Bathroom Remodel Checklist and Guide!

This is a wonderfully comprehensive and practical guide for anyone embarking on a bathroom remodel! The author’s experience as a general contractor’s spouse really shines through in the detailed planning advice. The emphasis on pre-planning, budgeting, and ordering materials in advance is invaluable for ensuring a smooth renovation.

Here’s a summary of the key takeaways and the proposed checklist, maintaining the helpful, actionable tone of the original:

Planning Your Ultimate Bathroom Renovation: A Comprehensive Checklist

Remodeling a bathroom, whether it’s a small refresh or a complete overhaul, involves a lot of moving parts. But with careful planning, you can save yourself stress, unexpected costs, and ensure your vision comes to life. Think of it like building a dream from a Pinterest board to a detailed spreadsheet – the more you plan, the smoother the process will be!

The Essential Planning Phase of a Bathroom Remodel

The author, with a lifetime of experience in home building and renovation, emphasizes that the planning phase is the most crucial part of any remodeling project. Here’s a breakdown of the key steps:

1. Consider the Layout: Functionality First

Before anything else, assess your current bathroom layout.

Identify Pain Points: What frustrates you about the current space? (e.g., door swing, lack of storage, small shower).
Wish List: Dream big! List everything you’d ideally want in the renovated space (e.g., walk-in shower, double vanity, separate toilet room).
Feasibility Check: Can your wishes be accommodated within the existing footprint? Are you willing to sacrifice a bathtub for a larger shower? Can you carve out space from an adjacent room?
Professional Help: If you struggle to envision changes, consider hiring an interior designer or architect. They can offer innovative space-planning options, especially for challenging layouts or accessibility needs.
Natural Light: Evaluate existing natural light. Is adding a window or skylight worth the cost? How will artificial lighting be designed to ensure the space is well-lit and functional (avoiding dim areas)?

2. Make a Design Plan: Choose Your Finishes

This is where the dreaming takes shape!

Gather Inspiration: Use Pinterest boards or saved Instagram images to define your desired aesthetic.
Identify Your Style: Pinpoint what you truly love. You might not incorporate everything from a dream bathroom, but small touches can make a big difference.
Create a Mood Board: Visualise how all your chosen finishes (tiles, paint, fixtures, hardware) work together.
Prioritise Splurges: List general items you’d love (e.g., “marble tile,” “nickel sconces”). This helps you decide where to splurge if the budget allows, and what to cut if needed.

3. Create a Renovation Checklist and Budget

Now, translate your design into a detailed list of everything required and assign estimated costs.

Get Quotes: If using contractors, speak to a general contractor, electrician, and plumber early on to get quotes.
Detailed Electrical & Plumbing: Discuss all desired changes with tradespeople, from light fixture placement and switches to plug-ins (e.g., inside vanity for hair tools, near toilet for a bidet seat) and specific fixture rough-ins (the behind-the-wall plumbing for your chosen taps and shower controls).
Ballpark & Refine: Start with generic ballpark allowances for each item. Do some quick online research for rough costs and add a little cushion. Refine these numbers as you get final quotes and make specific product choices.
Budget Cuts: If the total exceeds your budget, revisit earlier steps. Can you use less expensive finishes, rework your existing vanity, or simplify layout changes?

4. Order Everything

This is a critical step to avoid delays!

Long Lead Times: Some items (especially special orders) can take 6-8 weeks or even longer to arrive.
Get Everything On-Site: Ideally, have all materials on site before demolition begins. This ensures contractors can work efficiently without interruptions.
Common Overlooks:
- Fixture Rough-ins: Taps and shower controls often require corresponding valves and rough-in kits that go behind the wall. These are usually brand-specific and often sold separately from the visible fixtures and handles. Have your plumber review your selections.
- Waterproofing: Beyond just tiles, understand your chosen waterproofing system (e.g., Kerdi, tanking membrane) for the shower and potentially the floor. This is crucial for preventing leaks.
- Vanities & Custom Counters: Custom vanities have longer lead times. If using stone countertops, they’ll need to be templated after the vanity is installed, followed by fabrication and installation (e.g., 3-4 weeks in some areas). Factor this into your schedule.

5. Plan the Schedule

Once materials are ordered and delivery dates are confirmed, you can create a project timeline.

General Order of Work (Flexible, but a good guideline):

Demolition: The messy start!
Framing Changes: If any walls are being moved or added.
Electrical Changes: New wiring for lights, switches, outlets, heated flooring.
Plumbing Rough-ins: Installation of pipes and fittings behind walls for fixtures.
Drywall: Installing plasterboard on new/modified walls.
Waterproofing: Applying waterproofing systems to shower/tub areas.
Paint (1st Coat): Initial painting.
Vanity Install: Can be before or after finished flooring, depending on design.
Countertop Templating: For custom stone counters (after vanity is in).
Install Tub: If using (freestanding tubs may need to go in after floor tiling).
Tile Shower/Tub Surround: Tiling walls within the shower/tub area.
Tile Floor: Installing floor tiles.
Install Countertop: After fabrication.
Install Plumbing Fixtures: Taps, shower heads, toilets.
Install Baseboards/Moulding: Trim around walls and ceiling.
2nd Coat of Paint: Final painting.
Install Lighting: Light fixtures, sconces.
Install Mirrors, Hardware: Towel rails, toilet roll holders.
Styling: The final decorative touches!

For DIYers, realistically estimate how long each task will take you on weekends and schedule trades accordingly.

Your Ultimate Bathroom Remodel Checklist

Use this comprehensive list to guide your planning and ensure you don’t miss any crucial details for your bathroom renovation project.

The Planning & Design Phase

[ ] Brainstorm wish list for the renovated space
[ ] Identify pain points with existing layout
[ ] Sketch potential new layouts
[ ] Decide on layout changes (e.g., moving walls, adding pocket door, converting tub to shower)
[ ] Consider natural light options (windows, skylights)
[ ] Gather design inspiration (Pinterest, Instagram mood board)
[ ] Define your overall design style
[ ] Choose main finishes (e.g., tile type, paint colour, vanity style)
[ ] Create a mood board for finishes (physical or digital)
[ ] Prioritise splurge items vs. budget-friendly alternatives

Budgeting & Contractors

[ ] Obtain quotes from General Contractor (if using)
[ ] Obtain quotes from Electrician
[ ] Obtain quotes from Plumber
[ ] Research ballpark costs for all materials
[ ] Create detailed budget spreadsheet with line items for all costs
[ ] Set aside a contingency fund (e.g., 10-20% of total budget)

Building Materials & Services

[ ] Permit Fees (if required by local authority)
[ ] Demolition (skip/garbage bin fees, labour)
[ ] Electrical changes (wiring, electrical boxes, outlets, switches)
[ ] Framing materials (timber, plasterboard for any new walls/reconfigurations)
[ ] Plumbing rough-in materials (pipes, new lines, fittings for layout changes)
[ ] Drywall/Plasterboard
[ ] Plaster/Skim Coat
[ ] Paint
[ ] Caulk/Sealant
[ ] Shower/bathtub waterproofing system (e.g., Kerdi membrane, tanking liquid)
[ ] Floor underlayment (if needed, e.g., cement board, decoupling membrane)

Fixtures & Fittings

Electrical

[ ] Light Fixtures (ceiling, wall sconces, vanity lighting)
[ ] Bathroom Extractor Fan
[ ] Underfloor Heating (mats/cables, thermostat)
[ ] Switches, plugs, cover plates

Bathtub (if applicable)

[ ] Bathtub
[ ] Tub Drain assembly
[ ] Tub Spout (if shower/bath combo)
[ ] Freestanding Tub Filler (deck mount or floor mount)
[ ] Freestanding Tub Filler Rough-ins (behind-the-wall plumbing for freestanding taps)

Shower

[ ] Shower Tray/Base (or wet room former)
[ ] Shower Drain
[ ] Shower Head
[ ] Shower Control Valves (thermostatic, mixer, diverter)
[ ] Shower Control Valve Rough-ins (behind-the-wall plumbing for controls)
[ ] Additional Sprayers/Body Sprayers & their rough-in valves (if desired)
[ ] Shower Door or Shower Glass screen
[ ] Shower curtain and rod (if applicable)

Vanity Area

[ ] Faucet(s) (tap)
[ ] Sink(s) (basin)
[ ] Vanity unit (cabinet)
[ ] Vanity Hardware (handles/knobs)
[ ] Sink Drain assembly (waste)
[ ] Countertop (if separate from vanity)
[ ] Mirror(s)
[ ] Medicine Cabinet(s) (if applicable)

General

[ ] Floor Tile or other Flooring
[ ] Toilet
[ ] Wall Tiles (for bathroom walls outside shower/tub)
[ ] Other Wall Treatments (e.g., shiplap, panelling, wallpaper)
[ ] Door(s) (entry door, pocket door, etc.)
[ ] Door Hardware (knob/handle, hinges)

Finishing Touches

[ ] Moulding (baseboards/skirting, architrave, crown moulding/coving)
[ ] Window Treatments (blinds, shutters)
[ ] Art/Decor
[ ] Towel Holder(s) and/or hooks
[ ] Toilet Paper Holder

Ordering & Scheduling

[ ] Confirm all material selections and specifications
[ ] Order all fixtures, fittings, and long lead-time items first
[ ] Confirm delivery dates for all key items
[ ] Create a detailed project timeline based on delivery dates and trade availability
[ ] Schedule contractors/tradespeople based on the timeline
[ ] For DIY, realistically schedule tasks into your personal time

By taking the time for thorough planning, you can tackle the many moving parts of a bathroom renovation with confidence, minimise unexpected costs, and ensure your dream bathroom becomes a reality!