A Bathroom Remodel, Week by Week

Published July 1, 2026

Most people have never watched a bathroom get torn down and rebuilt, so the process can feel like a black box. It is not. A remodel follows a fairly strict order, and knowing that order makes the whole project less stressful. Here is how a typical job on a street like Candlewood St moves from first measurement to final walkthrough.

Week One: Measure, Plan, and Demo

Before anything is torn out, we measure the room, check the plumbing and substrate, and write a scope that lists every material and fixture. Once you approve it, demolition starts. We protect the hallway and floors, then remove the old tub, vanity, tile, and finishes down to the studs. Hauling the debris away is part of this stage, so the room is clear and ready for rough-in by the end of the week.

Week Two: Rough-In and Waterproofing

This is the part that hides behind the walls, and it matters most. We move or replace supply lines and drains, add the GFCI circuit the code requires, and set the shower pan. Then comes waterproofing: a bonded membrane over cement backer board, following the same methods we use on every walk-in shower conversion. Waterproofing behind the tile, not the grout on the surface, is what keeps water out of the wall for good.

Week Three: Tile, Fixtures, and Finish

With the waterproofing checked, tile goes up. Then the vanity, the toilet, the valve and trim, the glass enclosure, and the lighting. We finish the small details, the caulk lines and the trim, that make a bathroom feel done rather than nearly done. If the job is a full bathroom remodel, this stage is where all the earlier work finally shows.

Why the Order Matters

Skipping ahead is how bathrooms fail. Tile set before waterproofing is checked, or a valve buried before it is tested, turns into a leak two winters later. Running the stages in order, and inspecting each one, is the whole point. It is slower on paper and cheaper in the long run.

The Final Walkthrough

At the end we walk the room with you, test every fixture, and build a punch list of anything left. Nothing is called done until you agree it is. Questions about your own project? Contact us or call Excel-west at (562) 885-7301 for a free in-home estimate in Lakewood.