Tiny bath, huge difference: our 5-day renewal log

March 15, 2022 · Plumbing

A day-by-day diary of a compact bathroom renewal — five working days from tired to terrific.

Four square metres, one window, fifteen years of wear. This bathroom got the full Larkspur treatment on a strict five-day rhythm we have refined across hundreds of renewals — here is exactly how the week went.

Days one to three: out with the old

Day one means strip-out and pipework: old suite out, tiles off, and every pipe renewed back to sound copper. Day two is waterproofing and tiling — tanking goes on wet areas before a single tile is laid, because grout is decoration, not waterproofing.

Day three brings sanitaryware and the shower screen: wall-hung vanity, new brassware and a level-access tray set dead level. Each evening the room is sheeted and the flat vacuumed, so the customer still sleeps at home.

Days four and five: the finish that lasts

Day four is sealing, painting and electrics: silicone joints tooled by hand, moisture-proof paint, and an extractor fan wired to clear steam fast. Day five is deep clean and sign-off — pressure tests, a drying-time chart, spare grout and our two-year labour guarantee in the handover folder.

• Always tank wet areas before tiling — never rely on grout alone.
• A wall-hung vanity makes a tiny bathroom feel twice the size.
• Extractor fans prevent more mould than any miracle paint.
• Keep spare grout and a silicone tube from the job for quick touch-ups.

Five working days, one fixed price, zero surprises. If your bathroom is showing its age, this is the week it changes.