Kitchen and Bathroom Renovation: The Right Order of Work

Kitchens and bathrooms go wrong when work is done in the wrong order. Demolish first, fix concealed plumbing and electrical lines next, then waterproof, test, tile and finally fit. Doing waterproofing and utilities properly before the finish is what keeps a renovated room dry and trouble-free.

Decide the layout before you demolish

Fix where the sink, hob, chimney, toilet and shower will sit before any tile is broken. Moving a drain or a water point later means cutting into finished work. Share the full list of appliances with your contractor so sockets, water points and exhaust routes can be planned together.

Follow this order of work

1. Remove old fittings, tiles and loose plaster, and clear the debris.
2. Repair the walls and floors, and check for old damp or hollow patches.
3. Lay new plumbing, drainage and electrical conduits, and pressure-test the pipes.
4. Fix the floor slope towards the drain in bathrooms, then apply waterproofing.
5. Run a water test, and only continue when there is no leak.
6. Tile the floors and walls, then grout and clean.
7. Fit counters, cabinets, sanitaryware, taps and appliances.
8. Paint or finish the surrounding walls and ceiling last.

Get waterproofing right

Waterproofing is the layer you will never see again, so it deserves attention. Ask which system will be used, how far up the walls it will go, and how corners and pipe openings will be sealed.

• Wet areas such as the shower zone need the layer to rise up the walls, not just cover the floor.
• Joints between floor and wall, and around drains and pipes, are the usual points of failure.
• Let the coating cure as the product requires, then hold water on the floor for a test period before tiling.

Plan the utilities carefully

• Check that the electrical load can handle a geyser, chimney, induction hob and other heavy appliances.
• Use properly earthed sockets placed away from direct water spray.
• Plan ventilation or an exhaust in the bathroom to keep moisture from returning.
• Keep a record of where concealed pipes and wires run before they are covered.

Expect to be without these rooms for a while

Arrange a temporary kitchen setup or another bathroom for the period, and tell your contractor which room matters most to you. Drying and curing time for waterproofing and tile adhesive cannot be skipped, and rushing it is what leads to leaks later. Our FAQs may help with other planning questions.

How Reidius Infra can help

Because construction and interiors sit under one team at Reidius Infra, the plumbing, waterproofing, tiling and cabinetry are planned as one sequence instead of several separate jobs. If you are thinking of renovating a kitchen or bathroom, ask for a free consultation and we will go through the layout and order of work with you.