Renovate Your Bathroom
Step by Step
Turn your bathroom into something new — one phase at a time. No contractor needed for most of it.
Save this project — we'll guide you through each step
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Build your skills first
A full bathroom renovation uses the same skills as smaller guides — taps, tiling, filling, painting. Complete a few of those first and this project becomes manageable.
Browse starter guides →The 6 phases
Work through each phase in order. The sequence matters — plumbing before walls, walls before tiles.
2–5 weekends total
Strip Out
AvailableRemove old fittings, sealant, and accessories before anything else
Plumbing Prep
AvailableCap exposed pipes and sort all pipework before anything goes on the walls
Before you start this phase
Get everything for this phase →Prep bathroom plumbing
Isolate, disconnect, cap — before anything goes in
Save £100–300 today
Cap off exposed pipes
Restore water supply while tiling continues
Save £80–150 today
Use PTFE tape on connections
10 mins — the right way to seal threaded fittings
Save £40–80 today
Wall Prep
AvailableSmooth, fill, and prime all surfaces before any tiling or painting
Before you start this phase
Get everything for this phase →Prepare walls for tiling
Clean, fill, sand, and prime before any tiles go on
Save £150–400 today
Check wall is level and flat
10 mins — do this before priming
Fill holes and cracks
For deeper repairs before the prep coat
Save £50–100 today
Tiling
AvailableTile the shower area, splashback, or feature wall
Fitting
AvailableInstall new fixtures — shower head, toilet seat, towel rail, and accessories
Finishing
AvailableSeal, paint, and do final checks — the satisfying part
What you'll need
Aggregated across all 6 phases.
Materials to buy
Get everything in one go
Shop bathroom renovation tools and materials on Amazon
Shop this fix on Amazon →When to call a professional
Most of this project is DIY-able. But some work requires a qualified trades person — either by law or to avoid expensive hidden damage.
Moving pipework inside walls
First-fix plumbing (moving soil pipes, relocating supply pipes) must be done by a qualified plumber.
Electrical work in bathroom zones
Bathrooms are "special locations" under UK Part P. Lights, extractor fans, and sockets require a certified electrician.
Structural changes
Removing walls, moving doorways, or changing the floor structure — get a structural engineer or builder first.
Wet room or walk-in shower drainage
Tanking and specialist waterproofing is best done professionally to prevent hidden damp damage.
Not ready for this stage?
Find a vetted local professional for the parts that need one.
Ready to start?
Begin with Phase 1 — Strip Out
The hardest part is starting. Phase 1 takes half a day, uses basic tools, and costs nothing beyond a Stanley knife.