Bathroom renovations often require a rigorous checklist mainly due to the quantity of plumbing components and number of trades involved in the process, and the deadline for operations without a working bathroom in the household.

  1. Establish your budget. This can be paired back to allow cheaper specifications and less detail, or alternatively the more expensive bathrooms include higher-end plumbing components, unique tile choices and include custom cabinetry and building works (such as built-in shower nooks or shelving).
  2. Work out your Bathroom Design. This will require time and a lot of careful consideration. You will need to work out how many people use the bathroom, your needs and wants, along with plumbing requirements. Is it a new build, are you demolishing existing and starting from scratch, or is it purely a makeover with plumbing remaining in existing positions? Are you having underfloor heating, have you worked out your lighting plan, towel rail and toiler roll holder positioning, have you considered your storage options, have you thought through your ventilation?
  3. Finalise your Specification Schedule. Complete a fully itemised spreadsheet of all components chosen, including dimensions, costings, and suppliers. This should also include your costs for all trades – builder, plumber, electrician, plasterer, waterproofer, tiler, painter, joiner.
  4. Organise a full works Schedule of Trades. Have all your trades onsite to view the project and provide quotes to undertake the works. Ensure they are available to complete and work alongside in the allocated time slot. Order of works should involve Builder, Plumber and Electrician, Builder to re-sheet and relay flooring, Plasterer, Waterproofer, Underfloor Heating laid (if required), Tiler to lay screed and tile, Joiner to install cabinetry and vanity along with Plumber to return and install all plumbing hardware, Glass to be installed for shower, Electrician to return, Painting if required.
  5. Order and have all plumbing components and tiles on site for the start of works. The plumber will require all plumbing components on the day he begins.
  6. Make sure you are in continual communication with all trades and suppliers and have constant updates if days for certain trades need to be adjusted slightly.
  7. A bathroom that is run as a finely tuned exercise will still take 3-4 weeks to complete. Remember a number of days are required for drying of waterproofing, tile screed etc.
  8. To take the frustration and stress out of the project I recommend an expert who knows what they’re doing to design, specify, organise works and project manage!