Bathroom Renovation Order: From Strip-Out to Tiling

Tiling is the most visible part of a bathroom renovation, but the steps that matter most happen before a single tile goes down. A renovation that skips the right order can look finished and still cause a leak or a crack a few months later. The order below is a general framework; every bathroom is different, so it is worth confirming the details with your tradesman as the job goes.

Planning and measuring

Before strip-out starts, it helps to rough out the new layout: will fixtures move, is storage being added, what tile size will be used? Some of these decisions affect where the plumbing and wiring run, so settling them before strip-out keeps the job moving. Writing down measurements and the materials chosen also helps later, if something needs comparing or reordering.

Strip-out and preparation

The first step is removing the old tiles, wall covering and any old sanitary fittings. Strip-out is also when the real condition of the walls and floor becomes visible — cracks, old waterproofing, damp marks — and what turns up here can change the scope of the steps that follow. How rubble and waste will be removed, and how shared areas (in an apartment block or site) will be protected, should also be settled at this stage.

Checking the plumbing and wiring

Once strip-out is done, the water and electrical lines are checked visually and, for plumbing, with a pressure test. Any corrosion, leak or faulty connection in old pipework is dealt with now — going back in later means lifting tiles that are already laid. Any change to the electrical installation, including the cable and connector types used in a wet room, should be left to a licensed, qualified electrician; this is a safety point that should not be skipped.

Screed and falls

Once the strip-out and plumbing work are done, a screed is laid with a fall towards the drain. If the fall is not enough, water pools in the shower area and on the floor. The screed needs to dry for as long as the manufacturer or your tradesman recommends before waterproofing goes on.

Waterproofing: the step most often skipped

Once the screed is dry, and before any tiles go down, waterproofing is applied to the floor, the walls around the shower and the corners. It is the most critical and most commonly skipped step in a bathroom renovation. If it is not done correctly, water can work its way under the tiles into the screed or through to the ceiling below over time; this kind of leak is usually noticed only months later, by which point the tiles have to come up again. The waterproofing needs to be left for the drying time the manufacturer specifies, with corners and transitions (the wall-to-floor join, around the drain) sealed carefully. Once it has cured, checking whether the floor holds water for a while before tiling (a simple flood test) is a small but worthwhile step; doing this check together with your tradesman means you move on to the next stage with confidence.

Tiling and grout

Tiling starts once the waterproofing has cured and the flood test is done. Whether the walls or the floor are tiled first depends on the tradesman's method and the bathroom's layout; with larger-format tiles, checking that the surface is flat matters even more. The grout colour and width should be agreed in advance, as they affect both the look and the water resistance. Nothing should be allowed to load the grout lines until they have fully cured.

Fitting the fixtures and handover

The basin, toilet and shower mixer are fitted only once the tiles and grout are completely dry. A leak check after fitting — leaving it overnight and checking in the morning, for example — is a simple but worthwhile step before calling the job finished. Noting down the materials and brands used at handover makes things easier later if a part ever needs replacing.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a bathroom renovation take? It depends on the size of the bathroom, how much of the plumbing is being replaced and the waterproofing's drying time; giving a general figure would be misleading. It is better to ask your tradesman for a stage-by-stage estimate.

Can new tiles go over the old ones? In some cases, yes, but this skips checking the waterproofing underneath and adds weight to the floor. This should not be decided without knowing the condition of what's underneath (waterproofing, plumbing).

What happens if waterproofing is skipped? A leak may not show up right away; it can appear months later as a stain or damp downstairs. See damp and mould at home for more on this.

For our painting and renovation scope, including bathrooms and kitchens, see the painting and renovation page, and for plumbing work, see the plumbing page. If you are comparing quotations before a renovation, 8 things every renovation quotation should include can help.

This guide is for general information. Every home is different; for your own home, ask a company that has seen the work on site for a written quotation.