Process and cost factors
Second fix in a bathroom: connecting everything up
The short answer
Second fix is the stage where the room stops looking like a building site and starts working. It happens once tiling and flooring are finished and can withstand foot traffic.
Where jobs go wrong
Taps, mixer valves, shower heads and waste traps are fitted and tested for leaks under full water pressure, not just a quick trickle.
Your questions answered
Why can't second fix start until tiling is fully cured?
Fixings for heavy sanitaryware need a sound, cured substrate; fitting into fresh adhesive risks the tile or the fitting moving later.
Is a leak found at second fix a problem with the first fix?
Not always, it can also be a fitting seal or a washer, which is why everything is tested under pressure before the room is signed off.
The moving parts
Sanitaryware, WC, basin, bath and shower fittings, is set, connected and sealed to the finished surfaces.
Taps, mixer valves, shower heads and waste traps are fitted and tested for leaks under full water pressure, not just a quick trickle.
Switches, extractor fans, shaver sockets and any lighting are connected and tested by the electrician.
Sealant, trims and final adjustments, door alignment on enclosures, level checks on the WC, happen last, once everything else is fixed in place.
Talk through second fix explained with the person doing the work
Send a short description of the room and what you want to change. We'll come back with practical options rather than a brochure.