Full strip-out and refit
Replacing an existing bathroom is the most common job we do. Strip out the old suite, remove the tiles and boxing, check the floor and walls underneath, re-route pipework where needed, and fit everything new. Done properly, it takes 5 to 10 working days depending on the scope.
The strip-out is where surprises happen. Old bathrooms in Dorset and Devon properties often hide soft spots in the floor, residual damp behind tile adhesive, or pipework that's been boxed in and forgotten about for thirty years. We deal with what we find rather than tiling over it and hoping.
Pipework re-routing is standard on most renovations: moving a bath to a different wall, adding a separate shower enclosure, replacing an over-bath shower with a proper valve. None of this is unusual. It's factored into the survey and the quote.
What the survey covers
Before we quote, we visit and look at the existing room: floor construction, current pipework positions, waste run access, wall condition, and whether the ventilation is adequate. It's easy to produce a quote from photos; it's not easy to avoid surprises without actually seeing the room.
We're honest about what we find. An unlevel floor might need a screed before tiling. A damp patch might need treatment before new boarding goes up. A poor existing waste run might need re-routing for the new layout to work. If any of that applies, you'll know before we start, not mid-job.
For the tiling side of the renovation, see our bathroom tiling page. For anyone considering a shower-only room instead, see wet room installation. And for situations where the pipework needs significant updating, plumbing installation covers that in more detail.
Timeline and disruption
A standard bathroom renovation in a single-bathroom house means you'll be without a bathroom for around a week. That's not ideal but it's manageable with planning. We try to get the toilet reconnected quickly so you're not entirely without facilities.
We keep the site clean, protect floors in the access routes, and don't leave jobs half-done overnight. You'll have a clear programme of work before we start, and we'll flag any changes to that as soon as we know about them.
What our customers say
"Turned up on time and, with his apprentice, completed the job in one day. Extremely tidy and courteous."
Taunton · Checkatrade"A neat and tidy job well done. Oakley listened to what we wanted and offered solutions to achieve it. Polite, pleasant, courteous and communicated at all times. Would recommend without reservation."
Bridport · Checkatrade