Most full bathroom refits take between two and three weeks from rip-out to final clean. The honest answer, though, is that it depends on the size of the room, the state of what is behind the old tiles, and how much you are changing. Here is what actually happens week by week, and what tends to push a job over schedule.
For a straightforward like for like swap, where the bath, basin and toilet stay in the same positions, you are usually looking at 5 to 10 working days. A full refit with new tiling floor to ceiling, a shower enclosure and an updated layout typically runs 10 to 15 working days. If you are moving the toilet or shower to a different wall, which means rerouting soil and waste pipes, allow 3 to 4 weeks.
These figures assume the fitter is on site most days and materials arrived before work started. A small ensuite can sometimes be quicker, but cramped rooms are fiddly to work in, so do not assume half the size means half the time.
The first two or three days are rip-out and first fix. The old suite and tiles come out, and this is when any surprises appear, such as rotten floorboards under an old bath or corroded pipework. First fix plumbing and any electrical work for showers, extractor fans or lighting happens next, followed by plasterboarding or re-boarding walls where needed.
The middle stretch is preparation and tiling. Plaster and tile adhesive both need proper drying time, and rushing this stage is the most common cause of tiles failing later. Tiling a full bathroom typically takes 3 to 5 days including grouting. The final few days cover second fix, meaning the new suite, shower screen, flooring and sealant, then decoration and snagging.
The biggest single cause of delay is hidden problems uncovered during rip-out. Around Lee-on-the-Solent and Gosport a lot of housing stock dates from the 1930s to the 1960s, and it is common to find old lead or steel pipework, damp behind shower walls, or floors that need replacing before anything new goes in. A day or two of contingency in the schedule is sensible, not pessimistic.
Material lead times matter more than people expect. Standard suites are usually available within a week, but made to order vanity units, specific tiles and some shower enclosures can take 3 to 6 weeks to arrive. A good fitter will not start the rip-out until everything is on site, because a half finished bathroom waiting on a delivery helps nobody. Drying times are the other fixed constraint: tanking systems, adhesive and silicone all have minimum cure times that cannot be shortened, whatever the deadline.
Decisions made early are the cheapest way to save time. Choose your tiles, suite and fittings before work is booked in, and try to resist changing your mind mid job, because swapped tiles or a different bath can add days and restocking costs.
Ask your fitter how they handle the days when the bathroom is out of action. On most of our jobs the toilet is usable again by the end of each day wherever possible, and a family home with one bathroom needs that planned properly. Agree in advance who is supplying what, and confirm start and finish dates in writing along with what happens if extra work is uncovered.
Yes, if it is a like for like swap with no layout changes, limited tiling and no hidden problems. A full refit in under a week usually means corners are being cut, most often on drying times.
Usually only for short periods. Most fitters reconnect the toilet at the end of each working day, so mention it when you get quotes if you only have one bathroom.
Slightly. Adhesive, plaster and sealant cure more slowly in cold, damp conditions, so winter jobs in unheated rooms can need an extra day or two. Booking lead times also tend to be longer in spring and autumn.
Call, email or WhatsApp a few photos of the job. We will come back to you with an honest opinion and a clear price.
Lee-on-the-Solent, Gosport, Stubbington, Hill Head, Fareham, Portchester, Warsash and along the Solent coast.