AIBU to want the bathroom replaced in stages, not all at once?

[Ricebaffled]

Our bathroom needs to be replaced.
I’m of the opinion that we should do it in bits- sink and toilet ( which we’ve already purchased) done one day and then get the bath tub done another day or 2. Then tiling separately.
The tradespeople who do the tiling will be different anyway.
I really want to minimise the possibility of not having bathing facilities for a while. We’ve teen DC

DH wants it all done in one go and says we’ll manage with downstairs WC

We had our bathroom done in the middle of the 2018 heatwave. It was the only bathroom we had.

We made do with strip washes twice a day in the kitchen sink. It was horrid, but worth it.

Your initial thoughts about sequences are off and if they did it your way they’d risk damaging your new things to fit them then take them off and refit after tiling. Just get it all done, it could be done in a week if it’s a simple job.

They bring a portaloo 😂

Surely you can send your teen dc to the local leisure centre for a shower if they need it? Depending on the size of the room it may all need to come out in order to get the old bath out and the new bath in.

Just get it done OP. It will be over in 3/4 days

I agree with the sequencing comments.

Basically, the issue here for you is that you can't visualise how it's all going to work and how all the different elements will come together. So you want to manage it in a way that makes sense to you.

Tell them you need the toilet working each day and ask them how it will all work. And then let them get on with it. It will be inconvenient for a few days but that's because you're having your bathroom refitted!

Your post made me laugh out loud, given my profession 😂. Thank you

We have a local plumber who would fit us in for the toilet/sink/bath within days and I’m very comfortable.

My concern is about the inconvenience of being without a shower. My friend’s fitter left her with using a port-a-loo for weeks.

Resounding support for DH’s idea.
No, we have no one nearby at whose home we’d be comfortable showering it.

DH’s idea was that we could go away for say a week, whilst they did the works.

Tbh having the downstairs WC means I’m not that bothered by the toilet upstairs. I’m more bothered about a shower.

We could fit it in at a time when they’re off school and can fit in showering at our local leisure centre, which isn’t too far. I don’t like that option too much but if it has to happen, then it will.

We’ll discuss it again and see.
We intend to do a loft conversion soon so we might end up doing that first and then we’ll have another working bathroom anyway.

Thanks all, for your input. All really appreciated 😊

If it's half finished it won't really be that usable anyway. Like you wouldn't want to use the bath if the tiles haven't gone up etc. and the builders stuff will probably be there.

If you've a downstairs loo and it only takes 1-2 days you can still potentially try use it anyway once they've gone for the day, but it's better to do it all as quick as possible or you'll just have a building site bathroom for ages.

Could you shower at local leisure centre or gym, or friends house?

All in one go! They’ll remove everything then replace everything at once. Tiling should be done before you put the new suite in anyway.

I doubt you will get anyone willing to do it in bits @Ricebaffled
Thats not how bathrooms are done
Day 1 they rip everything out , you might need new plumbing /shower pump in anyway.

I showered at the gym, it really wasnt a huge deal

I'm always an advocate for the getting it done while you go on holiday. It's all sorted then when you return and you don't have to love with the disruption.

Saying that I was home when I had my bathroom done recently. I just used the shower at the gym.

Mine was done all at once but then I have a downstairs loo with sink so at least there was somewhere to "go" and have a basic wash while the workmen were busy. I also had the kitchen replaced immediately after. Yes it was a hassle but i prefer to have disturbance all at once than piecemeal. I think it depends on your family set up as there is only me here.

The problem with using the kitchen sink (for me) was that the works van was parked on my drive by the kitchen door so the workmen were in and out. The downstairs loo is separate with a lockable door so you can go in for a basic strip wash.

Last October, I was told to move out for five days and it would be finished.
It's still not finished and it's hell.

Just instruct them that you're going to need a working toilet throughout the process, or that if there has to be a day when it's not going to be functioning you need advance notice.

When I had my only bathroom done they said I'd always have a working toilet...then came back after work drinks on a Friday night to find a hole where the toilet was 😂. Luckily I was going away early the next morning.

As someone who does this stuff regularly, all at once, it’ll be a lot quicker and a lot less painful over all.

Do trades usually do it in bits? Makes no sense to me

I’ll bite: what’s your profession that makes you amused by the comment, which seems reasonable by the way.

Likewise. Nightmare client 😂