How easy is it to 'do' a bathroom

[whatsagoodusername]

We've recently bought a new house that was last decorated in the seventies/eighties. There is lots to do on a limited budget. How easy is it to put a new bathroom in? I would get a new suite, but keep it exactly where the existing suite is then tile it throughout. I've never done tiling before. I'm thinking that I could buy a suite get a plumber in to take out the existing one, detach the electric shower and radiator. I could then decorate and tile it before getting plumber back in to put the new suite in and reconnect the shower and radiator.
It sounds simple... but is it? Your words of wisdom please...

[grants1000]

Not a chance, sorry. The floor may need leveling or new boards in places. The new shower may have different fittings, settings, openings that only a plumber could cut well enough, the rariator may need replacing therefore the pipes may be the wrong pipes. The bath and suite may be different sizes and therefore need a new frame.

darn minefiled.

[burnishedsilver]

A bathroom is really a job for a professional. If you don't seal and tile properly you'll have leaks and water damage through to downstairs. Either do it right or leave it as is for the moment. We are finally getting our 80s bathroom redone 8 years after moving in :-)

[mewkins]

Actually if you are good at diy it is possibl. We did it in our old 80s built house and because it was ffairly square we didn't have a problem. My husband is good at diy though and read up on plumbing etc before we did it. It looked great as we took our time over it. This time we are calling people in to do it as don't have the time to do it (dc2) due in the summer.

I have plenty of friends who have also done their own bathrooms and they are also perfectly fine.

[poocatcherchampion]

we did it and we are not diy experts.

get them to remove the existing or you could do it. then paint tile, scrape wallpaper in our case.
plumber adds new bathroom
we had vinyl laid by carpet man. he put plywood under.

beware no one takes the rubbish away so you will have to.

its not that hard at all.
can write more detail but holding crying baby and trying to make sunday lunch

[specialsubject]

we've done two but himself is a very competent DIY'er. You can assess the problem by removing the bath panel to see state of piping and floor underneath.

there are tricks to ensure the bath is level and properly sealed and supported, well worth doing.