marked to ensure symmetrical cuts, centered patterns, and proper alignment with the niche and fixtures
• •Niche installation: Your built-in niche (included in every package) is waterproofed and tiled with accent tile if your package includes it
• •Wall tile: Working from the bottom up, tile is set in thin-set mortar. Large-format tiles (12×24) require back-buttering for full coverage. Each row is leveled and spaced with precision clips
• •Accent details: For Signature and Masterpiece packages, decorative accent bands, mosaic borders, or feature walls are installed

What to expect: Tile days are quieter than demolition. You'll hear the tile saw running outside or in a work area (we cut tile outside when weather permits to minimize indoor dust). Work typically runs from 8am to 4pm.

Day 9: Grouting

• •Grout application: After tile has cured for 24 hours, grout is mixed and applied to all joints
• •Grout cleanup: Excess grout is wiped clean, and the shower is left to cure
• •Quality Gate #3: Completed tilework is inspected for alignment, grout consistency, and overall quality. Photos are taken and added to your project file.

Day 10: Fixture Installation and Final Details

• •Mixing valve trim: The shower handle, trim plate, and escutcheon are installed
• •Showerhead: Standard or upgraded showerhead/rain shower system is mounted
• •Accessories: Towel bars, robe hooks, toilet paper holders (if included in scope)
• •Caulking: All corners, transitions, and fixture penetrations receive silicone caulking (never grout in change-of-plane joints)
• •Floor tile: If your project includes bathroom floor tile, it's installed and grouted

Week 3: Glass, Final Inspection, and Handoff

If your project includes glass (most do), this week covers templating and installation:

Days 11-12: Glass Templating

• •Measurement: Our glass partner visits to laser-measure the completed shower opening for precision-fit glass fabrication
• •Fabrication: Glass panels are custom-cut, polished, and fitted with hardware (this typically takes 7-10 business days after templating)

Glass Installation Day (Typically Week 3-4)

• •Glass install: Frameless or semi-frameless enclosure is installed, aligned, and sealed
• •Hardware adjustment: Hinges are fine-tuned for proper door operation and water management

Final Walkthrough

• •Quality Gate #4 (Final): You and our project lead walk through the completed bathroom together. We check every detail: tile alignment, grout consistency, fixture operation, glass door function, caulk lines, and cleanup quality
• •Final payment: The remaining 30% is due after you approve the final walkthrough
• •Care instructions: We provide written care and maintenance instructions for your tile, grout, glass, and fixtures
• •Warranty documentation: Your 2-year workmanship warranty card and complete project photo documentation are delivered

What Affects Your Timeline?

Several factors can extend or compress the schedule:

• •Tub-to-shower conversion: Add 1-2 days for tub removal, drain relocation, and additional framing
• •Curbless/ADA showers: The precision slope work and expanded waterproofing area add 1-2 days
• •Discovery issues: Rot, mold, or structural problems behind walls require remediation before we proceed. This is unpredictable but typically adds 1-3 days
• •Natural stone tile: Requires more careful cutting and longer installation time than porcelain
• •Glass lead time: Custom glass fabrication typically takes 7-10 business days after templating

Showerly's Communication Process

Throughout your project, you'll receive:

• •Daily updates: A text or email summary of what was completed and what's planned for tomorrow
• •Quality Gate photos: Documented evidence at each major checkpoint
• •Immediate notification: If we discover anything unexpected, you hear from us within the hour — never at the end of the week
• •Direct access: Your project coordinator is reachable by phone or text during business hours

Our goal is zero surprises. Everything — from timeline to pricing to discoveries behind walls — is communicated promptly and honestly.

Want to understand exactly how your project will flow? Book a free design consult and we'll walk you through a personalized timeline based on your bathroom layout and chosen package. You can also review our process page for a visual overview. Call us at (984) 895-0101 to get started.