Embarking on a bathroom renovation is an exciting journey, and knowing what to expect along the way can help ease any stress. From the initial demolition to the final touches, understanding each phase of the project ensures you're fully prepared and confident throughout the process. In this blog post, we’ll explain what the builder will be doing at each stage, so you know exactly how your space will come together. By the end, you’ll have a clear idea of how the transformation unfolds and what to anticipate along the way:
1 | Demolition
The first step to creating your new space will be demolition. As well as the existing fittings and fixtures, all the surfaces from your walls, floors, and often your ceiling, are removed as well. This creates a completely blank canvas for your builder to build on. This stage is loud and very messy, so it is important that your builder puts down protective sheets on the floor and around door ways before any demolition is completed. If you live in an older home, this is also where you might find some unexpected surprises, like asbestos or structural beams that are in the way. This is why we always suggest having a contingency budget.
2 | Carpentry, Rough-in, and Plaster
After demolition has been completed, the walls, floors and ceilings will need to be straightened. The walls also need to be prepared for things like niches, ledges and recessed shaving cabinets. Noggins, which are the horizontal pieces of timber, are then put into place for things like towel rails to be mounted onto at the very end.
Another thing that happens at this stage is rough-in. This is where everything gets installed into the wall, ceiling and floor before your plaster goes on. This includes plumbing items like water points, wall mixers and in wall cisterns, as well as electrical items like power points and lights. It is therefore very important that your main plumbing fixtures - especially those going into the wall - are on site before this stage begins.
Lastly, insulation is added where needed, floors are covered and all walls and ceilings are plastered.
3 | Waterproofing, Screed and Tiling
The next stage is waterproofing and this is one of the most important steps, to ensure that the structure below the tiles is safe from water, and there is no chance of mold and mildew. Waterproofing usually takes a few days as it is done in a number of coats. If you are having a walk-in shower with a tiled base, then the shape of the base with the fall towards the drain is also created during this time. This is usually done using a material called screed, which is a cement and sand mixture.
Once the waterproofing and screed are complete, it's time to tile! We recommend having a meeting on site with the tiler before the tiling begins to confirm things like tile locations, layouts and patterns, grout colours, trim colours and if any edges are to be mitred. We always recommend ordering tiles just before the tiling stage begins, as ordering them too early could mean there is no more of the same batch left should you need any more tiles.
4 | Fit-off and final installs
Once your bathroom is waterproofed and tiled, then it's a quick race to the end. Fit-off is then completed, and this is when the plumber and electrician come back to install everything that they roughed-in at the start, including all your tapware, basins, toilets, baths, lights, power points and switches. The carpenter will also fit-off things like towel rails and hooks, toilet roll holders and door stops.
The shower screen will also need to be installed now that the tiles are finished. If you are having a custom shower screen, then the glazier will need to come as soon as tiles are down to measure. It may take a few weeks for the shower screen to be ready for install, so keep this in mind as well. This is also the stage where joinery is installed, however, please note that some builders may prefer to do this before the walls are tiled. You really get to see the bathroom come to life at this stage!
5 | Painting and caulking
The last finishing touches once everything is installed is usually painting and caulking. Caulking is when the small gap created by two surfaces that meeting together is filled with a line of caulk (like a silicone) to keep water and dust out of that gap. This is common where two tiled area meet, like a floor and wall, or a wall and wall, and when you have a fixture like a vanity/bath/toilet against a wall, or when a vanity benchtop meets the splashback.
And now your bathroom is finished and ready to go! Please make sure to inspect that everything looks and functions correctly before the builder leaves.
I hope these have been helpful! If you want to find out more about how we can help you with your project, get in contact with us below:
Have a wonderful week!
Nina xx
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