Situations and planning
Getting an electrician, tiler and fitter working in the right order
Planning points
Point 1
Agree the exact sequence in writing before booking anyone, typically strip-out, first-fix plumbing and electrics, waterproofing, tiling, then second fix, so no trade turns up before the room is ready for them.
Point 2
Build in cure times for waterproofing membrane and tile adhesive rather than booking the next trade back-to-back, since rushing this is the most common cause of later tanking failures.
Point 3
Make sure the electrician and plumber agree who fixes what before boarding goes up, since a missed shower pull-cord or spur left out at first fix means opening up finished work later.
Point 4
Keep one point of contact, even if that's you, checking each trade's work meets what the next trade needs, since without a single fitter overseeing it, gaps between trades are where problems hide.
Common mistakes to avoid
Make sure the electrician and plumber agree who fixes what before boarding goes up, since a missed shower pull-cord or spur left out at first fix means opening up finished work later.
Questions we get asked
Is it cheaper to manage the trades separately rather than use one bathroom fitting company?
Sometimes, but it shifts the coordination risk onto you, and any delay or mistake at a handoff between trades tends to cost more time than a single company managing sequencing internally.
What's the biggest risk of doing it this way?
Gaps between trades, electrics missed before boarding, or tiling starting before waterproofing has cured, since there's no single person responsible for catching these before they cause rework.
Related expert guides
Questions about coordinating an electrician and tiler with a bathroom fit?
A short phone call usually answers more than a long email thread. Ask anything, including the awkward questions.