This is our advice section where we will try to guide you through the steps of actualy installing your bathroom suite and finishing the details. It is essential to be aware that it is illegal in most places for an unqualified person to make any alterations to water supplies and electrical installations. Any tips and advice given here are designed to help you understand what has to be done and to enable you to co-ordinate and work with the proffessionals. If you understand what is required it is easier for you to make preparations and to ensure that you have the right things in the correct place.
Advice and tips are provided here to assist those who like to do some of the actual work themselves, either to save on cost or just because they enjoy the work. There are may business who can provide a complete installation service, and many plumbers will have tilers and electricians who they regularly work with to provide a more complete service for those of you who do not want to get involved in the actual installation work. However it might help to have a little understanding of the installation process, and the order in which things should be done.
Re-fitting a bathroom can be broken into three basic stages:
1) Preparation. 2) Installation. 3) Finishing.
1) Planning and building control permissions.
Having finalised your plans you can begin the preparation stage. You will now know if there are any major construction works required, for example do any walls have to come down, do any doors have to move etc. and you will be able to ascertain if you require any permissions from your local authoriy. In the UK it is unlikely that any planning approval will be required for internal works, but Building Control approval will be needed if you intend knocking down any supporting walls or creating new door ways. Planning approval may also be required if the works will involve any external alterations, for example moving an external soil pipe. It is usually best to check with your local authorities first as they do have the power to compell you to undo any work which has been completed without the required approvals.
2) Plan the project timings.
Decide what you are able to do yourself and what you will require expert help with. It is usual to obtain a few prices from different plumbers, tilers etc. and it is wise to look for recommendations from their previous customers too. At this point you can arrange provisional dates for works to begin.
Order your fittings and sanitary ware along with tiles, flooring and any other materials required to complete the works taking note of quoted delivery times, and speak to any trades people you intend to use, trying to provisionally book them for when the job is to be done. Be very careful to leave some time between the delivery of the goods and the start time of the job as you will need to check everything as it arrives and may have to rectify mistakes or have damaged goods replaced.
When, and only when, you are sure that all you need is there and OK, confirm with the trades people the start date for the job.
3) The sequence of events.
There is an order in which works need to be carried out to ensure smooth progress. Naturally the first thing is to remove the old fittings, and then the existing walls and floor can be assessed to ascertain what work is required to make good the walls floor and ceiling. This may be nothing in the case of a recent property, but sometimes in older property all sorts of problems, such as damp, and rot in floor boards, can show up at this stage.
After the old fittings are removed any building alterations should be done.
Next the plumbing needs to be altered to suit the new design, concealing pipework under the floor and in the walls wherever possible to allow for a better finish, along with any electrical preparations which require cables laying under the floor or in the walls. Pipe work for a shower should be put in place now and if you are using a concealed (built-in) shower valve it should be installed at this stage. Also cables need to be provided if you intend to have underfloor heating.
With this stage complete, often called the first fix, the floor can be replaced and finished to the required standard, and the walls can be prepared for tiling or decoration as required. If work is required to the ceiling for new lights or an extractor, it should be done now as well, and if the ceiling is to be plastered, do it now before the new bathroom fittings go in.
Now the bath and shower tray need to be fitted and fixed in position. The bath taps and waste and the shower waste connectiuons need to be made up now and tested. Fill the bath with water to check for leaks and seal it to the wall with a suitable silicone sealant.
So with bath and shower tray in place, and the pipework ready for toilet and basin (and bidet), plus pipes for a radiator or towel warmer ready where required, and any electrical cables in place, the walls and floor can be tiled and grouted.
When tiling is finished the remaining sanitary ware can be installed, along with the shower door or bath screen, and the radiator/towel warmer. Also lighting can be completed and mirrors and accessories fitted.
Finally a good clean and polish up will reveal the fruits of your hard work, your beautiful new bathroom.