You've made the decision - you're finally renovating that bathroom. You've got ideas pinned, fixtures chosen, and you're ready to get started.
But, there's one question that keeps coming up - "how long is this actually going to take?"
It's a fair question. You need to plan around it - whether that means using the ensuite for a few weeks, timing it around school holidays, or just mentally preparing for the disruption.
The timeline for a bathroom renovation varies depending on what you're doing, but understanding the process and what happens when can help you plan properly and know what to expect at each stage.
Here's what a typical bathroom renovation looks like from start to finish.
Day 1: it all starts with disconnection
The first people on-site are your plumber and electrician. They'll liaise with the builder or foreman to make sure everyone's on the same page, then safely disconnect the water and power to the bathroom.
This step is crucial - nothing else can happen until it's done. Once the bathroom is isolated, demolition can begin.
Day 1 - 2: out with the old
Demolition is messy, loud, and oddly satisfying. Your builder will strip out everything, including old fixtures, wall linings, and flooring.
How long this takes depends on the size of your bathroom and what's being removed. Although a small ensuite might be completed within a day, a larger family bathroom with floor-to-ceiling tiles will likely take a couple.
By the end of this stage, you'll be looking at bare studs and concrete - which can feel a bit confronting, but it's all part of the process.
Day 3: the rough-in work
Once demolition is complete, your plumber and electrician return to do the "rough-in" or "pre-pipe" work. This is where they install all the new plumbing and electrical infrastructure for your updated layout.
New shower in a different spot? Relocating the vanity? Adding extra power points? This is when it all gets set up behind the walls, ready for the final fixtures later.
It's not the glamorous part of the job, but it's where the functionality of your new bathroom gets built.
Days 4-5: building and lining the space
Now the builder steps back in to line the walls and prepare the bathroom for finishing. This might involve framing, moisture-resistant lining boards, and getting everything square and ready for the next trades.
At this point, you'll need to decide what route you're taking for the walls and shower area - and this decision has a big impact on your timeline.
The tiling vs. liner question (and why it matters for timing)
If you're going with an acrylic bath or shower liner, the installer can come in now and have it done relatively quickly. Then it's on to painting and vinyl flooring, and things keep moving at a steady pace.
But if you've chosen tiles - especially for walls, floors, and wet areas - the timeline stretches out significantly. That’s because once the walls are lined and ready, your tiler needs to waterproof the entire tiled area first. That waterproofing then needs to sit and cure for three full days before any tiles can go down.
Once it's cured, the tiler returns and begins the tiling process. For a small bathroom, allow four to five days for tiling. For a larger space, or if you're doing floor-to-ceiling tiles throughout, you're looking at two to three weeks just for tiling alone.
It's a much longer process - but the finished result is worth it if that's the look you're after.
Days 5-15+ (or longer): The finishing touches
Once the wet areas are sorted - whether that's acrylic liners or tiles - the rest of the finishes can happen, including painting, vinyl flooring (if you've gone that route), any final carpentry or trim work.
This stage varies hugely depending on your choices. A straightforward bathroom with painted walls and vinyl flooring will be at the shorter end of the timeline, whereas with a fully tiled, custom-designed space, you'll be well into the second or third week.
Final days: the final fix
With all the finishes in place, your plumber and electrician come back for the "final fix." This is when all your fixtures get installed and connected, including vanity, toilet, shower, taps, towel rails, lighting, and exhaust fan.
It's the stage where your bathroom finally starts to look like a bathroom again, rather than a construction site, which is always a relief!
Once that's done, the builder does a final tidy-up, including filling any gaps, touching up paint, making sure everything's clean and finished properly.
So, how long does it take?
The short answer … it depends.
A simple refresh with an acrylic liner, paint, and vinyl flooring might take one to two weeks from start to finish.
For a full renovation with extensive tiling, new plumbing, upgraded hot water, and custom finishes, you're looking at three weeks or more.
The key is knowing what to expect at each stage so you're not caught off guard by waterproofing cure times, tiling schedules, or waiting on trades to finish their part before the next one can start.
It's all about the co-ordination
The difference between a renovation that drags on for weeks and one that runs smoothly often comes down to one thing - coordination.
When trades turn up out of sequence, or someone's waiting around for another job to finish first, the whole timeline blows out - and you're left without a working bathroom far longer than necessary.
That's where having someone manage the project makes all the difference. A plumber who coordinates the entire job - scheduling trades, managing the workflow, and keeping everything moving in the right order - means your renovation stays on track, and you're not left chasing people or wondering what's happening next.
Ready to get started?
Now that you know what a bathroom renovation timeline looks like, you can plan properly - and go into the project with realistic expectations.
Want help managing your bathroom renovation from start to finish?
Get in touch with our team. We'll coordinate the entire project, keep everything on schedule, and make sure your dream bathroom becomes a reality - without the stress.
