Trades Around
Renovation timeline planner · 2026

How long will your bathroom renovation actually take?

A full bathroom strip-out and refit, covering everything from removing the old suite through first-fix plumbing and electrics, tanking, tiling and second-fix back to a finished, snagged room. Most UK bathrooms are on site for 1–3 weeks; the bigger time sink is usually the 4–8 weeks of planning and ordering before day one.

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The plan

Bathroom Renovation

A full bathroom strip-out and refit, covering everything from removing the old suite through first-fix plumbing and electrics, tanking, tiling and second-fix back to a finished, snagged room. Most UK bathrooms are on site for 1–3 weeks; the bigger time sink is usually the 4–8 weeks of planning and ordering before day one.

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Scope
Some layout changes (move basin, reposition shower)
Bathroom size
Small / cloakroom (under 4 m²)
Tile coverage
Splashback / partial only
Week-by-week

Your timeline

Hover any bar for the trade detail · scroll horizontally on small screens
Phase
W-9
W-8
W-7
W-6
W-5
W-4
W-3
W-2
W-1
DAY 1
W1
W2
W3
Pre-construction · before day 1
Confirm scope, budget & layout
Order suite & shower (special-order items)
Order tiles
Confirm bathroom fitter / plumber start date
Book electrician for first & second fix
Book tiler
Confirm all materials delivered to site
Set up alternative washing arrangements
On site · from day 1
Strip-out & disposal
First-fix plumbing
First-fix electrics
Wall & floor prep, plastering, tanking
Tiling
Second-fix plumbing
Second-fix electrics
Decoration, silicone & snagging
On-site trade workRegulatory / professionalDecision deadline (you act)Contractor prep / lead time
On-site total
11–13 days

On-site only. Add ~8 weeks of pre-construction (planning, ordering, lead times) before day 1.

Estimate the cost of a bathroom renovation
Reality check

Where it tends to slip

If your project goes long, it’ll usually be one of these. Worth knowing before you sign anything.

01Damaged subfloor or rotten joists revealed during strip-out — adds 1–3 days for carpentry repair before tanking.
02Bespoke shower screens, vanity units or imported tiles arriving late (up to 8 weeks lead time on European bathware).
03Forgotten brassware/waste fittings stalling second-fix — couriers can't always next-day specialist parts.
04Tile adhesive needing extra cure time before grouting in cold weather (winter projects).
When you’re ready

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