Tricks of the Trade is an article series dedicated to providing answers to commonly asked questions. The interviews are conducted with ProSource Wholesale® trade professional members, looking to offer their insights and experience to these thoughts that arise during the building or remodeling process.

Jonny Jeppsen is the owner of Inspired Renovation and a remodeler member at ProSource of Springfield (MO).

A typical bathroom remodel takes two weeks. Now, there are several factors that help shape how long a bathroom remodel might actually take.

The scope of work can certainly change the typical bathroom remodel timeline. The project could include anything from replacing a shower or moving it, to moving the tub or toilet. Moving locations of all of the key aspects of a bathroom requires relocating the plumbing fixtures and potentially putting up new drywall and stylized walls.


Is it a tiled shower? Is it an onyx shower? It is a fiberglass unit? These are the types of questions that have to be considered which ultimately can affect the timeframe of a bathroom remodel. Still, in my experience, I have found that it averages out to about two weeks.

The Plan
It starts with an in-home consultation, where I have a meeting with the homeowner, examine their space, take pictures, make a drawing of the area, and get their grand plan of what they would like the bathroom to look like. I want the big 30,000-foot overview at first, then we will start to drill down to the details.

When someone calls and says “I want a bathroom remodel,” what does that mean? What does your space look like? What challenges are there? These are the types of questions I have to ask to get the full sense of what we need to do for the remodel to be successful.

With any remodel, there comes a necessary step of having the homeowner choose what they want in the refreshed space. ProSource Wholesale is one-stop shopping for most products for the remodel, and by the time the clients step foot into the showroom, the account manager already has a file sent by me of all of the products that they’re looking to select.

It's incredibly important to have all of the products and materials beforehand, so that it doesn’t affect the overall timeline. That way, the homeowner isn’t out of a bathroom for longer than they need to be. You don’t tear out the bathroom and then order the tub. You order the tub first.

The home represents the most, or at least one of the most, significant financial investment in their lives, and it also represents their personal space, so it’s important to be respectful when working in that space and be understanding of their time.

The Process
After the products and materials arrive, a clean slate is required in a full bathroom remodel, including the existing wall tiling, flooring, wall paneling, shower paneling, sink, vanity, and any and all fixtures. Many times, that even includes some of the drywall, as well. We also make sure we keep what the homeowner wishes to remain, like a vanity or toilet.

At the same time that the teardown starts, myself and my team will start working on mechanicals. That means if there are things like moved plumbing or rerouted electrical in the plans, this is when it begins.

Additionally on that day, we’ll begin hanging drywall, if needed, with the first coat of mud applied. Many would say that if they’re doing drywall in the same space, they can’t be there for three or four days. Drywallers have to put a coat of mud on it, and wait for it to dry before putting another coat of mud on it. That can hold up the project and cause a lot of problems.

By starting the installation of the shower system or flooring on the same day as the application of the second coat of mud, you save time and deliver the same level of quality for the homeowner.

The end goal is customer satisfaction. Our goal is for our customers to be absolute raving lunatic fans of us. They’re not going to be that way because it makes us feel good; rather, they’re going to be that way because they’re happy with our work.

Tagged: Bathroom Bath Sink Faucets Bath Sinks Shower Bases Toilets Shower Doors Tub Faucets Shower Faucets Tubs Shower Heads Vanities Accessories