How many trades does it really take to complete a bathroom project?

Most homeowners, when they picture a bathroom renovation, imagine a plumber and maybe a tiler. Two, perhaps three people, in, out, done. The reality, as our Pagers will tell you, is rather more involved than that. A bathroom, despite often being small, demands the highest volume of trade: it packs plumbing, electrics, waterproofing, precision tiling and skilled finishing into a very small space, all of which need to be coordinated carefully and in the right order.

This week, we put the question to three of our Pagers. Here’s what they had to say.

Kate, Islington

Kate and her husband Eugen run their construction company together and have built their reputation on getting the details right. Anyone who knows them will tell you that their dedication to the craft doesn’t exactly switch off at the end of the working day. They have a house rule that work talk is banned over the dinner table, which apparently lasts about three minutes!

“A professionally renovated bathroom is far more complex than most people expect. It’s one of the most trade-intensive spaces in a home because it combines plumbing, electrics, waterproofing and high-precision finishing – all within a very small area. Even a small bathroom of just 3-4 square metres can involve a labourer, plumber, electrician, tiler, plasterer, decorator, carpenter, handyman, fixer, cleaner, waste removal team and a supervisor. This means around 10–12 trades can be part of a single renovation. While some multi-traders can take on several tasks, we strongly believe that dedicated specialists at each stage are what truly guarantee a high-quality, long-lasting result.”

Eduardo, Nine Elms

Eduardo works closely with two colleagues at a company that specialises in renovations and garden landscaping. When he’s not on site, you’re most likely to find him with a fishing rod in hand or hosting a BBQ for friends and family.

“A bathroom renovation doesn’t happen all at once – it happens in stages, with a whole team behind the scenes. It starts with the designer who plans the layout, style and functionality. Then the demolition crew strips the space back to a blank canvas, and a labourer keeps the site clean and ready as the project moves forward. The plumber and electrician rough in new pipes, drains, wiring and ventilation while everything is still open. A carpenter handles any new framing. The plasterer smooths the walls and ceilings. The tiler transforms the space with waterproofing, floors and wall tiles. The painter adds the finishing coats. Then the plumber and electrician return to complete all the final fixings; taps, toilets, basins, lights and switches. That’s at least ten separate trades, and throughout the entire process, a dedicated project manager should be on site every day: checking progress, coordinating trades and keeping the client updated. That’s how a great bathroom comes to life, step by step and trade by trade.”

Daniel, Greenwich

Daniel is a man of many talents. Originally from Bulgaria, he’s now based near Greenwich and is, by all accounts, a seriously accomplished chef. In the same way that a great meal depends on every element being executed properly and in the right order, Daniel thinks about renovation in much the same way.

“The honest answer is that it depends. The age of the property, how much the design changes from the original layout, and what the client wants as a finished product all have a significant bearing on how many trades are required. At a minimum, you are looking at a plumber to replace pipework and waste pipes, an electrician if the systems are old or need checking, and a tiler. Of those three, I want to stress the importance of that last one. Tiling is highly skilled work and is the finish that you see and live with every single day. A good, specialised tiler is not a nice-to-have; it’s what separates a bathroom that looks and lasts beautifully from one that doesn’t.”

So, how many trades does it really take? More than most people expect – and exactly the right number for the job. Every bathroom is different in age, size and ambition, and the team behind it needs to reflect that. Understanding who does what, and in what order, is part of how we make sure your project runs smoothly at The Page. If you’re planning a bathroom renovation and want to know what your specific project actually involves, we’re always happy to walk you through it.