Situations and planning
A first bathroom renovation: what actually happens and when
Planning points
Point 1
Decide the final tile size and sanitaryware model before first fix starts, since pipe centres and tile setting-out both depend on those dimensions.
Point 2
Expect a period with no working bathroom in the house unless there is a second one, plan showers elsewhere or a temporary arrangement for that window.
Point 3
Get a written scope of what is included (tiling, redecoration, waste disposal) rather than assuming, since quotes vary in what they cover.
Point 4
Keep a small contingency for what strip-out reveals behind old tiling, historic leaks and soft floors are common once the old suite is out.
Where jobs go wrong
Expect a period with no working bathroom in the house unless there is a second one, plan showers elsewhere or a temporary arrangement for that window.
Other guides you may want
Questions we get asked
What should be decided before any work starts?
Tile size, sanitaryware, tap positions and lighting layout, these fix the first-fix plumbing and electrics, so changing them mid-job causes delay and abortive work.
How do I avoid nasty surprises partway through?
Ask for the old bath panel and tiling to be removed early in a walk-round rather than on the first working day, so any rot or leak history is visible before the schedule is fixed.
Ready to get the room measured up?
Photos of the existing room and the position of the soil stack help enormously before a visit.