How long does it take you to do a bathroom?

[Phil]

I have been doing constant bathrooms this year, I keep saying "this is definalty the last one I do this year" but I've just taken on two more.

I work totally on my own and each bathroom I take great care to get everything bang on perfect and totaly durable etc.

The average bathroom with toilet, basin, bath/shower enclosure, built in/exposed shower, plaster ceiling, full floor and wall tile, moasic boarders, tile trim absoluty no corners cut.

Average 15 days.

I've just been for another quote and he said the first guy said he could do it in 7 days on his own, there was a hell of a lot of work in that bathroom.

I'm not bothered if I get the job or not but I fear he will go for the 7 day option, but I'd love to see the result, just another rushed bodged bathroom.

 

[ocentric]

I have the same approach & 15 days sounds about right when you're doing everything on your own. You do need a bit of contingency for when customer changes spec etc. Someone might do it in 7 days, but it will be terrible!

 

[dontknowitall]

I'm glad I'm not the only one reckoning on a good 2-3 weeks. I've not done enough of them yet to want to stop taking more on though.

One thing I particularly like doing is buying a couple of nice extras (e.g. candles or decorative bottles) and giving the bathroom a really, really good clean and polish (including cleaner in the WC!) Seems to go down especially well with some customers.

 

[justlead1]

I find this interesting. Can you post a break down of the works. Eg. Isolating and removing old suit 3 Hours, Running new pipework to sanitary fitting position 3 hours, etc.

 

[warren]

Hi Phil,

I feel i could help on this question , because bathrooms are my thing.

7 day does sound really suspect, we both now it takes time to do things properly and get a solid job. Im sure you do a first class job, but its one thing saying to the client and another thing showing.

Can you show him any of your previous work ?

On the other hand, do we think a client would want to be in their eyes, in upheaval for 3 weeks.

Sometimes i suffer the same questions. where i allow enough time to do it properly, alter cast iron pipe to below floor level as to get waste s under floor, nice new soil coming upto meet pan connector. hide all pipes. mark out with sanitary in place as to get pipework well hidden but access to border valves. and so on with tiling and woodwork. Its our passion isnt it. No doubt something is a miss with this guy.

Here is what i do now, i bring in someone elsejust to give me a hand to move things along, basically just to labour , cut tiles , mix up plaster. i do all the install work so keeping it under my quality control.

I cant let go! Do you feel the same, is this why you do it on your own ? So you know its done right.

One thing i have learnt in a lot of years doing this, after 10 days people really want you out the way.

would be glad to hear more from you , this is an area i work in all the time

Warren

 

[warren]

i think 2 weeks is the norm.

Do you find that clients these days want the extra bit to really make it personal to them, like little alcoves to put their shampoo. I have been asked to do alsorts, i think its great but when you think about the man hours these little details add on, especially when they are done properly

 

[dontknowitall]

There's the difference ... "New pipework in three hours"

It takes longer than this to pull up the floor, organise the pipe runs, notching and drilling joists so hiding as much pipework as possible. Another area where hiding pipework is not possible is to have chrome pipework coming up from the floor in exactly the correct place. To do this properly takes time and trouble.

Justlead1, I'm not having a go at all - just trying to show how do a better quality job takes time. I've changed a WC in a couple of hours before now but the quality just wasn't there for that job (and nor was the money!!)

 

[warren]

do you guys have any pictures of your work ?

i love to see quality work.

I agree with dontknowitall, time just seems to disapear, but its worth it to look at the finsih job and the client say it has turned out better than i ever thought.

Most jobs i never get a snag list, im quite smug on loft jobs where my plumbing and bathroom work is a "no snag" and the loft contractor has about a page....lol

 

[dontknowitall]

Seeing as you asked ...!!

Before and after

View attachment 1083

View attachment 1084

 

[warren]

Thanks for pics

Warren