Preparing your bathroom: what needs to be ready for the fitter?

Make sure the fitter can start on arrival: the bathroom is accessible, the products needed are there and the preparation matches the drawing. Agree beforehand which work you will do and which work the contractor will take on.

The work scheduled before fitting must be finished too. The order of a bathroom renovation shows which jobs depend on each other.

Go through the preparation together

Check about a week before work starts:

• The final drawing and dimensions.
• Who will strip out the bathroom and remove the rubble.
• The positions of water, drainage, electricity and ventilation connections.
• Delivery of tiles, sanitaryware and concealed fittings.
• Access, storage space and protection for floors and doors.
• The availability of water, electricity and work lighting.

Compare product codes with the order and check that the delivery is complete and undamaged. Keep small parts together in their packaging so you can find them during fitting. Tell the supplier about missing or incorrect products before work starts and discuss with the fitter what this means for the job.

Arrange access and transport

Agree who will carry heavy products upstairs and where the delivery driver can park. Set this out before delivery so both the delivery and fitting are planned around the same arrangements. For an apartment, also check the rules on lift use, working hours and waste.

If the renovation affects shared pipework, a load-bearing wall or other communal parts, check in advance which permissions you need. The property’s division documents help establish which parts are shared.

Allow for drying time

Levelling compound, tile adhesive and waterproofing each have their own drying times. Ask the contractor how long the chosen products need. Schedule the next job around that wait so the tiler does not arrive before the surface is ready.

Clear the work area

Remove personal belongings and keep pets away from the access route. Point out the main water shut-off valve and consumer unit. Share any known pipe routes.

If the contractor has to carry out unexpected preparation work, it can add costs or cause delays. Check what falls outside a bathroom quote and discuss any differences before work starts.

What to do now

• work through the checklist a week before the start and flag anything that will not be ready
• arrange access and parking before the first working day, rather than on the morning itself
• discuss with the tradespeople how much time they need between jobs, including drying time