A bathroom remodel goes in this order: plan and order materials, demolition, plumbing and electrical rough-in, walls and waterproofing, a water test, tile, then vanity, fixtures and paint, and the shower glass last. In Centennial homes we plan it as one schedule so no trade has to come back and undo another one’s work.
- Order tile, the vanity and fixtures before demolition starts, so the bathroom never sits torn apart waiting on a delivery.
- Waterproofing gets tested with water before any tile goes on. A 24-hour test is typical.
- Tile needs time to set before grout, and grout needs time before the shower is used.
- Frameless shower glass is measured after the tile is finished, so it is usually the last thing installed.
Bathrooms are a big part of what we do: some kind of bathroom work showed up on 33% of our invoices over the past year, from toilet and vanity resets to full shower rebuilds (see our Denver-area homes and flooring facts page). Two out of three homes in Centennial were built before 1980, so many of the bathrooms we open up here have original subfloors and old shower pans behind the tile. That is one more reason the order matters.
The order of a bathroom remodel, step by step
- Plan, measure and pick materials. We measure the room, talk through layout changes, and write an itemized quote with a schedule. Tile, vanity, toilet, faucets and shower valve are chosen and ordered now.
- Protect the house and demolish. Floors and the path to the door get covered, the old tile, tub or shower, vanity and toilet come out, and the debris is hauled away.
- Fix what demolition uncovers. Soft subfloor, rotted framing or old water damage gets repaired before anything new goes in.
- Rough-in. Plumbing moves, a new shower valve, fan or lighting changes happen while the walls are open. If the work needs a permit, the inspection happens at this stage.
- Walls, backer board and waterproofing. Drywall goes up outside the wet area, cement board or foam board goes up inside it, and the shower gets a waterproof membrane and pan.
- Water test. The drain is plugged and the shower base is filled to check for leaks before tile covers everything.
- Tile. Floor and shower tile are set, left to cure, then grouted.
- Paint, vanity, toilet and trim. The room gets painted, the vanity and top go in, the toilet is set, and fixtures, mirror and accessories are hung.
- Shower glass. The finished opening is measured and the glass is ordered and installed.
- Final walkthrough. We go through the room with you and fix anything on the punch list.
Why waterproofing and the water test come before tile
Everything behind the tile decides how long a shower lasts. Once tile is on the wall, a leak in the membrane is hard to find and expensive to reach. Schluter, which makes one widely used shower waterproofing system, describes the water test as plugging the drain, filling the shower base and leaving it for a set time, with 24 hours being typical, and it recommends waiting at least 24 hours after installing its membrane before testing (Schluter water test FAQ). That one day of waiting is cheap insurance. If you want to see what goes into a shower we build, our custom tile shower page walks through it.
Why the shower glass goes in last
Frameless glass is cut to the exact size of the finished opening, and that size does not exist until the tile is set. On a Littleton job the glass went in about three weeks after the tile, because we tiled first, let it cure, and then measured; the Littleton bathroom remodel case study explains it. Plan on a shower curtain for a short stretch at the end.
What you can use, and when
| Stage | Bathroom usable? | What to plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Planning and ordering | Yes | Lead time on tile, vanity and glass |
| Demolition through waterproofing | No | Use another bathroom; expect noise and some dust |
| Water test and tile | No | Curing time between setting, grout and use |
| Vanity, toilet, fixtures | Partly, once the toilet is set | Plumbing hookups are usually the last day of this stage |
| Glass | Yes, with a temporary curtain | Glass is measured after tile, then fabricated |
If this is your only bathroom, tell us at the first visit. We can often order the work so the toilet is set back early and the downtime is shorter.
How long it takes overall
It depends on how much changes. A vanity swap, toilet reset and new floor can often be done in a few days. A full rebuild with a new tile shower takes longer because of demolition, inspections if the work is permitted, curing time and glass fabrication. Whatever the size, you get a written schedule with your quote, and we send daily updates while the job is running. See our bathroom remodeling page for what a full remodel with us includes.
Common questions
Where do I shower while my bathroom is being remodeled?
Most families use a second bathroom. If you only have one, we can plan the order to keep downtime short and tell you up front which days the bathroom is out of service.
Does the floor tile go in before or after the vanity?
Usually before. Tiling the floor wall to wall and setting the vanity on top means a future vanity change will not leave a gap in the floor. A floating vanity changes that plan, so we decide it during measuring.
Do I need a permit for a bathroom remodel?
It depends on the work and your city. Moving plumbing, adding circuits or changing a wall often needs one, while replacing tile and a vanity often does not. Check with your city’s building department; we will tell you at the estimate if your scope is likely to need one.
Planning a bathroom in Centennial?
We measure for free and give you a written, itemized quote with a schedule. Call (303) 993-6479, visit the showroom at 16728 E Smoky Hill Rd, Unit 10-A, or request an estimate online. You can also see how we handled a Highlands Ranch master bathroom and how we lay tile floors.