If you've never had a bathroom fitted before, the process can feel a bit mysterious. How long does it take? What happens behind the walls? Why is the order of work so important? In this guide we walk you through exactly how a Thomas & Phipps bathroom installation runs, step by step, so you know what to expect from day one to handover.
1. The free home survey
Every bathroom we fit starts with a free, no-obligation visit to your home. We need to see the room — its shape, the existing pipework, the floor type, the light, the window position, and the access route from the front door. A bathroom that looks identical on a floor plan can need a completely different approach once we've seen it in person.
During the visit we'll talk through what you want: a full refit, a wetroom conversion, an en-suite, or just a refresh of the existing layout. We'll measure up, take photos, ask the awkward questions about budget, and leave you with a clear idea of what's possible.
2. Design, layout and material choices
Once we understand the space and your wish list, we put together a layout. In smaller Bridgnorth bathrooms — and there are plenty of them in older terraced and semi-detached properties around town — millimetres matter. The difference between a comfortable bathroom and one where you bash your elbow on the basin every morning often comes down to a 50mm shift in the suite position.
We'll guide you through tile choices, suite ranges, taps, lighting, storage, and underfloor heating. We're independent, so we don't push one supplier — we recommend what suits your budget and the room. If you've already chosen a suite from somewhere like Victoria Plum or a local showroom, that's fine too; we work with whatever you've bought.
3. The written, itemised quote
You'll get a detailed written quote that breaks the job down clearly: labour, materials, tiles, suite, plumbing, electrics, waste removal, and any extras. There are no vague line items, no "miscellaneous" charges, and no surprise costs added later. If we spot something during the survey that could become an issue — old lead pipes, a soft floor under the existing bath, a boiler that may struggle with a new shower — we flag it in writing before you commit.
If you want to compare quotes (and you should), make sure each fitter is quoting for the same specification. A £6,000 quote and a £9,000 quote often aren't quoting for the same job at all.
4. Strip out and prep
Once you've agreed the quote and we've ordered materials, the install begins. Day one is usually the strip out: old suite removed, old tiles off the walls, old flooring up. This is the messiest day of the project, but also the day that reveals what's really behind the walls. Damp, rotten timber, dodgy old wiring, leaking pipes — none of it is unusual in Shropshire properties, particularly anything pre-1970s.
If we find something that needs addressing, we stop and tell you. We don't tile over a damp wall and hope. The repair gets done properly first, with the cost agreed in writing before any extra work starts.
5. First fix plumbing and electrics
"First fix" means all the work that has to happen before the walls and floor go back on. New supply pipes are run to where the new bath, basin, shower, and toilet will sit. Waste pipes are adjusted to the new layout. Cables are run for the shower, the extractor fan, the spotlights, the shaver socket, and the towel rail. Underfloor heating mats are laid if you've chosen them.
This stage is invisible in the finished bathroom but it's where the quality of a fit really lives. Pipework laid neatly, properly clipped, with isolation valves on every supply, makes future maintenance straightforward. Pipework bodged behind a tiled wall causes problems for the next twenty years.
6. Walls, floor, and tiling
With first fix complete, we move on to the surfaces. Walls are tanked where needed (essential in a wetroom and around any shower area), plasterboarded with moisture-resistant board, and prepped for tiling. The floor is levelled and a suitable substrate laid — usually a tile backer board or a cement-based screed.
Tiling is then done in the right order: floor first if it's going under the bath, walls afterwards, with the tiles cut neatly around outlets, niches, and edges. A good tile job is a slow tile job — there's no rushing it, and we'd rather take an extra day than leave you with grout lines that don't quite line up.
7. Second fix: fitting the suite
Once the tiles are in and the grout has set, the suite goes in. Toilet, basin, taps, bath, shower screen, shower valve, and shower head all get fitted, sealed, and tested. This is the day the bathroom starts to look like a bathroom rather than a building site. Mirrors, towel rails, toilet roll holders, and any other accessories go on at this stage too.
We test every joint under pressure before we button anything up. Every silicone bead is tooled neatly. Every isolation valve is left accessible. Small things — but they're the difference between a bathroom that gives you trouble in year two and one that doesn't.
8. Final electrics, snagging, and handover
The electrician returns to commission the new circuits — the shower, fan, lighting, and heating are all tested and certified. We then walk through the bathroom with you, top to bottom, and snag anything that isn't right. A scuffed skirting, a tile edge that needs touching up, a slightly off centre robe hook — anything you spot, we put right before we leave.
You'll get all your paperwork: electrical certificate, building regulations notification (where required), product warranties, and our own workmanship guarantee. We also leave you with a small bag of spare tiles and grout, in case you ever need them.
How long does a bathroom fit take?
For a typical full bathroom refit in Bridgnorth — strip out, full tile, new suite, new lighting — we'd allow 7 to 10 working days on site. A wetroom, or a job where we're moving plumbing significantly, can be 10 to 14 days. Smaller jobs (e.g. replacing a suite without re-tiling) can be done in 3 to 5 days. We give you an honest timeline at quote stage, and we stick to it.
What does it cost?
Bathroom fitting in Bridgnorth in 2026 typically runs from around £4,500 for a basic refit using a budget suite, up to £12,000+ for a full wetroom with premium tiling and underfloor heating. The variation is mostly in materials — the labour cost for a careful fit doesn't change as much as people think. We'll give you a fixed-price written quote so you know exactly what you're paying before any work starts.
Ready to plan your bathroom?
If you'd like to talk through what's possible in your space, we'd be happy to come and have a look. We work across Bridgnorth and the surrounding Shropshire villages, every quote is free, and there's never any pressure to book. Just an honest conversation with a local fitter who'll do the job properly. See our bathroom fitting service or request a free home visit.
