Bathroom Remodel Checklist
A bathroom is a small room with an unusual number of decisions buried inside the walls. Once the tile is on and the waterproofing is sealed, changing your mind is no longer a small change.
Download the printable PDFWe do not start until your materials are here
Every finish material on this list has to be physically at your home before we begin. Not ordered. Not shipped. Not out for delivery. Delivered, and checked by us.
We give you a completion timeframe and we hold to it. The only way we can do that is to control what is in the house on day one. A material that is still in transit has too many ways to fail — backorder, freight delay, shipping damage, wrong color, wrong quantity, wrong dye lot — and every one of those lands on your finish date instead of the supplier's.
So if the materials are not here, we do not start. Your project does not become a slower job. It becomes a later start. That is exactly what protects the timeframe we promised you.
Your shower glass is the one exception, and there is nothing for you to do up front. Once the tile is complete the glass company comes out, measures, and brings you the style and hardware finish options to choose from right there. Figure another two to three weeks from that visit.
The single most important item on this list is the shower valve. The valve body is installed at rough-in, before any wall closes, and different manufacturers and different numbers of outlets need different valves. We cannot start rough plumbing without it in our hands.
How to use this checklist
- Tick the box once the item is bought and the spec sheet or model number is sent to us — not when you have decided on it. A decision we cannot see is not a decision we can build from.
- Send specs to Tony.KVIConstruction@gmail.com. A photo of the model sticker or a link to the product page is enough.
- Anything marked "On site before we start" has to be at the house before day one. Anything marked "Before we start" is a decision we need from you by then, not something you deliver.
- If a line does not apply to your scope, cross it off with us at the pre-construction walkthrough so nothing is left looking unanswered.
What you purchase, and when it is due
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Shower and tub
Anything that goes inside a wall has to be purchased and on site before rough-in. There is no way around this.
| Done | Item | What we need from you | Due by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand, model and finish. The valve body goes in the wall at rough-in — rough plumbing cannot start without it | On site before we start | ||
| Model numbers and how many outlets you want running. The number of outlets decides which valve we install | On site before we start | ||
| Model number, exact dimensions, drain location (left or right), and alcove, drop-in, or freestanding | On site before we start | ||
| Model number and whether it is deck, wall, or floor mounted. A floor-mount filler has to be located before we close the floor | On site before we start | ||
| A decision, not a purchase — unless you want acrylic. Tell us whether you want a tile pan that we build and waterproof on site, or a preformed acrylic base. The tile pan is part of our work and there is nothing for you to buy. If you want acrylic, you buy that one and it has to be here with everything else | Before we start | ||
| How many, roughly what size, and what height. We frame and waterproof around these | Before we start | ||
| Nothing to buy or pick up front. After the tile is finished the glass company measures and shows you the style and hardware finish options then. Budget for it now and expect it at the very end | Chosen at the measure |
Brand, model and finish. The valve body goes in the wall at rough-in — rough plumbing cannot start without it
Due by: On site before we start
Model numbers and how many outlets you want running. The number of outlets decides which valve we install
Due by: On site before we start
Model number, exact dimensions, drain location (left or right), and alcove, drop-in, or freestanding
Due by: On site before we start
Model number and whether it is deck, wall, or floor mounted. A floor-mount filler has to be located before we close the floor
Due by: On site before we start
A decision, not a purchase — unless you want acrylic. Tell us whether you want a tile pan that we build and waterproof on site, or a preformed acrylic base. The tile pan is part of our work and there is nothing for you to buy. If you want acrylic, you buy that one and it has to be here with everything else
Due by: Before we start
How many, roughly what size, and what height. We frame and waterproof around these
Due by: Before we start
Nothing to buy or pick up front. After the tile is finished the glass company measures and shows you the style and hardware finish options then. Budget for it now and expect it at the very end
Due by: Chosen at the measure
Vanity, toilet and sinks
| Done | Item | What we need from you | Due by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model or dimensions and finish. Confirm the door still clears it when it swings | On site before we start | ||
| Undermount, vessel, or integrated, and the faucet hole configuration — single hole or 8-inch spread | On site before we start | ||
| Model number and finish. Match the finish to everything else in the room | On site before we start | ||
| Model number and the rough-in dimension — 10, 12, or 14 inches, measured from the finished wall to the floor bolts | On site before we start | ||
| Model and size. A recessed medicine cabinet needs a cavity built into the wall, so we need it before framing | On site before we start |
Model or dimensions and finish. Confirm the door still clears it when it swings
Due by: On site before we start
Undermount, vessel, or integrated, and the faucet hole configuration — single hole or 8-inch spread
Due by: On site before we start
Model number and finish. Match the finish to everything else in the room
Due by: On site before we start
Model number and the rough-in dimension — 10, 12, or 14 inches, measured from the finished wall to the floor bolts
Due by: On site before we start
Model and size. A recessed medicine cabinet needs a cavity built into the wall, so we need it before framing
Due by: On site before we start
Tile and waterproofing
All tile must be on site two days before the tile crew starts so it can acclimate and we can check the dye lots.
| Done | Item | What we need from you | Due by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material with 15% overage. 20% if you want it run on a diagonal or in herringbone | On site before we start | ||
| Material with 15% overage, all from the same dye lot | On site before we start | ||
| Mosaic or feature tile with overage | On site before we start | ||
| Bullnose, pencil, or a Schluter-style metal profile and its finish. Many modern tiles have no matching bullnose — if you do not want a raw edge, pick a profile | On site before we start | ||
| Color from our board against your tile, and sanded, unsanded, or epoxy | Before we start | ||
| Usually marble or a solid surface. Confirm the material and where it transitions | On site before we start | ||
| Mat sized to the room and the thermostat model. It goes down under the tile, so it has to be here first | On site before we start |
Material with 15% overage. 20% if you want it run on a diagonal or in herringbone
Due by: On site before we start
Material with 15% overage, all from the same dye lot
Due by: On site before we start
Mosaic or feature tile with overage
Due by: On site before we start
Bullnose, pencil, or a Schluter-style metal profile and its finish. Many modern tiles have no matching bullnose — if you do not want a raw edge, pick a profile
Due by: On site before we start
Color from our board against your tile, and sanded, unsanded, or epoxy
Due by: Before we start
Usually marble or a solid surface. Confirm the material and where it transitions
Due by: On site before we start
Mat sized to the room and the thermostat model. It goes down under the tile, so it has to be here first
Due by: On site before we start
Lighting, fan and electrical
| Done | Item | What we need from you | Due by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model number, CFM (a rough rule is 1 CFM per square foot, 50 minimum), and the sone rating if noise matters to you | On site before we start | ||
| Model, how many, and whether it mounts on the mirror or above it — that changes where we set the box | On site before we start | ||
| Trim finish and color temperature. Anything over the shower needs a wet-rated trim | On site before we start | ||
| White, almond, or black. GFCI outlets are required near water | Before we start | ||
| Model and power requirement. Both need a circuit run at rough-in | On site before we start |
Model number, CFM (a rough rule is 1 CFM per square foot, 50 minimum), and the sone rating if noise matters to you
Due by: On site before we start
Model, how many, and whether it mounts on the mirror or above it — that changes where we set the box
Due by: On site before we start
Trim finish and color temperature. Anything over the shower needs a wet-rated trim
Due by: On site before we start
White, almond, or black. GFCI outlets are required near water
Due by: Before we start
Model and power requirement. Both need a circuit run at rough-in
Due by: On site before we start
Accessories and paint
| Done | Item | What we need from you | Due by |
|---|---|---|---|
| How many, what finish, and roughly where you want them. We install blocking behind the drywall so they never pull out | On site before we start | ||
| Chosen at the glass measure, from what the installer brings. Have your faucet and fixture finishes on hand so the glass hardware matches the rest of the room | Chosen at the measure | ||
| Brand, color and number. Use a bathroom-rated paint — satin or semi-gloss | Before we start |
How many, what finish, and roughly where you want them. We install blocking behind the drywall so they never pull out
Due by: On site before we start
Chosen at the glass measure, from what the installer brings. Have your faucet and fixture finishes on hand so the glass hardware matches the rest of the room
Due by: Chosen at the measure
Brand, color and number. Use a bathroom-rated paint — satin or semi-gloss
Due by: Before we start
Order these first, they decide when we can start
- The shower valve and all shower outlets. This is the one item that can stop the job on day three. Buy it before demo.
- Tile, with the full overage. Tile crews are scheduled tightly and a short order costs you their whole slot.
- The toilet, specifically its rough-in dimension. A 10-inch rough-in toilet on a 12-inch drain means moving a drain line.
- Shower glass is the exception to this list — there is nothing to order up front. Just know it is measured after the tile is done and adds two to three weeks at the end.
The order the work actually runs in
Bathrooms run in a tight, dependent sequence. Waterproofing has to pass before tile. The tile has to be finished before the glass can be measured and ordered. Nothing here can be run out of order.
The most common surprise on a bathroom is the shower glass gap at the end. Your bathroom will look finished and still not be usable for two or three weeks while the glass is fabricated.
Every phase below assumes your materials were already at the house on day one. That assumption is what the whole schedule rests on.
| # | Phase | Typical time | What must be settled or on site first |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Design and selections | 2–4 weeks | Layout signed off, and every material on page 1 delivered to the house — valve, tub, tile, fixtures |
| 2 | Permit, if the scope requires one | 1–2 weeks | Moving fixtures or adding a bathroom usually triggers this |
| 3 | Protection and demolition | 1–2 days | Room cleared. Expect to find something behind the walls on an older home |
| 4 | Framing, blocking and subfloor repair | 1–3 days | Niche and bench sizes, accessory locations, recessed medicine cabinet |
| 5 | Rough plumbing, electrical and venting | 2–4 days | Shower valve, tub, tub filler type, fan, and any extra circuits — all physically on site |
| 6 | Rough inspection | 1–3 days | Scheduled by us, timed by the inspector |
| 7 | Insulation, drywall and cement board | 2–4 days | Nothing needed from you |
| 8 | Waterproofing and flood test | 1–2 days | We seal the wet area and hold water in the pan to prove it before any tile goes on |
| 9 | Tile setting | 3–6 days | All tile, trim, grout and heat mat on site, counted and dye-lot checked |
| 10 | Grout, seal and cure | 1–2 days | Grout color confirmed against the actual tile |
| 11 | Paint | 1–2 days | Color and sheen selected |
| 12 | Vanity, toilet and finish plumbing | 1–2 days | Vanity, top, faucets, toilet and trim all on site |
| 13 | Shower glass measure and order | 1 hour | Tile grouted and cured. The installer measures, walks you through style and finish options, and orders off those measurements |
| 14 | Shower glass fabrication | 10–21 days | Nothing happens on site. The room looks done and is not yet usable |
| 15 | Glass install, accessories and hardware | 1 day | Accessories and hardware on site |
| 16 | Final inspection, punch list and walkthrough | 1–2 days | You available to walk the job with us |
1. Design and selections
Typical time: 2–4 weeks
Layout signed off, and every material on page 1 delivered to the house — valve, tub, tile, fixtures
2. Permit, if the scope requires one
Typical time: 1–2 weeks
Moving fixtures or adding a bathroom usually triggers this
3. Protection and demolition
Typical time: 1–2 days
Room cleared. Expect to find something behind the walls on an older home
4. Framing, blocking and subfloor repair
Typical time: 1–3 days
Niche and bench sizes, accessory locations, recessed medicine cabinet
5. Rough plumbing, electrical and venting
Typical time: 2–4 days
Shower valve, tub, tub filler type, fan, and any extra circuits — all physically on site
6. Rough inspection
Typical time: 1–3 days
Scheduled by us, timed by the inspector
7. Insulation, drywall and cement board
Typical time: 2–4 days
Nothing needed from you
8. Waterproofing and flood test
Typical time: 1–2 days
We seal the wet area and hold water in the pan to prove it before any tile goes on
9. Tile setting
Typical time: 3–6 days
All tile, trim, grout and heat mat on site, counted and dye-lot checked
10. Grout, seal and cure
Typical time: 1–2 days
Grout color confirmed against the actual tile
11. Paint
Typical time: 1–2 days
Color and sheen selected
12. Vanity, toilet and finish plumbing
Typical time: 1–2 days
Vanity, top, faucets, toilet and trim all on site
13. Shower glass measure and order
Typical time: 1 hour
Tile grouted and cured. The installer measures, walks you through style and finish options, and orders off those measurements
14. Shower glass fabrication
Typical time: 10–21 days
Nothing happens on site. The room looks done and is not yet usable
15. Glass install, accessories and hardware
Typical time: 1 day
Accessories and hardware on site
16. Final inspection, punch list and walkthrough
Typical time: 1–2 days
You available to walk the job with us
Shaded rows are stretches where little or nothing happens on site. They are part of the schedule, not a sign the job has stalled.
The three most common delays on a bathroom remodel
- The shower valve not being on site. Rough plumbing is day three or four of a bathroom, and it simply cannot proceed without the valve in hand.
- Tile running short mid-install. A reorder is often a different dye lot, which means a visible line in your shower or starting the wall over.
- Shower glass lead time catching people by surprise. It cannot be ordered before your tile is finished, and it runs two to three weeks after that. Nothing compresses it.
Typical lead times
These are ranges we see in the Columbus market. Confirm the real number with your supplier when you buy, and tell us if it is longer than what is shown here.
| Item | Typical lead time | Order it by |
|---|---|---|
| Shower valve and trim | 1–6 weeks | As soon as the job is booked |
| Freestanding tub | 2–10 weeks | As soon as the job is booked |
| Specialty or imported tile | 2–8 weeks | 4 weeks before the tile phase |
| Stock vanity | 1–3 weeks | 3 weeks before finish plumbing |
| Custom vanity | 6–12 weeks | As soon as the job is booked |
| Custom shower glass (after tile) | 10–21 days | Cannot be ordered early |
| Light fixtures | 1–6 weeks | 3 weeks before drywall |
| Heated floor mat and thermostat | 1–3 weeks | 2 weeks before tile |
Shower valve and trim
Typical lead time: 1–6 weeks
Order it by: As soon as the job is booked
Freestanding tub
Typical lead time: 2–10 weeks
Order it by: As soon as the job is booked
Specialty or imported tile
Typical lead time: 2–8 weeks
Order it by: 4 weeks before the tile phase
Stock vanity
Typical lead time: 1–3 weeks
Order it by: 3 weeks before finish plumbing
Custom vanity
Typical lead time: 6–12 weeks
Order it by: As soon as the job is booked
Custom shower glass (after tile)
Typical lead time: 10–21 days
Order it by: Cannot be ordered early
Light fixtures
Typical lead time: 1–6 weeks
Order it by: 3 weeks before drywall
Heated floor mat and thermostat
Typical lead time: 1–3 weeks
Order it by: 2 weeks before tile
The other planning checklists
Lead times and durations on this page are typical ranges for the central Ohio market and are not a quote. Your project is scheduled from your own scope, selections and supplier confirmations.