'A couple of weeks' is the answer most people are given, and it's often right, but it hides a lot of variation. A straightforward like-for-like swap can be finished in under a week, while a reconfigured bathroom with moved drainage and a full re-tile can run to three weeks or more.
This guide walks through a typical day by day sequence for a full refit, sets out the factors that stretch or compress that timeline, and covers the practical question most households actually care about: how to manage with one bathroom while the work is underway.
A typical full refit, day by day
| Day | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Protection laid down, old suite and tiling stripped out, waste removed |
| Day 2 | First fix plumbing: pipework altered or extended, drainage checked and adjusted |
| Day 3 | First fix electrics, extractor fan ducting run, boarding and plastering of walls |
| Day 4 to 5 | Floor preparation and tanking, membrane cured to manufacturer's timescale |
| Day 6 to 8 | Tiling walls and floor, allowing adhesive and grout curing time between stages |
| Day 9 | Second fix plumbing: bath, basin, WC and shower valve fitted and connected |
| Day 10 | Second fix electrics, silicone sealing, snagging and final clean |
What makes it faster
- Keeping the bath, WC and basin in their existing positions, so no drainage runs need extending
- A simple tile format such as a large format rectified tile with minimal cutting
- Suite, tiles and fittings ordered and on site before work starts, with no lead time delays mid-job
- A solid, level existing floor that doesn't need a levelling screed before tanking
- No unexpected timber rot or pipework replacement found on strip out
What makes it slower
- Moving the WC or shower to a new position, which usually means altering the soil pipe run and its gradient
- A raised or changed floor build up, for example adding underfloor heating, which needs curing time before tiling
- Small format or mosaic tiling, or a herringbone or brick-bond pattern, which takes considerably longer to lay and grout
- Bespoke or made-to-order items such as a specific shower enclosure size or a stone basin, which can have lead times of several weeks
- Discovering rot, outdated pipework or an uneven solid floor once the old suite and tiles are removed
Living with one bathroom during the works
If your home only has one bathroom, it's worth planning around the strip out and second fix days in particular, since those are when there's no working WC, basin or shower on site. Many households arrange to use a downstairs cloakroom if there is one, or make short term arrangements with family or a gym membership for showers.
A hand basin and portable toilet can sometimes be arranged for the duration of the works on request, which takes the edge off a full week without facilities. It's worth raising this at the quoting stage rather than partway through the job, so it can be planned into the schedule properly.
Sequencing around lead times
The single biggest avoidable delay on a bathroom refit is materials arriving late. Suites, shower enclosures, tiles and taps should ideally be chosen and ordered several weeks ahead of the start date, with delivery confirmed before the strip out begins. Starting a job before every item is on site risks the job stalling mid-way through, which is far more disruptive than a longer but uninterrupted schedule.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does a straightforward bathroom refit take?
- A like-for-like refit with no drainage changes and a simple tile format can typically be completed in around a week, working day by day through strip out, first fix, tanking, tiling and second fix.
- How much longer does moving the WC add to the job?
- Moving a WC or shower usually means altering the soil pipe run and checking the gradient, which can add several days to the schedule compared with keeping fittings in their existing positions.
- Can I use the bathroom at all during the works?
- Not for the middle stages of the job, since the old suite is removed before the new one goes in. Strip out and second fix are the days with no facilities, so it's worth planning alternative arrangements around those specifically.
- Does underfloor heating add much time to a refit?
- It adds curing and commissioning time before tiling can start, since the floor build up needs to cure to the manufacturer's stated timescale, so it's worth factoring extra days into the schedule if you're including it.
- What's the most common cause of delay on a bathroom job?
- Materials arriving late. Ordering the suite, tiles and any bespoke items well ahead of the start date avoids the job stalling partway through while waiting on a delivery.
Plan your bathroom timeline properly
Tell us about your bathroom and we'll give you a realistic day by day schedule before work starts.