Most bathroom installations take around 7 days of labour, depending on the size, layout and complexity of the room, and typically cost £3,000 to £5,000. At LAB Plumbing & Heating, we handle the strip-out, all of the plumbing and the fitting of your new suite, and manage our own subcontractors for tiling, plastering, electrics and joinery or flooring. Decorating is not included.
A new bathroom is one of those jobs most people only go through once or twice, so it is natural to wonder how long you will be without a working room. The honest answer is that most bathroom refurbishments take around 7 days of labour, but the size of the room, the layout you choose and how much needs to change behind the walls all make a difference. Here is how we plan a bathroom installation, what happens at each stage, and what can make the job shorter or longer.
The Typical Timescale
For a standard family bathroom or shower room, allow around 7 days of labour from the first day of strip-out to the finished room. That covers removing the old suite, any changes to pipework and wastes, fitting the new bath or shower, vanity unit and toilet, and the finishing work once the walls and floor are done.
A small cloakroom with a toilet and basin can be quicker. A larger room, a change of layout or a full walk-in shower with new wall finishes can take a little longer. You get a clear timescale with your quote, so you know what to expect before anything is booked in.
What Affects How Long It Takes
No two bathrooms are the same. These are the main things that change the length of a job:
- Size of the room: More floor and wall area means more preparation, more tiling or panelling and more finishing time.
- Layout changes: Keeping the bath, toilet and basin in roughly the same places is quicker. Moving them means new pipework and waste runs, which adds time.
- Showers and wet areas: A walk-in shower or a shower over the bath needs careful preparation so it stays watertight for years.
- Wall and floor finishes: Large-format tiles, panelling and patterned floors each need different amounts of time to lay and finish properly.
- Other trades: Electrics, plastering, tiling and flooring all have to fit around the plumbing, so the order of work matters.
- Product availability: Having the suite, tiles and fittings on site before the start date keeps the job moving with no waiting around.
Planning a New Bathroom?
Call us on 07438 818496 for a free quote on bathroom installation across Chester-le-Street, Durham, Newcastle and the North East.
Call for a Free QuoteWhat Happens During the Installation
Every bathroom follows the same basic order of work. We look after the strip-out, all of the plumbing and the fitting of your new suite ourselves.
- Strip-out: The old bathroom is stripped out, with the water isolated for as short a time as possible.
- First-fix plumbing: New supply pipes and wastes are run to where the bath, shower, basin and toilet will sit, and the connections are checked for leaks before the walls are closed up.
- Walls and floors: Surfaces are prepared and finished, whether that is tiling, panelling or a new floor.
- Second fix: The bath or shower, vanity unit, toilet, taps and radiator or towel rail are fitted and connected.
- Testing and handover: Every connection is checked for leaks and the finished room is handed back to you.
One Point of Contact for the Other Trades
Most bathrooms need more than a plumber. We manage the job with our own subcontractors for tiling, plastering, electrics and joinery or flooring, so you are not left chasing different people or working out who comes in next. You have one point of contact from start to finish. Decorating is not included, so the room is left ready for you or your decorator.
Customers often mention how neat the work is and how well Lewis keeps them updated. Clear communication means fewer surprises along the way.
How Much Does a Bathroom Installation Cost?
Most bathroom installations from LAB Plumbing & Heating cost between £3,000 and £5,000. Where your room sits in that range depends on the same things that affect the timescale: the size, the layout and how much work is involved.
You get a clear scope and price before any work begins. If you are still choosing your suite and finishes, we are happy to talk through what will work best in your space. You can find more detail on our bathroom installation page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most bathroom installations take around 7 days of labour. Smaller rooms can be quicker, while larger rooms or a change of layout can take a little longer. You are given a timescale with your quote before any work is booked in.
The water is isolated during parts of the strip-out and plumbing work, but we keep this to as short a time as possible. Ask at the quote stage how the work will be staged.
Yes. We do the strip-out, all the plumbing and the fitting of the suite ourselves, and manage our own subcontractors for tiling, plastering, electrics and joinery or flooring. You have one point of contact.
Bathroom installations typically cost £3,000 to £5,000, depending on the size, layout and complexity of the room. You get a clear price and scope before work begins.
