Bathroom Renovation Steps
A bathroom renovation works best as a sequence of inspectable stages. Confirm service positions and support before waterproofing, check the waterproofing before tile, then test drainage and fittings before handover.
The site sequence
- 01
Survey and protect
Record current services, leaks, access points and adjoining finishes. Agree isolation and temporary bathroom arrangements before removal. Protect retained areas and the route for waste.
- 02
Remove and reassess
Strip out the agreed work, then inspect backgrounds and concealed routes. Resolve damage or unexpected conditions before assuming the original design can be built unchanged.
- 03
Complete first fix
Coordinate waste, water, power, lighting, ventilation and supports for fixtures or screens. Verify relevant connections and tests while the work remains accessible.
- 04
Prepare and waterproof
Form the specified background and falls. Install the complete membrane system, inspect its junctions and finish the required testing before the tiling stage.
- 05
Tile and fit
Agree tile setting-out, drain cuts, thresholds and edges. Take supplier measurements at the stage appropriate to each screen or joinery item; coordinate fixings with concealed services and waterproofing.
- 06
Test and hand over
Check water connections, drainage, ventilation and the operation of every fixture. Complete snag corrections and supply care instructions, product records and maintenance access information.
Agree what must be checked before it is hidden
Photographs should identify the wall or floor and the final fixture location.
Confirm the selected product’s requirements before the background is closed.
Record acceptance before tile covers the installation.
Recheck against the supplier drawing before fabrication or final installation.
Make selections early, measure at the right stage
Select concealed valves, wall-hung fittings, drains and lighting early enough to coordinate their first-fix requirements. Late changes to these products can require reopening work. By contrast, some screens and fitted furniture need measurements from completed finishes. The supplier should identify that measurement stage in the programme.
Keep off-site ordering separate from site hold points. Samples and product research can proceed while the room is prepared, but an inspection or test should remain a visible gate. At handover, ask the installer to demonstrate isolation, drain access and removable service panels so routine maintenance is practical.