Stage one: survey and decisions before anything is ordered
A proper survey checks floor construction (timber joists or solid concrete), the position of the soil stack, existing pipe runs, wall types and current ventilation. This determines what layout changes are realistic without expensive structural work.
This is also when you decide the big things that are hard to change later: bath or shower or both, WC position relative to the soil stack, and whether you want a walk-in shower area which needs floor falls formed from scratch.
Order tiles, sanitaryware and the shower enclosure at this stage, not after the strip-out starts. Lead times on some tile ranges and bespoke shower doors run four to eight weeks, and a stalled site costs more than an early deposit.
Stage two: strip-out and first-fix
Everything comes out down to bare walls and floor: old suite, old tiles, old adhesive bed where it will not key properly with the new one. This is when hidden problems surface, such as a soft floor from a historic leak or a waste pipe with the wrong fall.
First-fix plumbing moves pipework to the new positions and pressure-tests it before anything is covered. First-fix electrics adds or moves the extractor fan circuit, shaver socket and any LED zone-rated downlights, all on circuits suitable for bathroom zones.
Stud walls, boxing for cisterns, and any minor building work (forming a shower niche, building a half-height wall) happen here, before waterproofing goes on.
Stage three: waterproofing and tiling
Tile backer board or moisture-resistant plasterboard goes up first, taped and sealed at joints. Shower areas get a tanking membrane or liquid waterproofing system carried up the walls to at least 1800mm and across the whole floor, not just the shower tray footprint.
Floor tiling generally goes down first so wall tiles can sit on top of it, using a flexible C2TE S1 adhesive suited to underfloor heating if fitted. Wall tiling follows, set out from a level datum line rather than from an existing skirting or door, which is rarely square.
Grout choice matters here too: CG2 grout for wet areas resists staining and biological growth far better than a standard CG1 grout, and colour should be chosen alongside the tile, not as an afterthought.
Each layer needs its stated curing time before the next begins. Tanking, tile adhesive, grout and silicone cannot be hurried simply by adding more people to the job, so the programme must allow those waits in the correct order.
Stage four: second-fix and finishing
Sanitaryware goes in: WC, basin, bath or shower tray, taps, shower valve, extractor grille, light fittings. Everything gets tested for leaks and function before the final finishing touches.
Silicone sealant, not grout, goes into all movement joints: where floor meets wall, around the bath, around the tray. This is a common corner cut on cheap jobs and the first place a bathroom fails.
A snagging walk-through with the customer before the team leaves catches small things (a slightly proud tile edge, a sticky drawer) while they are still quick to fix.
Common pitfalls that derail a refurbishment
Most refurbishment delays come from one of the rows above. A thorough survey and an early materials order remove the majority of the risk before work even starts.
| Pitfall | Why it happens | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Materials not on site when trades arrive | Ordered too late or wrong lead time checked | Order tiles, sanitaryware and enclosure at survey stage |
| Extractor too small for the room | Sized by habit, not by room volume | Size to the room's air changes, not a default unit |
| Floor not level before tiling | Old adhesive bed left in place | Full strip-out to substrate, self-levelling compound where needed |
| Underestimated waste run changes | Assumed the WC could move freely | Survey checks the soil stack position before layout is fixed |
Realistic budgeting
For the Reading, Wokingham, Bracknell and Basingstoke area, a full refurbishment of a standard family bathroom typically runs from around £4,500 for a straightforward like-for-like swap to £13,000 or more for a reconfigured layout with a walk-in shower and premium tiling. These are planning figures only; your fixed price comes from a free survey once your layout and specification are confirmed.
Build in a contingency of around 10% for anything a strip-out might reveal, particularly in older properties with unknown pipework history.
Where to read next
Questions we get asked most
How long does a full bathroom refurbishment take?
A standard family bathroom typically takes one to two weeks from strip-out to finished sealant, depending on whether the layout is changing and whether any structural work is needed.
Do I need to move out during the work?
Most customers stay in the house and use another bathroom if one is available. There will be periods of noise and no water to that bathroom, which we agree with you in advance.
Can I choose my own tiles and sanitaryware?
Yes, and we would encourage it. We can also advise on ranges we know fit well and have good lead times, but the choice is yours.
What happens if you find a problem once the old suite is out?
We stop and talk to you before proceeding. Genuine unknowns like historic leak damage are priced as a separate item once we can see the extent of it.
Is the quote fixed or does it change as work progresses?
Our written quotes are fixed based on the survey and agreed specification. It only changes if you ask for something additional or a genuine unforeseen issue is found and agreed with you first.