A full bathroom renovation is one of those projects that looks straightforward until you're living without a shower for a week and the walls are half-tiled. Knowing what's coming makes everything easier. Here's an honest account of how the process actually works.
The single biggest cause of delays in bathroom renovations isn't the work itself — it's indecision about materials. Tiles, sanitaryware, taps, mirrors, accessories — if any of these aren't ordered and on site when the fitters arrive, the job stalls. Good tradespeople will walk you through a clear list of what needs to be decided and ordered before day one.
At this stage you'll also decide on layout. Most renovations keep the same basic layout (moving soil pipes is expensive and rarely necessary), but now is the time to discuss any changes — a walk-in shower instead of a bath, a wall-hung toilet, or relocating the vanity unit.
The old bathroom comes out. This is noisy and messy but quick. Existing sanitaryware, tiling, plasterboard — all removed. You'll start to see the underlying state of the walls and floor, which sometimes throws up surprises like water damage or old pipework that needs rerouting. A good fitter will flag this to you immediately and talk you through the options before proceeding.
Pipes and cables go in before any boarding or plastering. Waste pipes are positioned, hot and cold supplies are roughed in, and any new electrical circuits — heated towel rails, extractor fan, lighting circuits — are laid in at this stage. You won't see much of this once the walls go up, but it's some of the most important work in the job.
Moisture-resistant plasterboard goes onto the walls, and waterproof tanking compound is applied in wet areas — around the shower and bath. This is a step that shortcuts sometimes skip, and it's why you see damp problems in bathrooms a few years down the line. Don't let anyone talk you out of proper tanking.
Often the most time-consuming part of the job, depending on the size of the bathroom and the complexity of the tile pattern. Large format tiles, herringbone patterns, and floor tiles with underfloor heating all take longer. Grout follows once the adhesive has cured — don't rush this stage.
Once the tiles are grouted and set, the suite goes in: toilet, basin, bath or shower enclosure, taps, shower fittings. Electrics are finished off — sockets, heated towel rail connection, extractor fan. The room starts to look like a bathroom.
A thorough walk-through of the finished room. Check sealant lines, grout consistency, that all fittings operate correctly, that the toilet flushes properly, that hot and cold are on the correct sides. Note anything that needs attention before the fitter leaves.
For an average family bathroom, expect 7–10 working days. Larger or more complex jobs (en-suites with feature walls, wet rooms, full replumbing) can run to two weeks. The things that extend timelines: late-arriving tiles, changes of plan mid-job, or unexpected work uncovered during the strip-out.
Prices vary significantly depending on the size of the room, the quality of fixtures chosen, and any structural changes. The best way to get a realistic figure is a free site visit and quotation — every bathroom is different. Contact RyBuild Ltd for a no-obligation quote across Hampshire and Surrey.
Free quotes available across Farnborough, Guildford, Camberley and surrounding areas.