Bathroom Installation Day-by-Day Programme

Bathroom Installation Day-by-Day: What Actually Happens

The reason bathroom projects feel stressful is usually the not-knowing, wondering who's supposed to be in your house on which day and what state the room should be in. Because we handle plumbing, electrics and tiling in house with our own fitters, one team sees the job through from strip-out to snagging, so there's no guessing which trade is meant to turn up. Here's the programme we actually work to on a typical 8-10 day family bathroom.

Key takeaways

A typical family bathroom runs 8-10 working days from strip-out to handover

First fix plumbing and electrics happen back to back because it's one in-house team

Waterproofing and curing times are never compressed just to hit a date

Every job ends with a proper snagging walk-through and a written guarantee

Day 1: strip-out and first look

The old suite, tiles and flooring come out, and everything gets bagged and skipped the same day, not left in a pile in the hallway. Once the room is stripped back to brick and boards, we check the condition of the floor, walls and any existing pipework properly for the first time.

This is also the day we flag anything unexpected, a soft floor, old lead pipework, or damp behind old tiles. Because it's the same team doing everything, that conversation happens once, with one person, rather than you fielding calls from three different trades.

Days 2-3: first fix plumbing and electrics

Pipework gets moved or extended for the new layout, and new electrical cabling is run for lights, extractor fan, shaver socket and any underfloor heating. This is done to Part P standards as a matter of course, not an optional extra.

Because the plumber and electrician are on the same team, first fix plumbing and first fix electrics happen back to back without a scheduling gap, which is where a lot of independent-trade jobs lose days waiting for the next person's diary to line up.

Days 3-4: boarding, waterproofing and floor prep

Walls are boarded, and any wet areas (shower enclosures, behind baths) are tanked or waterproofed properly before a single tile goes up. The floor is levelled or built up as needed, especially important if you're moving to a wetroom-style floor or need falls to a drain.

Skipping or rushing this stage is the single biggest cause of bathroom failures years down the line, so we don't compress it just to hit a date.

Days 5-7: tiling

Tiling typically takes two to three days depending on tile size and the amount of cutting needed, large-format porcelain and mosaic borders both add time. Grouting and sealing happen once the adhesive has properly cured, not rushed the same day.

Our tilers are part of the same in-house team, so there's no downtime waiting for a subcontractor to become available between plumbing finishing and tiling starting.

Days 8-9: second fix and fitting the suite

The bath, shower enclosure, WC, basin and taps go in, along with light fittings, the extractor fan and sockets. This is when the room starts to look like a finished bathroom rather than a building site.

Water and electrics are tested properly at this stage, not just visually checked, before we call the job complete.

Day 10: snagging and handover

We walk the room with you, check silicone lines, door alignment, extractor operation and water pressure, and fix anything that isn't right there and then. Every job comes with a written guarantee, so if something shows up after handover it's covered.

This is also when we hand over any warranty paperwork for the suite and fittings, so you've got everything in one place.

Quick questions

Does the programme ever get shorter than 10 days?

Yes, a straightforward like-for-like refit with no layout changes can sometimes finish in 6-7 working days. The programme above assumes a typical family bathroom with some layout changes and full tiling.

What happens if something unexpected is found on day 1?

We tell you straight away and agree the plan before continuing. Because plumbing, electrics and tiling are all handled by the same in-house team, we can usually assess the impact on the whole job immediately rather than waiting on a separate trade's opinion.

Can the days be rearranged around my work schedule?

To some extent, yes, we can discuss start times and access. What we won't do is compress waterproofing or curing times just to fit a deadline, as that's exactly where corners get cut on other jobs.

Is someone in the house every single day?

Most days, yes, though there can be a short gap while tile adhesive or waterproofing cures. We'll tell you in advance which days involve work and which are curing time.

Do you provide a written programme before starting?

Yes, as part of the quote and again before work begins, so you know roughly what to expect each day. It's covered in more detail during your free design and quote home visit.