Domfordomdry and clean: a bathroom reference

An independent reference about bathrooms and the wet rooms of a home. We sell nothing and do no work; we are not connected with the former site on this domain. Trust electrics, gas and shared building pipes only to specialists.

Planning

Planning the work

A bathroom is small, but a renovation there is packed with work. Water, drains, ventilation and electrics all meet in one small room, and most of the important work ends up hidden under tile. That is why rushing costs so much here: a waterproofing mistake cannot be fixed without tearing off the finishes. A good plan starts with an inspection, moves on to decisions about the hidden work and ends with a careful sign-off.

Everything that will be hidden under tile gets checked and photographed before the tile goes on.

— Worth remembering

How this section works: we describe the general order of a wet-room renovation without dimensions, calculations or costs. Check the requirements for specific work and materials with your contractor, the manufacturers' instructions and the building management.

Stages of a bathroom renovation

  1. Inspect and measure

    Measure the walls, floor and doorway, and note where the pipes, drain and vent opening come out and where the outlets and switches are. Photograph the room and write down what bothers you now: too cramped, damp, slippery or dark.

  2. Decide on waterproofing

    Work out with your contractor where it is needed: across the whole floor, at the threshold, in the shower area, on the walls behind the tub and sink. Do not skimp on it: a leak through the floor to the neighbors costs far more than the protection.

  3. Decide on ventilation

    Check the draw and consider whether natural ventilation is keeping up. If the mirror stays foggy for a long time and the walls stay damp, talk to specialists about an exhaust fan and an air gap under the door. The building's shared ventilation duct is never blocked or altered.

  4. Pipes and electrics go to specialists

    Replacing supply lines, moving the drain and connecting fixtures is done by a plumber, and everything electrical by an electrician. Agree any work near the risers with the building management in advance. Your job is to explain what you need and where, and to make sure the specialists have coordinated with each other.

  5. Rough-in before finishes

    First demolition, pipes, wiring, leveling and waterproofing, then tile and ceiling, and only after that fixtures, furniture and lights. If the order is broken, fresh finishes risk being damaged by the next job.

  6. Sign-off

    Check that water on the floor flows to the floor drain or outlet instead of pooling, that grout lines are filled evenly with no gaps, and that the sealant forms a continuous bead. Turn on every faucet and look at the connections. Keep photos of the hidden work, the pipes, wiring and waterproofing before finishing: they will help if you ever need to track down a fault.

How to choose a pro: by the answers, not the bid

The most useful thing when choosing a contractor is a calm conversation before work begins. Ask how and where they will waterproof, what they will do if they find damp under the old tile, how they will check the floor slope and in what order the work will go. A confident specialist answers to the point and does not mind questions.

Ask to see photos of past jobs, ideally including the in-between stages and not just the finished tile. Find out who will handle the plumbing and electrics, the contractor or specialists they bring in, and how they will coordinate their work.

Be wary if you are told to skip waterproofing, to close up pipes without testing, or are talked out of photographing the hidden work. It is best to write down what was agreed about the scope and order of work so you have something to check against at the end.

Don't forget

  • Where towels and robes will hang, and whether you can reach them from the tub or shower.
  • Where the laundry hamper will go and where to keep spare paper and household supplies.
  • Whether you need a night light and a light over the mirror: discuss it with the electrician before the finishes.
  • Where a grab bar might be needed, even if not right now: reinforcing the wall in advance is easier.
  • How the door, vanity doors and washing machine door will open without getting in each other's way.
  • Where access to meters, valves and access panels will remain: they are never sealed shut.
  • Where to shower while the work is going on: arrange it with family or friends in advance.
  • How-to

    How to renew the sealant around a tub, clean a sink trap and refresh tile grout lines, calmly and following the manufacturer's instructions.

  • Tools

    What to keep on hand for inspections, small repairs and leaks: from a flashlight and a level to a bucket and rags.

  • Ideas

    Ideas for a combined bathroom, a small bathroom, a shower instead of a tub, a laundry nook, a bathroom for older people and kids, and a powder room.

What we rely on

  • Instructions from manufacturers of finishes and plumbing fixtures
  • Rules for using residential premises and guidance from building management
  • Domfordom editorial materials

Domfordom's advice is written in general terms and is based on the instructions of finish and plumbing fixture manufacturers and on guidance from building management. Check the label for sealant or grout drying times and for how to use a cleaning product, and leave electrics, gas and shared building pipes to specialists.