Situations and planning
Doing a bathroom in two phases when the budget won't stretch to one
Questions to ask any fitter
Choose tiling and flooring in phase one that won't need replacing to accommodate phase-two changes, even if the phase-two fitting itself is delayed.
At a glance
- Put anything hidden behind walls or floors, pipework, wiring, waste runs, into phase one even for fittings you won't install until phase two, since exposing finished surfaces again is the most expensive way to add them later.
- Choose tiling and flooring in phase one that won't need replacing to accommodate phase-two changes, even if the phase-two fitting itself is delayed.
What to sort out first
- Put anything hidden behind walls or floors
- pipework, wiring, waste runs, into phase one even for fittings you won't install until phase two, since exposing finished surfaces again is the most expensive way to add them later.
- Choose tiling and flooring in phase one that won't need replacing to accommodate phase-two changes
- even if the phase-two fitting itself is delayed.
- Agree with your fitter which visible finishing touches can be deferred without leaving the room unusable in the meantime
- such as a feature wall or heated rail.
- Keep a written note of what was planned for phase two so specifications and measurements aren't lost between the two projects
- especially if a different tradesperson does the second phase.
Want a professional to handle it?
See your fixed price in 24 hours
Calls answered 8am-6pm Mon-Fri · missed calls returned the same day.
"A master of his class, gone above & beyond to deliver exactly what I wanted, to an extremely high spec.", Jamie, verified review
Your questions answered
What should never be left until phase two?
Anything requiring walls or floors to be opened up again, first-fix plumbing, electrics and waterproofing all belong in phase one even if the fittings arrive later.
Will using two different fitters for each phase cause problems?
It can, particularly around waterproofing continuity and matching finishes, so keeping detailed records and photos from phase one is worth doing regardless of who does phase two.
Want this scoped properly before you commit?
We look at the room, check the services, and put the scope in writing so you can compare like with like.
Related reading
Related services
Covering Gloucester, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Stroud, Malvern, Ledbury, Newent and Ross-on-Wye