This blog post aims to educate you on what it takes to renovate a bathroom and how long each step should take so you can set realistic time frames when planning your bathroom renovation.
In saying that, there is no better person to speak with than Adam Jenkinson from Banana Bathrooms.
Adam is the Director of Newcastle-based Bathroom Renovation company Banana Bathrooms. Banana Bathrooms was founded back in 2016 by Adam, who is a fully licensed Kitchen Bathroom Laundry Renovator and Plumber. In 2022 Adam and his team renovate over 100 bathrooms a year across the Newcastle region, so they come across all sorts of situations!
Adam says renovating a bathroom is a stressful and challenging renovation project. However, with proper preparation and research, the rewards for you and your family can be tremendous. The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in your home! Along with the kitchen, the bathroom is one of the most used, touched rooms in your house, so being without a fully-functioning bathroom for a long time will be more than just an inconvenience.
“At Banana Bathrooms, we tend to average around 10 to 15 days for a bathroom renovation, these averages don’t include planning, project quoting and picking out style features for your new bathroom etc.”
Adams says that these are general guides and averages, and each bathroom renovation has its own set of unique factors. Such as;
- The size of your bathroom,
- How much demolition there, are we knocking out walls, moving windows etc
- Are we using the existing plumbing lines
- The complexity and availability of chosen materials
- The availability of external tradespeople like waterproofing
- Unforeseen events
Before embarking on your bathroom renovation journey, it’s a great idea to understand what will happen when and how long each stage of your reno will take.
The five phases of a Bathroom Renovation:
- Planning & Development
- Demolition
- The groundwork for the new bathroom
- Fitting your new features
- The Finishing touches
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
This is the time you will research and choose a bathroom style, the fun part! You usually will get a tradesman/contractor to come in at this time and complete a site inspection where they will get to know the details of the project, style and functionality requirements and budget so they can prepare a quote.
Once a quote has been accepted, your bathroom contractor will draw up a construction contract that gets agreed upon by all parties. At this stage, you should set a strict project timetable. You will want to discuss who is responsible for picking and ordering your fixtures, such as tiles, tapware, vanities etc., so they arrive on site before the start date. You may also need to apply to your local council for a Development Application depending on the scale of your renovation.
Planning and researching your bathroom renovation can take anywhere from 1 to 6 months.
ADAM’S PRO TIP: Document your inspiration, and use platforms like Pinterest and Instagram to create mood boards, pins, and suppliers you can show your chosen bathroom contractor.
DEMOLITION
Demolition of your existing bathroom should usually happen quickly once your tradies start ripping in. Demolition generally only takes 1 to 2 days; time can vary depending though if you come across asbestos, which will need to be professionally removed. This can add an additional 1-2 days’ work.
If your bathroom has a timber stud construction with walls sheeted, they tend to be much quicker to work with than solid brick walls.
During the demolition stage, the installation of structural beams to support any changes to walls or new windows will also take place.
GROUNDWORK
Carpentry And Structural Works
Once your old bathroom has been stripped back to bare bones, installation of any new structural beams to support the change of walls or new windows can occur. Depending on the scope of work needed, allow 1-2 days’ work.
Plumbing / Electrical ‘Rough In’
After the bathroom has been structurally set out, we get our plumbers and electricians in to rough in their plumbing points in the walls and floor wastes and add in all the necessary wiring for the power points, exhaust fan, lighting etc. 1-2 days’ work.
Sheeting
Sheeting of the walls and ceiling is completed. 1-2 days’ work.
Tile Prep
A cement bedding known as a screed will be laid. The screed’s purpose is to give a smooth and level floor on which to lay your tiles on. The thickness of the screed allows it to take up normal variations in flatness and levelness of the base on which it is laid. The screed can take 24 to 48 hours to dry enough to be walked on however additives can be used to speed this process up. 1-2 days’ work.
Water Proofing
Arguably the most important part of your bathroom renovation is the waterproofing! Proper waterproofing in wet areas is vital – water leaking into the floor and wall spaces can easily rot structural timbers and damage a house. The worst thing about this kind of damage is that you won’t normally realise it’s happening until the worst damage has already been done.
A waterproof liquid rubber membrane is painted onto areas that are likely to see water to create a sealed area. Waterproofing takes at least 24 hours to completely dry, this can be at least a 2-day process for 2-3 coats.
ADAM’S PRO TIP: It’s critical that the waterproofed area not be walked on as a single pin prick from a bit of debris can render the entire waterproofing useless, resulting in all the tiles being ripped out and redone when the issue is discovered down the track.
FIT OFF
By this time, your bathroom renovation should really be taking shape! The final plumbing and electrical fit-off will give you a look at the final product. The plumber will fit off connect all your chosen pc items like your toilet, bath, basin, and tapware and finish off the drainage underfloor. The electrician will do similar and fit off the electrical items where they had already been roughed in. This would include installing the light fittings, switches, fans, and heated towel ladder. 1-2 days’ work.
FINAL TOUCHES
Now, all that’s left is to add the accessories like toilet roll holders, towel hooks etc. and to give the bathroom a good clean. You might want to read our article on How to Care for New Tiles at this point.
IMAGE: La Riviera Lavanda Tile
There you have it from one of Newcastle’s best bathroom renovators!
Adam and the Banana Bathrooms team love designing and building bathrooms using new and innovative products to make your dream a reality. They take the time to get to know you personally so they can provide and suggest the best products to achieve your dream bathroom. They’ll give you a personal and custom Bathroom Renovation to your exact needs and taste!
Don’t forget to check out a selection of our Bathroom Tiles, or visit our Warners Bay showroom for our full range with thousands of tiles on display.
