It usually starts with a wish to renovate the bathroom over the weekend. What would you do? You would remove the old tub and get a vanity and expensive tiles. What comes next, though? You don’t know what happens next. The end result? Waterproofing gets affected due to rushing, tradesmen arrive at the wrong time, and a two-week refresh turns into a three-month project. At GTG Constructions, we understand that the bathroom renovation process is just as important to a successful build as the finished product. The correct bathroom renovation order of work is what makes a difference, whether you are planning a full structural overhaul or a cosmetic update.
Step-by-Step Bathroom Renovation Order
We have broken down the professional bathroom renovation process into clear bathroom renovation steps to help you understand exactly how licensed bathroom renovators manage an answer to: “What actually happens first?”
1. Planning, Design & Approvals
You can’t construct something you haven’t planned. The invisible work must be done before the tools are used. At this point, we choose materials, finalise layouts, and, most of all, check for compliance. In our experience, the main reason for budget blowouts is urgency at this stage.
The key steps are:
- Design the Layout: Confirm the locations of the bathroom, shower, and vanity. If you change your mind about moving the toilet after the plumbing work, you will have to pay extra costs.
- Product Selection: Place early orders for tiles and tapware to avoid supply delays.
- Approvals: The majority of cosmetic renovations do not require council approval, but structural changes or moving walls may.
2. Demolition & Strip-Out
The bathroom renovation sequence officially begins with this messy step, which takes 1 to 2 days. Professional demolition is the proper removal of outdated fixtures, tiles, and bedding without compromising the structural strength of your property. We strip everything down to the wall studs and concrete slab. It is also the time when we find unseen issues that need to be fixed before moving forward, including old water damage or rotten timber studs.
Pro tip: Dust control is our top priority here. It is a must to seal the doorway to prevent silica dust from coating the rest of your home.
3. Rough-In (Plumbing & Electrical)
The majority of homeowners ask: What comes first in a bathroom renovation, plumbing or tiling? The answer is always plumbing. The licensed plumber and electrician show up to rough in the services after the room has been stripped.
Why we install electrical before plaster bathroom work? The electrician requires access to the open wall cavities to run wires and install brackets for switches or lights. Once the rough-in is complete, the plasterers can sheet over it, leaving only the cable ends for fit-off later.
- Plumbing Work: It involves moving waste pipes, installing mixer bodies for showers, and running hot/cold lines.
- Electrical Work: It involves installing cables for new power outlets, LED mirrors, heated towel rails, and underfloor heating.
Why does the order matter? If you sheet the walls before this stage, you will have to peel it down.
4. Wall & Floor Preparation
You can’t tile over uneven walls. At this point, carpenters or plasterers apply water-resistant sheeting (such as Villaboard) on the walls. If you have a masonry home, we can coat the walls (with a cement, lime, or silicone mix) just so they are totally level. We apply the cement bedding (screed) on the floor. The screed creates the required fall (slope) so that water drains to the waste rather than pooling in the centre of your floor.
5. Waterproofing
If you ask any licensed bathroom renovators what the most important step is, they will say waterproofing. It is the final barrier that protects your home’s structure from rot. We apply a bond breaker to joints and paint a liquid membrane over the floors and walls (typically up to the ceiling in shower areas).
When is waterproofing done in the bathroom renovation process?
Waterproofing is done after the walls are sheeted and the floor screed is down, but before any tiling begins. In Australia, this must be done by a certified waterproofer to AS 3740 standards. We typically allow 2 to 3 days for this phase to allow multiple coats to cure completely.
6. Tiling and Grouting
Once the waterproofing certificate is signed off, the tiler will lay the floor and wall tiles using laser levels to ensure lines are straight.
This is a complex process that includes the following steps:
- Set Out: Plan cuts to avoid having tiny slivers of tile in the corners.
- Lay the Tiles: Apply glue to the tiles.
- Grout Tiles: Seal the gaps between the tiles.
- Silicone Seal: Seal all internal corners (grout cracks over time; silicone stretches).
7. Fit-Off (Installation)
The space is tiled, grouted, and thoroughly cleaned during this fit-off step. Now the tradespeople come for installations. The plumber connects the toilet, vanity basin, showerheads, and taps. An electrician installs light switches, power outlets, exhaust fans, and pendant lights. Finally, fitters set up shower screens, mirrors, and towel rails.
Pro Tip: In our experience, it is often safer to measure the shower screen after it has been tiled (a check measure) so that the glass fits the exact space.
8. Final Clean & Inspection
The final phase in the bathroom renovation process is the handover. We thoroughly clean to remove grout haze and construction dust. We then walk you through each detail to check that the taps do not drip and the finish is spotless.
Why We Do the Trade Order This Way
A professional bathroom renovation sequence is strictly followed for a number of reasons.
Why Plumbing Comes Before Tiling
Tiles are a permanent surface finish. If a pipe is in the wrong place or leaks, repairing it requires breaking your brand-new tiles. We make sure the infrastructure is sound and in the proper spot by roughing in the plumbing before covering it up.
Why Waterproofing is a Stop Work Point
Waterproofing is a chemical procedure that requires time to cure (dry). You cannot walk or tile over it when it is wet. We strictly stick to a timetable of 2 to 3 days during this phase. If you rush this procedure to save time, you risk voiding your warranty and causing leaks the following year.
Why Electrical Work Must Be Completed Early
Bathroom electrical work must be completed before plastering. Electricians require full access to the timber studs to drill holes and pull cables. Once the plasterboard is installed, running new cables becomes complex, costly, and messy.
Bathroom Renovation Timeline: How Long Does It Take?
How long does a standard bathroom renovation take? In Australia, you should expect to wait 3 to 4 weeks for a standard-sized bathroom.
- Week 1: Demolition, plumbing/electrical rough-ins, and wall sheeting.
- Week 2: Cement Bedding (Screeding) and Waterproofing (Cure Time Required).
- Week 3: Tiling and grouting (a time-consuming task).
- Week 4: Fit-off fixtures, shower screens, painting, and cleaning.
What factors cause delays?
- Custom Glass: Site operations may stop for five to ten days while the product is being manufactured.
- Drying Times: Screed and waterproofing take longer to dry in colder or more humid climates.
If you try to fit bathroom renovation stages into 10 days, you will most likely take shortcuts, particularly with waterproofing drying durations.
The Final 1% for the Right Finish
A number of checklists cover the basics, but there are two steps that are sometimes overlooked on the bathroom renovation checklist:
- The Check Measure: We measure the physical space after the walls have been lined or tiled.
- Compliance Certificates: At the end of the job, you should be given certificates for plumbing, electrical, and waterproofing. If you do not have these, your house insurance may be invalid.
Partner with the Bathroom Renovation Experts
Do you want to begin the renovation with a team that knows the process inside and out? If you want a service provider that will oversee the entire order of bathroom renovation with expertise and to the highest Australian standards, contact GTG Constructions now. We verify that every stage is completed by licensed specialists to deliver a bathroom that will stand the test of time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct order of work for a bathroom renovation?
The correct bathroom renovation step by step order is planning, demolition, rough-in (plumbing/electrical), wall sheeting, waterproofing, tiling, fit-off (installing fixtures), and final cleaning before handover.
What comes first in a bathroom renovation, plumbing or tiling?
The plumbing rough-in always comes first. The pipes must be installed in the walls and floor before any sheeting or waterproofing takes place. The final plumbing fit-off (connecting taps and toilets) happens after the tiling is complete.
How long does a standard bathroom renovation take?
A professional bathroom renovation typically takes between 3 and 4 weeks. It allows for demolition, trade coordination and sufficient drying times for waterproofing membranes and tile adhesives, which cannot be rushed without compromising the quality of the build.
When is waterproofing done in the bathroom renovation process?
Waterproofing is done after the demolition, plumbing rough-in, and wall sheeting are complete, but strictly before any tiles are laid. It is a critical stage that creates a sealed barrier to protect your home’s structure from water damage.
