Trying to live in your house during a bathroom remodel can feel inconvenient at times. It can be even tougher trying to do so if you live in a home with only one bathroom. However, keep in mind that the final outcome will make it all worthwhile! You’ll soon have a more functional bathroom that better fits your lifestyle. To help you better prepare and live through a bathroom renovation, we’ve pulled together some advice.
Can You Live in Your House During a Bathroom Remodel?
Whether its your only bathroom going out of commission for a while or just one of a few, the following advice should help ease the inconvenience. However, the best advice is to prepare. Both physically and mentally. As we said earlier, the end result is going to be worth it. So, prepare yourself for the inconvenience and extra stress. The ideal situation would be to move out for the timeline of the project. However, we understand that’s not possible for everyone. Sit down all house members and go over your new, temporary routine. Set your alarms earlier so everyone has extra time in the remaining bathrooms or to travel to the one you’ll be using. Speaking of which…
Take Advantage of Your Access to Other Bathrooms
If you’ve got family and friends nearby, ask if you can use their bathrooms for daily bathing and restroom use. You can even devise a schedule rotation to ease the additional costs or inconvenience to them. Another overlooked option is to utilize the free showers at your gym! While you’re there, you can even get in a workout to help reduce stress.
Leave the Toilet Installed Until Necessary
Bathroom remodelers understand many families only have one restroom and may not have other options readily available. Ask if they can leave the toilet installed until it’s necessary to remove.
Plan a Vacation During Your Bathroom Remodel
If you can wait to start your bathroom renovation, try to plan a vacation during the time the contractor plans to have your toilet and shower off limits. Beyond the inconvenience of not being able to use those things, there will also be a lot of noise and people coming in and out of your house. Being able to get away and avoid these potential stressors would be an ideal situation.
Plan for Delays During Your Bathroom Remodel
You know the Murphy’s Law adage: “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” The best, well-made plans can go awry. So, in your plan, make sure you pencil in options for the renovation to take a little longer. If it doesn’t come to that, great! However, for your sanity (and your contractor’s) prepare for the unexpected.
Your Contractor Communication Plan
One point of contact. One daily check-in. Clear house rules. Confirm up front:
- Daily start/stop times and weekend policy
- Water/power shutoff windows
- Pathways, parking, and bathroom use rules for the crew
- Dust control setup (barriers, HEPA)
- Who locks up and how to access if you’re out
- Disposal location and end-of-day cleanup standard
- Change order process (who approves, how pricing is confirmed)
- No-toilet/no-shower calendar with specific dates
Utilities & Schedule Coordination
- Water: Get daily windows for shutoffs. Batch laundry/dishes around them. Fill a pitcher for tooth-brushing and a bucket for toilet tank refills if needed.
- Power: Know any circuits that will be off. Set up safe extension cords and a bright temporary lamp where you’ll get ready.
- Hot water: Tile and plumbing days may extend beyond 5 p.m.—plan gym or friend showers those nights.
Safety & Compliance Basics
- Keep kids/pets away from tools and adhesives; set a “no-go zone.”
- Use non-slip mats for any basement/utility shower.
- Pre-1978 homes: ask about lead-safe practices. Consider testing for asbestos on suspect materials before demo.
- Ventilate well; avoid lingering in areas with curing sealers/adhesives.
Temporary Bathroom Solutions for One-Bathroom or Single-Tub/Shower Households
When you’ve only got one working bath (or just one with a tub/shower), plan around fixture downtime. Priority #1 is to keep the toilet connected until flooring day and schedule a same-day reinstall. Build a shower plan for the consecutive off-limits days that occur during waterproofing, tile, grout, and glass steps. If you won’t have your tub/shower for more than a day an need to find options for showering/bathing, here are some suggestions:
| Option | Covers | Comfort | Setup Effort | Cost* | Best For | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friends/Family bathroom | Toilet + Shower | High | Low | $ | 1–2 week projects; families | Make a schedule; bring a stocked caddy; replace supplies you use. |
| Gym or community rec showers | Shower | Med | Low | $ | Predictable daily access | Go off-peak; keep a pre-packed shower bag in your car. Still need a toilet plan. |
| Workplace facilities | Toilet (+/? Shower) | Med | Low | $ | Adults who commute | Ask HR about shower access; keep toiletries at work. |
| Contractor-installed temporary shower (to utility drain) | Shower | Med–High | Med | $$–$$$ | 3–10 day shower gaps | Confirm GFCI power, drainage, privacy. Expect “hundreds of dollars.” Add a dehumidifier if in basement. |
| Port-a-potty rental | Toilet | Med | Low | $$ | 1–7 day toilet gap | Add a hand-wash station. Place on driveway per HOA/city rules. Request weekly service (or more during peak use). |
| Kitchen/utility sink hygiene station | Teeth/hair/hand-wash | Med | Low | $ | Everyone, every day | Use a sprayer and non-slip mat; separate “hygiene” tubs from food prep; keep disinfectant wipes handy. |
| Strategic hotel nights | Toilet + Shower | High | Low | $$$ | Key “no-use” windows | Time for demo/flooring or grout/caulk cure days; book near home and stack errands. |
Hire a local, trusted contractor
Do you want your bathroom remodel to go as smooth as it can? Hire a local, trusted contractor to do your renovation. If you live in Springfield, MO or the surrounding area , that business is Top Tier Kitchens & Baths. Our team of highly experienced installers will work quickly and efficiently to bring it to completion with little disruption to your everyday routine. And, to ensure your confidence, we will back their work with a one-year labor warranty, in addition to the manufacturer’s lifetime warranty that applies to all of our bathroom products. So, to get the planning of your bathroom renovation started, call us at 417-580-9816 or fill out our contact form!
FAQs
Q. Can I keep my toilet while the shower is down? Often, yes. Many contractors can leave the toilet until flooring day and reinstall it as soon as the floor is ready.
Q. How do I shower without a bathroom? Use a gym, a friend’s place, an RV, or a contractor-installed temporary shower connected to a utility drain. Camping shower kits work in a pinch with good drainage and privacy.
Q. How bad is the dust? With proper barriers, floor protection, sealed vents, and a HEPA scrubber, dust stays largely in the work zone. Expect to change HVAC filters during and after the job.
Q. When can I use the new shower? After grout/caulk/sealer cures—your contractor will provide a timeframe. Plan backup showers for those first 24–48 hours.
Q. What extra costs should I anticipate? Possible add-ons: port-a-potty rental, temporary shower setup, extra filters/cleaning, laundromat runs, disposable supplies. Ask what’s included in your bid.
