Why Can’t You Give One Time for Every Shower or Toilet?
A shower or toilet can be a simple swap in one house and a bigger job in the next. The work depends on what is behind the wall, what is under the floor and what the new fitting needs.
So we confirm the time after a home visit, once we have seen the room. It goes in the written quote, so you can plan around it.
What Decides How Long a Toilet Takes to Fit?
The biggest question is whether the new toilet sits where the old one was. A like-for-like swap is the simplest case. Moving the toilet means a new waste route, and that adds work.
- Like-for-like or moved. The same position uses the existing waste. A new position needs pipework and often floor work.
- Type of toilet. A standard close-coupled toilet is quicker than a wall-hung toilet with a concealed cistern, which needs a frame and a boxed-in panel.
- The floor. A sound floor makes the job simple. A soft or damaged floor must be repaired first.
- The finish around it. New flooring or tiling around the toilet adds to the schedule.
You will not see an exact time here, and that is deliberate. We would rather measure the room than promise something we cannot check.
What Decides How Long a Shower Takes to Install?
Showers vary more than toilets. A mixer shower on existing pipes is quite different from an electric shower, and different again from a new tray and enclosure.
- Mixer or electric. A mixer uses your hot and cold supplies. An electric shower needs a dedicated electrical supply, so an electrician has to be involved.
- Pipework. If the supplies are already in the right place, the job is simpler. Moving them means opening walls.
- Tray and waste. A new tray needs the waste to fall correctly and be tested.
- Enclosure. A glass screen has to be measured and fitted carefully, and some are made to size.
Our water pressure and shower guide explains which shower suits your supply, which also affects the work.
Want a timescale for your room?
How Much Do Tiling and Finishing Add?
The fitting is only part of the job. Walls and floors around the shower or toilet need finishing, and that is where schedules stretch.
Wet wall panels go up faster than tiles. Tiles need adhesive time, grouting and sealing, and the work has to be done in order. A formed or tiled floor needs waterproofing before anything else goes on.
Our guide to wet wall panels or tiles compares the two for upkeep and appearance.
Why Can’t I Use the Shower Straight Away?
Sealant, adhesive and grout need time to set before they get wet. Using a shower too soon can let water behind the joints.
We tell you how long to wait for your specific materials, and the product instructions guide us. That is why you should be wary of any promise that a shower is fitted and ready within a set number of hours without seeing the room.
Does an Electric Shower Need an Electrician?
Yes. An electric shower draws a lot of power from its own supply, so the wiring must be done by a qualified electrician and meet the rules for bathrooms. This is one of the clearest examples of why one standard time does not work.
The electrical work happens alongside the plumbing and the finishing, so the order of trades matters. We plan that order for you when we write the quote.
How Can I Help the Job Run Smoothly?
- Clear the room and the route to it before we start.
- Tell us about parking, stairs and entry systems.
- Choose your shower, toilet and finishes early, so nothing is held up waiting for delivery.
- Decide where you will wash while the shower is out of use.
When Do You Confirm the Time?
We confirm it in the written quote after your home design visit. We come out, measure up, check the walls, floor, pipework and waste route, and show you examples. The quote then lists the products, the fitting work and the timing.
If something unexpected turns up once the old fitting is out, we tell you straight away and explain what it changes.
Is a Shower or Toilet a Stand-Alone Job?
For us, usually not. We fit showers and toilets as part of a shower-room or bathroom project, with packages starting from £4,699 for design, supply and fitting. See our shower room installation and bathroom renovation pages for what is included.
We do not do repairs. If your toilet or shower is leaking or needs fixing, call a plumber.
For the schedule of a full refit, read how long bathroom fitting takes. We cover all of Edinburgh and the surrounding areas, and the phone line is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Ready to talk about your bathroom?
Planning a toilet downstairs? Read how we price a cloakroom or downstairs toilet.