From the first survey to the final inspection: how a bathroom renovation runs in an orderly way – and where schedule and budget are really decided.
A new bathroom is one of the most demanding projects in a home: plumbing, electrics, drywall, waterproofing, tiling and painting all meet on a few square metres. If you know the process, you can plan better and compare quotes more easily.
1. Survey on site
Everything starts with a visit to the bathroom itself. It is not only the room that gets measured: where do the water and waste pipes run? How old is the wiring? Can the wall carry a wall-hung toilet? The more precise this survey, the fewer surprises later.
2. Planning and quote
The survey turns into a plan with layout, fittings and materials. A good quote lists the individual services separately – strip-out, installation, waterproofing, tiling, painting – so you can see what is included.
3. Strip-out and disposal
Old tiles, sanitary ware and, where necessary, screed are removed. Dust protection and covered walkways are part of the job so that the rest of the home stays liveable.
4. First fix
Water, waste and electrical lines are now laid anew. This step is invisible later and therefore the most important: a leak test and photos of the pipe routes before the walls are closed are well worth it.
5. Drywall and waterproofing
Pre-walls, shelves and niches are built in drywall. The splash zones are then waterproofed. A level-access shower needs particular care with falls and connections.
6. Tiles, paint, final fix
First the tiles, then the grout, then ceiling and walls, and finally sanitary ware, taps, mirror and lights. This order prevents finished surfaces from being damaged again.
7. Handover
Together you check every function: does the water drain? Are the silicone joints clean? Do doors and drawers close? Open points are written down and dealt with.
What really matters
Most delays happen at the hand-offs between trades. When one company coordinates all the work, there is one schedule and one contact person – and nobody waits for anybody else.