A bathroom refit isn't a sequence of independent jobs done in any order. The plumbing dictates the timeline, the wall positions, the floor heights, and the tiling layout — every other trade works around what the plumber has set up. Get the plumbing planned right and the rest of the project flows. Get it wrong and you're moving pipework after the tiles are on, lifting the floor after the underfloor heating has been laid, or finding the basin sits 30mm too low for the planned mirror.
Clive's standard approach: design and survey first, plumbing first-fix before any wall finishes go in, full pressure test (the same approach used for leak detection and repair) before any tile or plaster covers pipework, second-fix of fittings only after the wall and floor finishes are complete, snagging and final test after everything is done. Each stage is signed off before the next trade comes in.
That means the plumbing is right when it's hidden, right when it's shown, and right when the bathroom's been used for a few weeks. Not just ‘working when we left’ — actually right.
A complete bathroom installation is a 5–10 day job depending on size, complexity, and how much demolition is needed. Here's how Clive runs through a typical Ealing bathroom refit, stage by stage.
Stage 1: Survey and design. Site visit to measure up — every dimension, every existing service location (incoming hot, cold, waste, electrics, ventilation), every structural constraint (load-bearing walls, joist directions, ceiling heights). Discussion of layout options. Decisions on every fixture (bath/shower/both, separate WC or combined, basin type, taps, towel rail, storage). Written quote within 48 hours.
Stage 2: Strip-out. Old suite removed and disposed of. Tiles broken back to substrate. Old pipework chased out where it’s being relocated. Skip arranged for waste. Property protected with dust sheets through hallways and stairs.
Stage 3: First-fix plumbing. New hot, cold and waste pipework installed to the agreed fixture positions. Floor structure inspected (timber properties — joist bracing if needed) and any structural reinforcement done. Underfloor heating loops laid if specified. Backing boards or ply boards fitted where wall-hung fixtures will go (basins, toilets, vanity units). Pressure test on all pipework.
Stage 4: Plastering and screeding. Walls plastered or boarded back over the new pipework runs. Floor screeded over underfloor heating if fitted. All wet surfaces given time to dry properly before tiling.
Stage 5: Tiling. Floor tiles laid first, then walls. Tiler works to Clive's marked-out fixture positions so taps and waste outlets sit cleanly within the tile grid rather than awkwardly on grout lines. Sealant applied where tiles meet bath/shower tray.
Stage 6: Second-fix plumbing. Bath, shower tray, basin, toilet, taps, towel rail all fitted to the new pipework. Wastes connected to the main drainage stack. Showers commissioned and pressure-tested. Toilet flush valves set. Bath/shower silicone sealing applied (different from the tiler's grout — Clive uses sanitary-grade silicone with mildew inhibitor).
Stage 7: Electrics second-fix. Lighting circuits, extractor fan, shaver point, mirror demister all wired in by an NICEIC-registered electrician. Underfloor heating thermostat connected if applicable. Electrical certification provided.
Stage 8: Final testing and snagging. Every fixture run through full operational test — taps to full flow, showers to full pressure, toilets flushed multiple times, drains checked clear, no leaks under load. 24-hour soak test before final sign-off — system left pressurised overnight to catch any slow leak that wouldn't show up immediately.
Stage 9: Handover. Walk-through with you. Manuals and warranties for every fixture handed over. Cleaning advice for new tiles and grout. Snagging period (typically 2 weeks) where any small adjustments are returned for at no charge.
Bath, shower, or both? In a typical Ealing terrace family bathroom, ‘both’ usually means a bath with an over-bath shower — fine if the bath is wide enough (1700mm or more) and the shower screen is rigid. ‘Both as separate units’ needs a bigger room (3.5m² minimum) and means careful layout to avoid cramped circulation. ‘Shower only’ suits en-suites and saves significant floor space.
Wall-hung or freestanding? Wall-hung toilets and basins are cleaner-looking and easier to clean under, but require a concealed cistern frame in the wall behind (Geberit, Grohe Rapid, etc) — adds £180–£280 to the install. Freestanding suites are simpler, cheaper, and easier to service when something goes wrong.
Mixer taps or pillar taps? Mixers offer better hot/cold blending and one-handed use, but need both hot and cold supplies meeting at the tap. Pillar taps (separate hot and cold) are simpler, cheaper, more traditional, and better suited to older Ealing properties with mismatched mains/stored supplies (cold from mains, hot from a vented cylinder).
Underfloor heating? Worth it on a refit if the floor is being lifted anyway — adds £450–£900 to the project, transforms how the bathroom feels in winter, and removes the need for a wall-mounted radiator (frees up wall space). Wet UFH connects to the central heating system; electric UFH has its own thermostat and sits under tiles.
Heated towel rail? Yes — almost always. Adds £180–£320 to the project, gives drying space for towels, replaces the wall-mounted radiator if needed. Choose between traditional ladder rails or modern designer panel rails.
Mains-pressure shower or pumped? Mains-pressure (combi boiler or unvented cylinder) gives a strong predictable shower from a thermostatic mixer — Clive's default recommendation. Pumped showers are needed where the property has a vented (gravity-fed) hot water supply with low head — adds £180–£350 for the pump and complicates future maintenance.
Plenty of Ealing bathrooms just need a single fixture upgraded rather than the whole room ripped out. Clive does these as standalone jobs — no minimum charge, no ‘you need a full refit’ pressure.
Toilet replacement — pan, cistern and seat swapped, soil pipe connection updated if needed, new isolator on the supply. £180–£260 fitted including disposal of the old unit.
Basin replacement — old basin off, new one fitted, taps re-connected or replaced, waste re-plumbed. £140–£240 depending on whether taps are reused.
Tap replacement — old taps off, isolators fitted on the supply if not already present, new taps fitted, leak-tested. £85–£140 for basin taps, £140–£220 for bath/shower taps.
Shower upgrade — old shower out, new mixer or electric shower in. Pipework adjustment if going from electric to mains-pressure mixer. £180–£420 fitted plus the cost of the unit.
Bath panel replacement — usually as part of redecoration. New panel, sealant refresh, isolators tested. £120–£180.
Heated towel rail fit — onto existing radiator pipework or new pipework. £180–£280 fitted.
Single-fixture jobs are typically a half-day's work. Clive prices them as fixed quotes — no hourly billing.
Bathroom-installation pricing varies widely depending on size, fixtures chosen, and how much demolition the project involves. Here's a realistic budget framework based on recent Clive projects across West London:
Cosmetic refresh (£3,500–£5,500) — new suite (toilet, basin, bath/shower), new taps, new towel rail, retiled walls and floor, redecorated. Pipework largely reused. Suits bathrooms that are functionally fine but visually dated. 5–7 days on-site.
Standard refit (£6,500–£9,500) — full strip-out, layout adjustments to fixtures, new pipework runs, new suite, new tiling throughout, new lighting, extractor upgrade. Adds an extra 2–3 days versus a cosmetic refresh. Most common project type.
Premium refit (£10,000–£18,000) — significant layout changes (e.g. moving the toilet to a new wall, converting bath-only to bath-plus-walk-in-shower), underfloor heating, premium fixtures (designer brassware, designer suite, stone or marble tiles), concealed-cistern frame, designer lighting. 8–12 days on-site.
En-suite conversion (£7,500–£14,000) — building a bathroom in a space that wasn't a bathroom before. New stud walls, new pipework runs from the main soil stack, possibly a new soil pipe extension, electrical first-fix, full plumbing first-fix and second-fix. Often the trickiest projects because of constrained access and existing structure.
Every quote Clive issues is itemised — every fixture, every metre of pipework, every day of labour, materials at cost. No ‘allowance for finishes’, no ‘TBC on tiling’. You see exactly what you're paying for and what's not in scope.
5–7 working days for a standard cosmetic refresh, 7–10 working days for a full refit, 8–12 working days for premium refits with significant layout changes. En-suite conversions vary widely — anything from 6 to 14 working days depending on whether new walls and new soil-pipe connections are needed. Clive agrees the start and end dates with you upfront so you can plan around the bathroom being out of use.
Yes for most of the project — that's the honest answer. The bathroom is fully out of action from strip-out (day 1) until second-fix and tiling are complete (typically day 5–8 for a full refit). Households with only one bathroom usually arrange to use a neighbour's, family's or local-leisure-centre facilities for showering during that period. Toilet access is usually only out for 1–2 days mid-project around the soil-pipe disconnect; Clive coordinates timing so you're not stranded longer than necessary. Other plumbing work Clive covers from the same Ealing base: emergency plumbing, water tank installation, white goods plumbing and kitchen plumbing.
Clive handles all the plumbing himself. For tiling, plastering and electrics he works with the same trusted local trades on every refit — they know how Clive likes to sequence the work, and Clive knows how to brief them. The arrangement is that Clive is the single point of contact for you throughout: you tell him what you want, he coordinates the trades, you pay him and he settles with them. One project, one accountable lead.
If the bathroom project touches the gas-fired hot water system (e.g. a combi boiler being relocated, a cylinder being replaced as part of an upgrade, gas-pipe routes affected by structural changes), that part is Gas Safe registered work — and Clive isn't Gas Safe registered. He'll bring David in for any gas-side commissioning so the whole project is properly covered. You don't pay extra for the coordination — it's just how a properly run refit works on a property where gas is part of the system. The full gas-side service list David covers: boiler installation, boiler servicing, boiler repair, central heating installation, central heating repair, gas safety checks, gas leak detection, gas cooker installation, gas fire servicing and power flushing — all Gas Safe registered, all run from the same Ealing base.
Yes — most clients do. Clive's quote separates labour-and-materials (pipework, fittings, sealant, his time) from fixtures (suite, taps, shower, etc) so it's clear what you're paying him for and what you're paying the bathroom showroom for. He can advise on what to buy and what to avoid based on which brands fit easily and last, but the choice is yours. Bring catalogues to the survey if you've already started shortlisting.
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For bathroom installation work anywhere in bathroom installation in Ealing, bathroom installation in Acton, bathroom installation in Hanwell, bathroom installation in Greenford, Northolt, Perivale, Southall, bathroom installation in West Ealing, Park Royal, bathroom installation in Pitshanger, Brentham, North Ealing, bathroom installation in South Ealing or anywhere else across the W postcodes — phone Clive directly on 07794 400 786.
Clive also covers bathroom installation across the rest of the borough — bathroom installation in Boston Manor, bathroom installation in Brentford, bathroom installation in Ealing Common and bathroom installation in Northfields — all served from the same Ealing base, same engineer, same fixed-price quotes.
Standard process: phone call to discuss what you're thinking, free on-site survey, itemised written quote within 48 hours, project booked in once you're happy. Same plumber on the job from survey to snagging — no ‘our installer will be in touch’, no surprise subcontractors, no ‘design consultant’ selling you fixtures you don't need.