How long does it take to tile a bathroom?

What happens on each day of a bathroom tiling job?

The order rarely changes, even if the number of days does. Preparation and any tanking happen first, tiling follows once the substrate is sound and dry, and grouting comes last after the adhesive has set.

• Preparation: strip old tiles if needed, board or level, prime and let it dry.
• Tanking: waterproofing to shower and wet areas, which needs its own drying time between coats.
• Setting out and tiling: walls and floor, working around niches, reveals and fittings.
• Curing: the adhesive needs time before anyone walks on or grouts the tiles.
• Grouting, silicone and a final clean down.

Why can't the tiling all be done in one day?

Adhesive, tanking membranes and grout all need drying time, and rushing them is the main cause of failures later. A tiler who grouts before the adhesive has cured risks hazing, shading and movement in the tiles, so part of the timeline is simply waiting.

What makes a bathroom take longer to tile?

Some jobs genuinely need more days, usually for one of these reasons:

• Full-height tiling instead of splashback or half height.
• Removing old tiles and repairing the wall or floor underneath.
• Uneven walls or floors that need levelling before anything can be set.
• Herringbone, chevron, mosaic or mixed-format layouts with lots of cuts.
• Natural stone and marble, which need careful handling and often sealing.
• Wet rooms, where tanking and falls to the drain add a stage.

Can I use the bathroom while it is being tiled?

Usually not during tiling and curing. We will tell you which days the room is out of use so you can plan, and we keep the site tidy at the end of each day. If it is your only bathroom, say so when you ask for a quote and we will sequence the work to keep the disruption as short as we can.

When can the shower be used after tiling?

Not immediately. Grout and silicone need to cure before the area gets wet, and the exact time depends on the products used and the ventilation in the room. We tell you on the day when it is safe to use the shower rather than giving a blanket answer in advance.

How does tiling fit around other trades?

TLS Tiling does tiling only, so plumbing, electrics and sanitaryware are handled by others. Tiling normally happens after first-fix plumbing and electrics and before the second fix, so the shower valve, lights and sanitaryware go back on to finished tiling. Tell us the plan for the other trades and we will book our days to suit.

How do I get a timeline for my bathroom?

Send photos, rough measurements and your postcode. We will come back with a free quote that includes an honest estimate of the days needed and the order of work, so you know what to expect before anything starts.