We all love hotel bathrooms and dream of a spa-like experience in our own home. The beauty of dreams is that you never compromise.  But if you haven’t considered the checklist below (and you’ve already chipped off the first tile!), there is a risk you will be over-time, over-budget and under-whelmed.

Did you know that a bathroom takes 4 – 8 weeks to renovate, but the design and ordering process can take up to an additional 3 months?

Bathrooms are usually the smallest area in the house and every millimetre counts. So keeping lead times in mind is essential. Lack of planning can mean you spend the next 10 years stepping into your shower sideways or staring at tiles that you were never really in love with.

Bathroom renovation // Build time 4 – 8 weeks

  • Ordering fittings and fixtures: 1 – 3 months (based on lead times below)
  • Demolition: 2 – 3 days
  • Make good (re-plaster walls, prepare floors): 2 – 4 days
  • Rough in (run electrical and plumbing to new locations): 1 – 2 days •Water proof (3 coats with 24hr drying time between coats): 3 days
  • Tiling (laying tiles): 3 – 5 days depending on type and size of tiles and area covered
  • Tile finishing (grouting and siliconing): 2 days •Painting: 1 – 2 days
  • Shower screen installation: 1 day
  • Accessories fit off (vanity, mirror, towel rails, etc installation): 1 – 2 days
  • Electrical fit off: 1 day
  • Plumbing fit off: 1 – 2 days

Bathroom Lead Times

Tapware: 1 – 10 weeks
The jewellery of the bathroom. Finish and style options are endless, however lead times can vary. Don’t leave this to the last minute!

Tiles: 1 – 12 weeks
Do you want classic white subway tiles? Tiles handmade in Spain? Or marble from Italy? Some suppliers carry tile stock, but if you are looking for something specific, expect a significant lead-time. Do not start renovation unless your tiles have arrived!

Shower screen: 1 – 3 weeks
Like tiles and tapware, the options for shower screens are countless. Whether you opt for an off-the-shelf shower screen or a custom frameless screen, it is important to order as soon as possible. But remember, custom screens can’t be ordered until the bathroom is tiled.

Toilets/basins/baths: 1 – 12 weeks
Will your toilet will have an in-wall cistern? Will your basin be wall-mounted? What is your ideal bath made out of? These are all engineering decisions that need to be made prior to the “make good” stage. It is vital that your bathroom furniture is on site during the “rough in”. Changes after the “water proofing” stage are extremely difficult and costly, and can result in long delays.

Joinery: 1 – 12 weeks
Vanities, mirrors and cabinets can be off-the-shelf or custom, which means that lead times can vary greatly. Knobs and cabinet-pulls can also add to lead times.

Lighting: 1 – 10 weeks
In a bathroom, lighting is critical. Think about bright task lighting for getting ready, dimmed lighting for soaking in the bath and feature lighting to make it pop.