Surviving a Bathroom Remodel When You Only Have One Bathroom

Remodeling your only bathroom is a special kind of adventure. Everyone in the house suddenly develops opinions about scheduling. The gym membership you forgot about becomes your most valuable asset. And at some point you will stand in your kitchen at 11 p.m., toothbrush in hand, wondering whether rinsing in the sink counts as camping.

It can be done, and plenty of Clark County households in older Vancouver homes, Camas bungalows and Battle Ground ranches have only one full bath. The trick is planning the hard days before they arrive. Here’s how.

First, talk to your contractor about the toilet

The most important question for a one-bathroom remodel is simple: when will we not have a working toilet, and for how long? On many projects, a crew can pull the toilet for demolition and reset it at the end of the day, or keep it working until the floor is ready. On others, especially when the floor, subfloor or drain lines are being replaced, there will be stretches without one.

Ask your contractor to mark those days on the schedule. Then plan around them:

• Ask whether the toilet can be temporarily reset overnight during the longest phases.
• Rent a portable toilet for the yard if there will be multiple days without one. Your neighbors will talk. Let them.
• Line up a backup: a friend nearby, a family member, or a nearby business that’s open early and late.

Showering somewhere else

The shower usually goes out of service for longer than the toilet, because waterproofing, tile, grout and glass all take time and some steps need to cure before the next one. Options people use:

• A gym or community center with showers
• Friends and family (bring your own towel and a generous attitude)
• A short stay elsewhere during the longest stretch
• An outdoor camp shower, if it’s August and you’re brave

Plan the project to shrink the hard part

Make every decision before demo

Tile, fixtures, vanity, mirror, lighting, fan, paint color, grout color. Order the items that take time to arrive and confirm they’re on site before the old bathroom comes out. Waiting a week for a backordered valve while you shower at the gym is how marriages get tested.

Keep the layout if you can

Moving the toilet, shower drain or vanity plumbing often means more work under the floor and more inspections. Keeping fixtures in place usually shortens the time without a working bathroom.

Ask about the sequence

Ask your contractor to walk you through the order: demo, any framing or subfloor repairs, plumbing and electrical rough-in, inspections, waterproofing, tile, grout, fixtures, glass and paint. Ask which steps need drying or curing time and how long the manufacturer requires.

Permits, ventilation and the stuff behind the tile

Bathroom remodels often involve plumbing, electrical and exhaust fan work that needs permits and inspections. Your contractor should know what’s required; our Clark County permit guide explains who issues permits where you live. In Washington, electrical permits are often issued by L&I (L&I electrical permits).

A good bathroom fan that actually vents outside matters in our damp climate. Bathrooms create a lot of moisture, and moisture that doesn’t leave becomes mold (see EPA’s guide to mold and moisture). Ask where the fan will exhaust and how it will be controlled.

Behind the tile, waterproofing is what keeps the shower from slowly rotting the wall. Ask what waterproofing system your contractor uses and whether they test the shower pan before tiling.

Older homes: check before you demolish

If your house was built before 1978, painted surfaces may contain lead. Contractors paid to disturb paint in older homes must follow the EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) program, run in Washington by the Washington State Department of Commerce lead program. Older flooring, wallboard and some adhesives can also contain asbestos; the Southwest Clean Air Agency’s asbestos FAQ recommends an asbestos survey by a qualified inspector before remodeling.

While the walls are open: upgrades worth considering

If you’re living through the hassle anyway, it’s a good moment to think about changes that are much harder later:

• Blocking for grab bars. Even if you don’t want grab bars today, solid wood blocking in the walls makes them easy to add later.
• A curbless or low-curb shower for easier access, if your floor and drain layout allow it.
• Better lighting and more outlets in sensible places.
• A quieter, better-vented fan on a timer or humidity control.
• Shutoff valves you can actually reach.

Each one adds a little cost and maybe a little time, so ask your contractor how it affects the schedule before you add it.

Household survival tips

• Set up a grooming station in a bedroom or the laundry room: mirror, good light, toiletries in a caddy.
• Use the kitchen sink for teeth and hands. Designate one side as the “bathroom side” if your household needs boundaries.
• Keep a cleaning kit handy. Dust from tile cutting and drywall travels; see our tips on dust in what it’s really like to remodel while living at home.
• Tell the crew your schedule. If someone needs the toilet back by 5 p.m. for a family reason, say so early.
• Consider timing. Avoid scheduling the remodel right before hosting the holidays. You know why.

Small update or full remodel?

Not every bathroom needs a gut job. A new vanity, toilet, faucet, light fixture or fan can sometimes be handled by handyman services in a day or two, with far less disruption. A full remodel with new tile, a shower rebuild or layout changes usually calls for general contractors and remodelers. Browse by town: general contractors in Vancouver, Camas and Battle Ground, and handyman services in Vancouver and Camas.

Before you hire

Check each contractor on WA L&I Verify a Contractor (how to check a contractor with L&I). Get written bids that include the schedule, especially the days without a toilet or shower, and compare them carefully (how to compare contractor bids).

Frequently asked questions

How do you remodel a bathroom when it’s the only one in the house?

Plan the days without a working toilet and shower before work starts. Ask your contractor whether the toilet can be reset overnight, make all selections and order materials before demo, and line up backups like a gym, family or a portable toilet rental.

How long will I be without a shower?

It depends on the scope. Waterproofing, tile, grout and glass each take time, and some products need curing time before the next step. Ask your contractor for a day-by-day schedule for your project.

Do I need a permit for a bathroom remodel in Clark County?

Often, if plumbing, electrical or ventilation work is involved. Check with your city permit office or Clark County for unincorporated areas; electrical permits are often issued by L&I.

Can a handyman remodel a bathroom?

A handyman can often handle smaller updates like a vanity, faucet or fixture swap. Larger remodels involving plumbing changes, waterproofing and tile usually call for a general contractor. Either way, check their L&I registration if they’re doing construction work for pay.

Clark County Contractors is a free directory. We don’t vet, rate, recommend or guarantee any business listed here. This guide is general information; confirm details with your permit office and the businesses you hire.