Last month, a homeowner in Morris County handed me a competitor's quote.

"One-day bathroom transformation," it promised. The price was aggressive. The timeline was faster than anything we'd ever offered.

I told him we couldn't match it.

Not because we couldn't compete on price. We could have gotten close. But I've been doing bathroom remodels in Northern New Jersey for 43 years, and I know exactly what happens 18 months after those quick installs.

The phone rings. The shower pan is leaking. The walls are buckling. The "transformation" is peeling away to reveal the same problems that were there before, now worse.

Here are the standards we won't compromise on, even when it costs us the job.

The Insert Problem Nobody Talks About

One-day bathroom remodels rely on inserts.

An insert is exactly what it sounds like: a prefabricated shell that gets placed over your existing tub or shower. It's fast. It's cheap to install. And it looks fine for the first year.

But here's what the one-day companies don't tell you during the sales pitch:

Inserts don't address what's happening behind your walls.

If you have water damage, it's still there. If your plumbing is outdated, it's still outdated. If there's mold growing behind the tile, the insert just seals it in.

According to industry analysis, one-day remodels provide only surface-level changes. They don't fix deeper problems like outdated plumbing or hidden water leaks. Quick installations might simply seal problems like hidden mold or structural issues rather than fix them.

We don't use inserts at Roeland Home Improvers. Not because we're trying to upsell you on a bigger project. Because we've seen what happens when you cover up problems instead of solving them.

Why Quality Tile Work Can't Happen in 24 Hours

Let me walk you through what actually needs to happen for a proper tiled shower installation.

Day one: Demo down to the drywall.

We remove everything. The old tile, the tub, the fixtures. We expose the bones of your bathroom so we can see what we're working with.

This is where we find the water damage that's been hiding. The drywall that's been slowly deteriorating. The plumbing that should have been replaced ten years ago.

Then we address the levelness of the floor.

Drainage issues in showers almost always come from floors that aren't properly leveled before the base goes in. You can't fix that after the fact. You have to get it right from the start.

After we confirm the floor is level, we install waterproof drywall. Not regular drywall with a waterproof coating. Actual waterproof drywall that won't deteriorate if moisture gets behind your walls.

Day two: Install the base and walls.

For shower areas, we can complete a quality installation in two days. One day to take out, one day to put back. This timeline ensures our installers can do quality work without rushing.

Industry research confirms this reality: there is no way a quality tiled shower can be done in a "1 Day Remodel." A quality tiled shower takes 5-7 days to properly install.

For full bathroom remodels, we plan for 5-7 days. Not because we're slow. Because we're thorough.

The Material Quality Gap

When you compress a bathroom remodel into one day, something has to give.

Usually, it's the materials.

One of the primary concerns with one-day remodels is the potential compromise on material quality and installation standards. Some one-day solutions just don't wear well over time.

We use high-quality materials because we don't want your bathroom to feel cheap.

The grout we use is designed to resist mold and discoloration for years. The tile is rated for wet environments and daily use. The fixtures are backed by manufacturers who stand behind their products.

When we install a shower base, it's textured to be non-slip. Not because it looks better, but because most bathroom accidents happen when people step over a tub wall onto a slippery surface.

These details take time. They cost more upfront. And they're the difference between a bathroom that lasts 10 years and one that lasts 20.

The Permit and Code Compliance Reality

Here's a question worth asking any contractor promising a one-day turnaround:

How are you pulling permits and scheduling inspections in 24 hours?

Industry experts point out that the big question is whether a single crew can truly handle all required tasks in just one day while also following legal requirements, pulling permits, and scheduling city inspections. For most legitimate projects, the answer is no—at least not if you want a quality result that meets code and keeps your home safe.

We follow code. We pull permits when required. We schedule inspections.

Not because we enjoy the paperwork. Because your bathroom remodel needs to be legal, safe, and up to standards that protect your home's value.

What Happens 18 Months Later

The Morris County homeowner who asked us to match that one-day quote went with the other company.

I understood his decision. The price was lower. The timeline was faster. On paper, it looked like the better deal.

But I've been in this business long enough to know what comes next.

Unforeseen issues from one-day remodels typically show up within 18 months.

Water leaks. Structural damage. Hidden expenses that weren't addressed during the initial installation. And fixing these issues later costs more than addressing them upfront with a full remodel.

Lower-quality materials used in quick remodels lead to premature replacements. The lifespan of a renovated bathroom can range from 10 to 20 years, depending on quality of materials, workmanship, and maintenance. Well-planned and executed renovations with a focus on durability tend to outperform this average.

When that homeowner calls us back in a year and a half, we'll help him. We always do.

But I wish I could have helped him avoid the problem in the first place.

The Standards We Won't Compromise

After 43 years of bathroom remodeling in Northern New Jersey, here's what I've learned:

Craftsmanship takes time.

When it comes to renovations, craftsmanship should always take precedence over speed. Rushed projects often lead to poor workmanship, costly repairs, and reduced property value.

Skilled professionals take the time to ensure precision, durability, and attention to detail. The result is a finished product that stands the test of time.

Quality materials cost more upfront but less over time.

Research from the National Association of Realtors shows homeowners recover approximately 71% of bathroom renovation expenses. The Remodeling 2024 Cost vs. Value Report indicates that midrange bathroom remodels typically reclaim about 70.1% of their cost.

A cosmetic fix doesn't raise your resale price. But a thoughtfully remodeled bathroom is a selling point that shows buyers your home has been well cared for and professionally upgraded.

Problems don't disappear when you cover them up.

They get worse. They spread. And eventually, they cost more to fix than they would have if you'd addressed them properly from the start.

Why We Keep Saying No

We lose jobs because of our standards.

Homeowners choose faster timelines. Lower prices. Promises that sound better than our honest assessment of what their bathroom actually needs.

But we keep saying no to shortcuts because we've seen the alternative.

We've seen the callbacks. The repairs. The homeowners who thought they were saving money and ended up spending more.

Our mission is to bring Northern New Jersey homeowners the most pleasurable experience when it comes to home improvement.

That doesn't mean we won't make mistakes. We're human. Problems come up during renovations that nobody could have predicted.

But when problems arise, we fix them. We stand behind our work. And we don't walk away from clients just because the job got more complicated than we expected.

We've been doing this for 43 years because we do the right thing, even when it's not the fastest thing or the cheapest thing.

That's the standard we won't compromise on.

Even when it costs us the job.

What This Means for Your Bathroom Project

If you're getting quotes for a bathroom remodel in Northern New Jersey, ask questions.

Ask about materials. Ask about timelines. Ask what happens if they find water damage behind your walls.

Ask if they're using inserts or doing a full installation. Ask if they pull permits. Ask how long their installers have been with the company.

And if someone promises you a complete bathroom transformation in one day, ask yourself what they're not telling you.

Because after 43 years in this business, I can tell you exactly what they're leaving out.

The question is whether you want to find out now or 18 months from now.