How Long Does It Take to Fit a Bathroom: A Complete Guide

How long does it take to fit a bathroom? The exact time depends on several factors. Usually, a bathroom fitting will take between one and three weeks. However, the size of your space, the design you have chosen and whether you are making quick cosmetic changes or a full bathroom renovation will change your timeline. Having a better understanding of the stages of your refit and the elements that affect your timeline will help you to plan and avoid delays. 

What’s the Typical Timeline for Fitting a Bathroom?

A straightforward bathroom installation will usually take between one to three weeks. A small ensuite project may be completed in one week, while larger projects or more complex designs could stretch to four weeks plus. If you are only carrying out small cosmetic changes, like painting the walls, swapping out your fixtures, the work may only take a few days.

If you are doing a bigger renovation, like installing a new suite, changing your plumbing or electrics, adding underfloor heating or retiling the space, then you can expect the work to take a lot longer. 

Key Factors That Affect Installation Time

When considering how long to fit a bathroom, here are some of the main factors that will affect your timeline: 

 

• Size and layout: 

Larger bathrooms or bathrooms that require a complete reconfiguration during the refit will take longer to complete. If you are moving the plumbing and electrics, then it will also add additional work and time.

• Scope of work: 

More complicated upgrades, such as adding underfloor heating, new pipework, or extensive filing, where you need the assistance of professionals, will lengthen your timeline.

• Condition of your current bathroom: 

If you have an older property, there may be hidden surprises you did not originally know about. When you start the bathroom refit project, you may discover damp behind tiles, corroded pipes, or old electrics that need to be fixed before the new work can commence.

• Materials and finishes: 

If your bathroom refit requires custom tiles, imported fixtures, or bespoke fittings, it can cause delays if delivery is slow or a specialist fitting is required. 

• Hiring professionals: 

For more detailed refits, usually a team of professionals is required, including plumbers, electricians, tilers and decorators.

 

A Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Bathroom Fitting Process

When working out the timeline for how long it takes to fit a bathroom, you need to consider a series of stages and that each stage will have its own timeline. Understanding this will give you a more realistic expectation of your schedule.

 

Step 1: Demolition and removal

 

The process of refitting a bathroom usually starts with stripping out the old fixtures, tiles and flooring. While this stage usually moves pretty quickly and can only take a couple of days, this is often the stage where hidden issues are revealed. Water damage, rotting floorboard, plumbing or electrical issues will all have to be repaired before you continue. 

 

Step 2: Plumbing and electrical work

 

Once your space is clear, plumbers and electricians can begin to install new pipework, drainage and wiring. This behind-the-scenes work generally takes a couple of days. If you are moving a bath, shower, or toilet to a new position, also allow extra time for rerouting. 

 

Step 3: Tiling, flooring, and wall finishes

 

Once your plumbing and wiring is completed, then it is time for tiling and flooring to be installed. This is often the most time-consuming of all the stages. Tiles need to be carefully laid and grout allowed to set. Depending on the size of the work area, this stage typically takes three to five days. 

 

Step 4: Installing fixtures and fittings

 

The next step is your bathroom suite, bath or walk-in bath, shower or walk-in shower, toilet and basin, are then fitted. This stage will typically take two to three days, but ensure you allow additional time for bespoke or custom fittings. This is where accessories such as mirrors, shelving and towel rails are also added. 

 

Step 5: Decorating and finishing touches

The final, and arguably most fun stage, is the decorating. Painting walls, sealing joints and tidying up all the details. This will usually take one to three days to account for paint drying and any further decorations to be installed. 

Altogether, you can see why all of these stages result in your bathroom refit project falling within the one to three week timeframe. 

Quick Cosmetic Updates vs. Full Renovations

It is important to remember that not every bathroom update will involve weeks of work. If you are making quick cosmetic updates like repainting walls, replacing taps, fitting a new shower screen or swapping your hardware out, that doesn't usually require any plumbing or electrical changes, which will drastically change your timeline.

In contrast, a full renovation will mean removing the old bathroom suite and starting fresh. If you are installing a walk-in shower, a walk-in bath or a wet room as part of a larger renovation, then you can expect a longer timeframe. These projects often include tiling, plumbing changes, and detailed finishing work, which will take longer, but will also completely transform your space. 

How to Avoid Delays During Bathroom Fitting

Some delays during a project like this will be unavoidable, but we do have some practical steps that you can take to keep your bathroom refit project moving smoothly:

 

• Order your materials ASAP: 

 

Tiles, baths, specialist fixtures and any custom items can have long lead times when you order them. By securing them in advance, you ensure your team is not being held up while waiting for materials to arrive. 

 

• Plan and communicate: 

 

Discuss your schedule with your installer at the start and make sure you keep open and regular communication to check progress and make sure your expectations are set.

 

• Trust professionals: 

 

As much as we love a DIY project, a full bathroom refit will need the experience of a professional. A trusted installer will help by coordinating the different trades needed and help to anticipate potential issues before they become problems. 

 

• Prepare the space: 

 

Clearing out your personal items and removing all obstructions will ensure easy access to the space to save valuable time.

By being prepared and working with a reliable team, you can minimise disruptions to your timeline and get your new bathroom fitted as quickly as possible. 

So to answer the question, how long does it take to fit a bathroom? For most homes, the answer is one to three weeks. Small changes and updates may just take a few days, while bespoke remodels can last a lot longer.

Understanding the steps involved in the process, as well as the factors that will influence those steps, will help you plan with confidence for your bathroom refit. At Premier Care in Bathing, our experienced specialists understand both installation and design.