How long does a bathroom refit take? A stage-by-stage guide

A typical bathroom refit takes one to three weeks. A straight swap of the suite and tiles in the same layout sits at the shorter end. Moving the plumbing, building a walk-in shower or wet room, or levelling out old uneven walls pushes it towards three.

Here’s where the time actually goes.

The stages of a bathroom refit

Strip-out (around a day)

The old suite, tiles and often the plasterboard come out. This is when hidden problems show up: rotten floorboards under the bath, old pipework, or walls that are far from straight. Good builders allow for this rather than acting surprised.

First fix (one to two days)

New pipework goes in, and any changes to the waste or the position of the toilet, shower or basin are made. Any electrical work, such as an extractor fan, lighting or a heated mirror, is run now, before the walls are closed up.

Walls and floors (a few days, plus drying time)

Walls are boarded, plastered or levelled, and the floor is made solid and flat. Shower areas get waterproofed (sometimes called tanking) before any tiles go near them. This is the stage you don’t want rushed. Tiles are only as good as what’s behind them, and drying time is one of the most common reasons a bathroom overruns.

Tiling (three to five days)

Walls and floor are tiled, then grouted. Adhesive and grout need a day or two to cure before the shower can be used. Large-format tiles, herringbone patterns and natural stone take longer than standard tiles.

Second fix and finishing (one to two days)

The basin, toilet, shower, taps, radiator and mirror go in, followed by silicone, sealing and a final clean.

What makes a bathroom refit take longer

• Tiles arriving late. This is the big one. Order tiles two to three weeks before the start date, and order around 10% extra for cuts and breakages.
• Changing your mind mid-job. Moving the shower once the pipework’s in means undoing work.
• What’s hiding under the old bathroom. Rot, leaks and old wiring all need sorting properly before anything new goes in.
• Wet rooms and walk-in showers. They need the floor building up or dropping and a fully waterproofed area, which adds days.

Will I be without a toilet?

If it’s your only bathroom, there will be some time without a working toilet or shower. A good builder will plan the job so that’s as short as possible, usually by refitting the toilet early, and tell you in advance when it’ll be out of action.

Does a bathroom refit need building regulations?

A like-for-like refit usually doesn’t. Electrical work close to the bath or shower is different. Any addition or alteration there, or a new circuit, must either be done by an electrician registered with a competent person scheme or signed off by building control. If a room is becoming a bathroom for the first time, building regulations also cover things like drainage and ventilation. We explain this more in our guide to planning permission and building regulations.

See one from start to finish

Our walk-in shower room project shows a bathroom before and after, with the old bath replaced by a walk-in shower.

If you’re planning a new bathroom in Bridgwater, Taunton or nearby, we’ll come and look at the space and give you a clear timeline before any work starts.