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Original poster

Bathroom renovation means moving out for 6 weeks. WWYD?

76 replies

Devonsent19 · 03/05/2025 11:22

Our bathroom and en-suite are being ripped out and renovated in July/August. The building contractors have advised moving out for 6 weeks. There’s just two of us living at the property-me and my DS 18 who is autistic and averse to change so wouldn’t cope with the building work anyway. So I need ideas of where to go please? I’ve tentatively looked at caravans or Airbnb -Everywhere is so expensive as it’s right in the middle of the Summer holidays. Answers on a postcard please 😊

OP posts:
orangedream · 03/05/2025 11:23

Six weeks seems very long for refitting two bathrooms.

Lovelysummerdays · 03/05/2025 11:26

I’d stay. Have you got a driveway? You can get a mobile bathroom with loo and shower. Just need to hook up to water / electricity.

A cheaper solution would be a camping toilet and a membership at a local gym for washing.

Sunnyglowdays · 03/05/2025 11:26

6 weeks?! What are they doing? It took just under 2 weeks for my bathroom to be done and that included a day for the plaster to dry before the tiler could start work.

Fourecks · 03/05/2025 11:31

Why do you need to move out? If it's because you won't have a working bathroom, can they do one bathroom then the other? It might end up more expensive but possibly cheaper than having to find alternative accommodation for six weeks, which I agree is a long time.

If the workers just want to move out because it's easier for them, then just don't. I'm looking into having some work done on my house and there is one part that I will need to move out for - it's a legal requirement. But we will stay put for the rest.

Comedycook · 03/05/2025 11:34

Six week?! Our large kitchen was done and dusted in two. How can a bathroom take that long...one of my family members recently had their bathroom done, took less than a week

DongDingBell · 03/05/2025 11:36

Find new contractors.
You have 2 bathrooms. They rip out one while you use the other. Then swap.

Is DS's Dad or other relative able to take him for the bit where he'd need to use the "wrong" bathroom??

Honestly, I was out at work each day we had our bathroom done. About the only give away (until you opened the bathroom door) that any work had been done was extra stuff in the skip. It also took less than 2 weeks - so you are probably looking at 3 weeks total for 2 bathrooms.

Spies · 03/05/2025 11:38

orangedream · 03/05/2025 11:23

Six weeks seems very long for refitting two bathrooms.

Agreed! How the hell could it possibly take 6 weeks to fit two bathrooms?

Ours was ripped out, taken back to the brick and refitted and it only took 4 days!

mynameiscalypso · 03/05/2025 11:39

We’ve just had the same done - they just ensured we always had one working bathroom and it wasn’t a problem. Ours did take 6 weeks pretty much but that was for all sorts of reasons.

parietal · 03/05/2025 11:39

Can you delay the work to September and then take a caravan? 6 weeks is a long time - we’ve been told 2 weeks for 1 bathroom.

Hoppinggreen · 03/05/2025 11:42

If you have 2 bathrooms I am a bit confused why you have to move out.
We have had bathrooms completely redone but could use the other one and we didn't move out for the kitchen refurb either.
Contractors are usually pretty good at letting you know when water/electric is going off and making sure you still have what you need

DisplayPurposesOnly · 03/05/2025 11:42

House-sitting? Especially (mostly) if you like pets.

Iheartmysmart · 03/05/2025 11:42

What! We had bathroom, en-suite and downstairs loo done by a one man band in just over two weeks. He did them room at a time so we always had functioning facilities. Six weeks and moving out is bloody ridiculous.

gottakeeponmoving · 03/05/2025 11:43

6 weeks sounds extreme. I'd be looking for another builder. My next door neighbour just had an extension built in that time - including kitchen and bathroom.

Have you had other quotes?

Brefugee · 03/05/2025 11:44

we had our bathroom renovated half at a time. So first they did the shower unit and sink, leaving the bath and toilet useable.
Then they did the bath and the toilet (we have a guest loo downstairs)
Then they did the guest loo
it was a little bit of a pain because of using a shower in what was a building site, etc, but it was fine.

SunnyDecember · 03/05/2025 11:48

Get them to do one then the other. It's madness to be expected to be out for that length of time or at all considering you have two bathrooms and I'd question why. If you've not committed yet, can you get some other quotes? My bathroom had to go back to brick and have completely new pipework. All done and dusted in 2 weeks. 6 is unreasonable.

ChateauMargaux · 03/05/2025 11:50

We had two done.. the builders always left us with a functioning toiler... and minimised the time without a shower.

Starlight7080 · 03/05/2025 11:50

6 weeks for two bathrooms seems very long.
Have you had more then one quote?

unsync · 03/05/2025 13:24

We had two done in four weeks but it was tight. Complete strip out including back to brick and floor and ceiling joists. It's quicker to do both in one go as they can sequence the trades properly. We do have a downstairs loo though and next door kindly gave us use of their facilities for washing.

Octavia64 · 03/05/2025 13:27

Six weeks! What are they doing?

BaronessBomburst · 03/05/2025 13:31

Six weeks seems very long! We had our bathroom and downstairs toilet done and it took ten days. Both were gutted, then refitted, including full tiling. We didn't move anything though.
We always had a working toilet and I think the bath/ shower was only out of action for a couple of days so we strip-washed in the kitchen.

LivingLaVidaBabyShower · 03/05/2025 13:34

DongDingBell · 03/05/2025 11:36

Find new contractors.
You have 2 bathrooms. They rip out one while you use the other. Then swap.

Is DS's Dad or other relative able to take him for the bit where he'd need to use the "wrong" bathroom??

Honestly, I was out at work each day we had our bathroom done. About the only give away (until you opened the bathroom door) that any work had been done was extra stuff in the skip. It also took less than 2 weeks - so you are probably looking at 3 weeks total for 2 bathrooms.

This.

6 weeks is a crazy amount of time.
Mine was done in a week.
They left me woth a functioning toilet each night and I made do and used the gym down the road.

MeandBobbyMcGoo · 03/05/2025 13:34

Agree with all the other posters saying 6 weeks is very long! Our entire bathroom was ripped out, new floor, plastered and tiled in 2 weeks. Also, if you have 2 bathrooms, they should do 1 then the other. I'd be getting more quotes.

Original poster
Devonsent19 · 03/05/2025 16:08

We’re in Devon-things are a bit slower here 😉
There are a few issues with the existing plumbing/sewage system-thats why we’re having it all done. They’re ripping everything out. Plus underfloor heating. But I do agree with the consensus that it seems a long time. I did get other quotes but this company could fit in with my schedule plus the price was good and I know their work. Just out of interest, for those that have had this done recently, how much did you pay, IYDMMA?

OP posts:
BexAubs20 · 03/05/2025 17:11

Hire a porta loo and ask friend/ family/ neighbours if you can use their shower? Or if your a member of a gym use their showers.

TinyFlamingo · 03/05/2025 17:13

+1 for house sitting while others are hols?

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