How to Renovate a Bathroom Step by Step
Updated 16 July 2026
A full bathroom renovation follows a fixed trade order — demolition, then plumbing rough-in, then electrical, then waterproofing and tiling, then fixtures, then finishing touches — because each stage depends on the one before it. Expect roughly €5,000–€10,000 for a mid-range job in Cyprus, €10,000–€20,000+ for a luxury remodel, and 2–4 weeks of work once materials are on site.
Key facts
- Trade order matters and shouldn't be shortcut: demolition → plumbing rough-in → electrical → waterproofing → tiling → fixtures → finishing touches
- Mid-range full bathroom renovations in Cyprus typically run €5,000–€10,000; basic refreshes €2,000–€5,000; luxury remodels €10,000–€20,000+
- Waterproofing (tanking) before tiling is critical in Cyprus's older apartment stock, where water damage to the unit below is a common and expensive dispute
- Ordering fixtures and tiles before demolition starts avoids the most common cause of mid-project delay: waiting on materials
- A realistic timeline once materials are on-site is 2–4 weeks for a full renovation, longer if the room's layout or plumbing risers are changing
- Moving the toilet or drain location, or enlarging the room, can trigger the same planning/building permit rules as any other structural change
Demolition — and what it reveals
Demolition strips the room back to its structure: removing old tiles, fixtures, and any non-structural partitions being changed. This is also when problems that weren't visible or budgeted for tend to surface — corroded pipework, old wiring not up to current standards, or water damage behind tiles.
Order your new tiles and fixtures before demolition starts, not after. Waiting on materials mid-project — especially anything imported — is the single most common cause of a bathroom renovation running long.
Plumbing and electrical rough-in
Plumbing comes first: new pipe runs, drain positions, and any supply line changes need to be in place and pressure-tested before walls or floors close up around them. Electrical rough-in — wiring for lighting, extractor fans, heated towel rails, underfloor heating if included — follows, since it also needs to happen before surfaces are finished.
If you're moving the toilet or drain location, or changing the room's footprint, this is the stage where that decision has to be locked in — and it's worth checking whether the change crosses into permit territory before work starts, not after.
Waterproofing and tiling
Waterproofing (tanking) the floor and shower/wet areas before tiling is non-negotiable in Cyprus, where a huge share of the housing stock is apartments — water damage that reaches the unit below is one of the most common and expensive disputes between neighbors. Don't let a contractor skip or rush this step to save time.
Tiling happens after waterproofing is fully cured, following the plan for tile layout, cuts around fixtures, and any pattern or feature work agreed in advance.
Fixtures and custom finishes
Once tiling is complete, fixtures go in: toilet, basin, shower enclosure or bathtub, taps, and the vanity unit. Custom finishes — mirrors, lighting fixtures, towel rails, any joinery — come last, once the space is otherwise finished and protected from further trade work.
Budget a final snagging pass before considering the job done: check silicone sealing, grout finish, water pressure, and that every fixture operates correctly, while the contractor is still on-site to fix anything.
Common questions
Do I need a permit to renovate a bathroom?
Usually not if you're keeping the same layout and not touching structure. But moving the toilet or drain location, enlarging the room, or altering the building's plumbing risers can cross into permit territory — see our guide on Cyprus renovation permits.
Can the tiling happen before the plumbing is fully finished?
No — tiling has to come after plumbing and electrical rough-in and waterproofing are complete, since reopening tiled surfaces afterward usually means redoing the tiling.
What's the single biggest cause of bathroom renovation delays?
Waiting on fixtures or tiles that weren't ordered before demolition started. Order early, especially anything imported, so materials are on-site by the time each trade needs them.