The bathroom is one of the most popular rooms in the home to remodel. In a recent Today's Homeowner poll, 27% of homeowners tackled a bathroom renovation in the previous year. It's no wonder. Bathrooms tend to be damp environments that get a lot of wear and tear.
However, a custom bathroom remodel is a major project, and it's important to plan. Getting the timing right can help reduce the stress and cost.
This guide is for homeowners considering a bathroom remodel who want to minimize stress, control costs, and ensure a smooth renovation process.
A custom bathroom renovation can take weeks. If you include the design and permitting phase, this can stretch into months. I'm not talking about a quick facelift here (new fixtures, flooring, and paint), but rather a new custom bathroom design, with the potential for a layout change. For an in-depth renovation like this, the timing of the project can have a significant effect on:
Costs
Schedule
Contractor availability
Daily disruption
As a remodeling contractor based in the Northern Illinois area, I have helped redesign and renovate countless bathrooms over the years. Based on my experience, here are the most important factors to consider when choosing the best time to begin your bathroom renovation project:
Season (time of year): Each season offers unique pros and cons for bathroom remodeling projects.
Budget: Remodelers don't like to emphasize this, but remodeling costs vary a bit based on demand.
Household schedule: If you have a major life event coming up, this may affect the ideal timing of your bathroom renovation more than any other factor.
Contractor demand: In our high-demand area (Southern Wisconsin, Northern Illinois), booking contractors at least two to three months in advance is generally recommended.
Permit timing: Be sure to allow for the time it takes for building permit approval.
As you can see, the "best time" to remodel a bathroom depends on several factors, including contractor availability, material costs, and your personal schedule. Each season offers unique pros and cons for bathroom remodeling projects, influencing contractor availability and material costs.
All of the areas we serve in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin require permits for most bathroom alterations. Usually, this means a building permit, a plumbing permit, and an electrical permit.
Here in Geneva, Illinois, it generally takes between 2 and 3 weeks to get permits reviewed and approved for a simple bathroom renovation. More complex projects, like historical homes and bathroom additions, can take three to four weeks. You must factor in this time when doing your planning.
As I mentioned above, the season you choose to begin is one of the most important factors. I'll share the pros and cons of each season below, but the TLDR is that very early spring can be a good sweet spot and may earn the "best time to remodel bathroom" crown.
Contractors tend to be the least busy during the colder months, especially around the busy holiday season. This lower demand can lead to quicker project completion and even some cost savings. Because most bathroom projects take place only on the interior, they are a good winter remodel candidate.
If you have big hosting plans for the upcoming holiday season, then winter may not be the best choice for you. Likewise, if you live in a small home with only one full bath, then winter might be especially inconvenient for you and your family.
For a standalone bathroom renovation, this is one of the best times of year. The holidays are over, the busy summer remodeling season hasn't ramped up yet, and you may find better contractor availability.
It's still cold outside here in the Midwest, so if your renovation requires temporary bathroom accommodations while the water is disconnected, then the cooler temperatures of early spring may not be the best for you.
Spring is a popular time for all sorts of remodeling projects. It symbolizes renewal, making it an appealing time frame for a new beginning.
Because many homeowners choose to renovate in the spring, you might face longer wait times, constrained remodeler availability, and even potentially higher costs.
Early summer provides longer daylight hours, which help speed the project along if it has an exterior component, like a bump-out bathroom addition. Some homeowners like to time a renovation with their summer vacation, so they can be out of the house.
Again, early summer is peak remodeling season, leading to potentially higher demand and costs.
Contractor availability improves as the summer rush ends. Fall renovations help ensure your new bathroom is ready before the holiday season.
Here in the Geneva, IL, area, fall can be an unpredictable season. Early snowfall can hamper any renovations that have an exterior component.
During the holidays: Being down a bathroom or in the middle of a construction zone does not usually mix well with holiday hosting and festivities.
When you haven't planned ahead: Don't expect to wrap up any custom home improvement project if you haven't started planning it two to three months in advance. If you want the work done during busy season periods like April to June or September to November, then allow even more time in advance.
If you are planning to renovate other parts of your home: Not everyone would agree with me here, but I usually advise homeowners to combine projects (like a kitchen and bathroom renovation) if practical. This saves on costs and can be less disruptive. So, if you plan to remodel your kitchen or do an addition within the next year, it might make sense to wait to start your bathroom renovation project until then. Talk to your remodeler early in the planning process for help.
As you can see, each season has pros and cons. Winter and early spring often offer the best balance of availability and cost. But the main factor is your own planning. It's best to tackle a bathroom remodel when you're fully prepared.
For optimal planning, I would recommend you reach out to some qualified design-build remodeling firms earlier in the process than you might think. Don't wait until right before you envision construction beginning.
It's okay to start the conversation with remodelers many months in advance so you can find the one that is the best fit, talk to them about their schedule, and start the design process without feeling rushed.
Hogan Design & Construction is a custom remodeling firm with more than 25 years of experience delivering stunning results for our clients across the Chicago area and into southern Wisconsin. We're a design-build firm, so we lead the way on every aspect of the project, from conceptual design to final drawings and from construction to the last inspection.
If you're considering your dream bathroom renovation or want something a bit more practical, our team would be excited to work with you. We invite you to explore our portfolio and to contact us today to schedule a consultation.