How to Plan Your Bathroom

Start with the brief: who uses the bathroom, what isn't working today, and what you want it to feel like. Make a list of must-haves (e.g. walk-in shower) vs nice-to-haves (e.g. underfloor heating). A realistic full bathroom refit in Stoke-on-Trent typically lands between £4,500–£12,000 depending on spec.

Allocate roughly: 40% labour & install, 35% products (suite, tiles, taps), 15% prep & plumbing, 10% contingency.

You'll need a tape, pencil, paper and ideally a laser measure. Measure:

• Every wall length, floor to ceiling.
• Window and door openings, and their distance from each corner.
• Existing soil pipe, waste and water-feed positions.
• Radiator and electrical socket positions.

Sketch a simple plan view (floor) and an elevation for each wall. Note ceiling height — important for tall units, showers and extractor runs.

Allow real-world clearances:

• 700mm in front of a toilet, 200mm either side of the bowl.
• 800mm clear in front of a basin.
• 900mm × 900mm minimum for a comfortable walk-in shower (1200×900 is better).
• Door swing must not foul any fixture — consider a sliding or outward-opening door in small rooms.

Keep wet zones (shower, bath, basin) on the same wall where possible — it cuts plumbing costs significantly.

1. For each wall: measure width × height in metres to get the area.
2. Subtract large openings (windows, recesses).
3. Add the wall areas together for total m².
4. Add 10% wastage for straight layouts, 15% for diagonal/herringbone, 20% for patterned tiles or small mosaics.

Example: a wall 2.4m wide × 2.4m high = 5.76m². Add 10% → order 6.34m² (round up to nearest full box).

Measure length × width of the floor in metres. For non-rectangular rooms, split into rectangles, calculate each, then add together. Subtract the footprint of any built-in unit that sits on the subfloor.

Add 10% wastage for square/rectangular tiles, 15% for large-format (600×600+) or diagonal, 20% for patterned/hex/mosaic.

For LVT or vinyl, order one full extra plank pack — handy for future repairs.

• Porcelain — best for floors and wet areas, very low porosity.
• Ceramic — lighter, great for walls.
• Natural stone — beautiful but needs sealing.
• Match grout colour to the look you want — contrast for character, tonal for a seamless feel.
• Use a flexible cement-based adhesive on walls and floors, and an anti-mould grout in showers.

Always confirm soil pipe and waste runs before locking in your layout. Electrics in bathrooms are governed by IP zones — only suitably rated lights, fans and shaver sockets can be used. An extractor fan (rated for the room volume) is essential to protect tiles, grout and paintwork.

Order tiles and the suite at least 2–3 weeks before fitting. A typical full bathroom install runs 5–10 working days depending on tiling complexity. Keep one room livable at all times and stage materials sensibly.