Bathroom Renovation Checklist for Irish Homeowners

Homeowner and plumber inspect an exposed soil pipe

A good bathroom renovation is decided before anyone lifts a tile. Measure the room, settle the layout, set a budget with a contingency, check what building rules apply, book the trades in the right order, and inspect the work at each stage. This checklist walks through all of it, in the order it happens in an Irish home.

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TL;DR

Decide scope first: replacing fixtures in place costs far less than opening walls and moving plumbing.
Hold a contingency outside the contract price, and remember VAT is 23% on products and 13.5% on labor.
Building Regulations can apply even when planning permission does not, so ask your local authority before work starts.
Electrical work in a bathroom is generally notifiable, so use a registered electrician and keep the completion certificate.
Walk the finished room with a snag list before you make the final payment.

Before you start: assess what you have
Set the budget and the scope
Planning permission and Building Regulations
Design decisions to lock in before ordering
The stages of the build, in order
During the work: staying in control
Handover checklist and snagging
Keeping the finished bathroom in good shape
Our perspective
Talk to us about your bathroom
FAQ
Sources

Before you start: assess what you have

Begin with a survey of the existing room. This Old House suggests assessing the condition and function of fixtures, the layout, lighting, storage and ventilation, then measuring the space, locating the shutoff valves and thinking about accessibility and future needs.

In practice, write down answers to these:

[ ] What annoys you every day? Cramped door swing, no storage, a shower that never gets hot, a window that never clears steam.
[ ] Is anything leaking, soft underfoot, or stained behind the tiles? Those are signs the job is bigger than a cosmetic refresh.
[ ] Do you want to change the layout, or keep the toilet, basin and shower where the pipes already are?
[ ] Do you need the room to work for a growing family, or for older age? Level-access showers, grab-rail backing and wider doors are far cheaper to plan in now than to retrofit.
[ ] Where is the main water shutoff, and does each fixture have its own isolation valve?
[ ] Is this your only bathroom?

That last question matters more than people expect. The Irish Times notes that if it is your only bathroom you should think about how you will cope, perhaps timing the work around a holiday, while remembering the fitter may need to contact you daily about details or problems. Arrange a plan B for showering, such as a family member’s house or a gym membership, before day one.

Set the budget and the scope

Cost is driven mainly by scope depth, meaning whether walls and floors are opened up or fixtures are swapped where they stand. CallBathroom makes this point and says the scope should be defined and defended early. Every later change, from moving a drain to adding a recessed niche, grows the bill.

When you ask for quotes, give every contractor the same brief so the numbers compare fairly:

[ ] Measured room size and a sketch of the current layout
[ ] Whether the layout moves or stays
[ ] Finish level for tiles, sanitaryware, shower enclosure, vanity and taps
[ ] Who supplies what, and who is responsible for delivery and storage
[ ] Whether removal of old fittings and waste disposal is included
[ ] Whether the price covers project management and all trades

Contingency and VAT

This Old House recommends holding a contingency outside the contract price for concealed conditions, allowance overages and selections you make mid-project. Old pipework, rotten floor boards and a subfloor that is not level are the usual surprises behind a bathroom wall. Many homeowners keep the contingency in a separate account so it does not quietly become part of the main budget.

Also check how VAT applies to your quote. According to the Irish Times, home renovation products carry 23% VAT and labor 13.5%. A clear quote shows materials and labor separately, which helps you compare like for like. Rates can change, so confirm them with your contractor or Revenue when you sign.

Comparison of VAT rates for products and labour

If you are weighing how to pay for the work, our guide to bathroom remodel financing in Ireland sets out the options.

Grants for accessible bathrooms

If the renovation is to make the bathroom safer for someone with a disability or reduced mobility, you may qualify for the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, which is run by local authorities, as the Irish Times reports. The maximum amount and income rules have been revised over time, so confirm current limits with your local authority before you commit to a design, and apply before work begins. Grants are normally assessed against the proposed works, so work already done is a risk.

Planning permission and Building Regulations

Most bathroom jobs are internal and do not need planning permission, but do not stop the check there. Citizens Information says minor changes to a house generally do not need permission, while extensions or material changes of use may. It advises checking with the local authority first, because unauthorised work can lead to a large fine or imprisonment.

Planning and building control are separate systems. A National Building Control Office presentation warns that planning exemption is not Building Regulations exemption: works to existing dwellings can still need to comply, and work that creates a new or greater contravention of the Regulations is prohibited.

The Department of Housing says the Regulations generally apply to new buildings and to existing ones undergoing an extension, material alteration or material change of use. Responsibility for compliance stays with the owner and any appointed builder or designer. Where the formal procedure applies, it involves a Commencement Notice before works, then design certificates, assigned-builder and assigned-certifier forms, an inspection plan and a Certificate of Compliance on Completion.

A simple bathroom swap will often sit outside that formal process. Adding an extension, changing the structure or altering the drainage may not. Local Government Ireland says local authorities enforce the Regulations and that you should contact yours to find out which notices and certificates are needed. One phone call or email, kept on file, is worth doing before you sign a contract.

[ ] Ask your local authority (Kildare County Council, Dublin City Council or your relevant Dublin council) whether your works need a notice or certificate
[ ] Ask your contractor in writing who is responsible for any required certification
[ ] Keep every certificate with your house papers, because buyers’ solicitors ask for them

Design decisions to lock in before ordering

This is the stage where a checklist saves the most money. Everything below should be decided and written down before demolition, because late changes are what stretch both schedule and budget.

Layout and plumbing

Keeping the soil pipe position is the cheapest route. The Irish Times piece mentions soil pipes among the things to think about in a new bathroom, since moving a toilet often means rerouting waste and can involve floor works. Decide now whether you want a walk-in shower, a bath, or both, and confirm the water pressure and hot water capacity can drive the shower you have chosen. Thinking of replacing a tub? Our guide to bathtub to shower conversion in Ireland covers costs, rules and process.

Ventilation

Ventilation is a regulatory item, not a nice-to-have. The government’s Technical Guidance Document F states that Part F deals with ventilation, including bathrooms and sanitary accommodation, and that other methods of compliance are possible if the regulatory requirements are met. So specify the extractor fan (size, noise, where it vents, humidity control) at design stage, not after the tiles are up.

Electrics and lighting

In Ireland, electrical work in bathrooms falls into a notifiable category. One guide to notifiable electrical works explains that work in zones near water, bathrooms and shower rooms included, must be done by a registered electrical contractor who then issues a completion certificate to the owner. Plan lighting in layers: a ceiling light, task light at the mirror and a dimmable or low-level option for night. Put heated towel rails, shaver sockets and mirror lights on your drawing so the electrician prices them once.

Storage, accessibility and materials

[ ] Vanity unit with drawers rather than doors if you want to see everything at a glance
[ ] A recessed niche in the shower wall, set out before tiling
[ ] Backing boards behind walls where grab rails might go later
[ ] Slip-resistant floor tile rated for wet areas
[ ] Tile format and grout color chosen with cleaning in mind: fewer grout lines, less scrubbing
[ ] Shower door type and glass finish confirmed, with lead times noted

Order lead times can run long on made-to-measure glass and vanities. Ask for confirmed delivery dates in writing and check every item for damage on arrival, before the old bathroom comes out.

If you want to see products in person first, read how to get the most from a Dublin bathroom showroom visit. And for a deeper look at layout thinking, see our piece on custom bathroom design.

The stages of the build, in order

The order below is the standard sequence on a full renovation. A project manager should give you a dated version for your own job.

Stage	What happens	What you check
1. Prep and strip-out	Water isolated, old fittings, tiles and flooring removed, room protected	Walkway protection, dust control, waste removal arranged
2. Opening up and repairs	Condition of subfloor, walls and pipes revealed, repairs agreed	Photos of hidden conditions, written price for any extra
3. First fix	Pipework, waste and wiring run to final positions	Positions match the drawing before walls are closed
4. Walls, ceiling and floor build-up	Boards, insulation where relevant, levelled floor	Flat, solid surfaces ready for waterproofing
5. Waterproofing	Membrane or tanking in shower and wet areas	Photos of membrane before tiling, curing time respected
6. Tiling and grouting	Wall and floor tiles laid, grout and silicone applied	Straight lines, even joints, falls toward the drain
7. Second fix	Sanitaryware, taps, shower, fan, lights, accessories fitted	Everything works, nothing leaks, fan runs
8. Final clean and handover	Cleaning, touch-ups, certificates, guarantees	Snag list signed off

Waterproofing deserves its own check

Leaks are the costliest failure in a bathroom, and they hide behind finished tiles. One Irish guide says that tanking is rarely a legal requirement on its own, which is exactly why it gets skipped. Whatever the rules say, ask your installer to waterproof every shower area and wet room floor, to tell you what system they use, and to photograph it before tiles go on. Ask also how long the membrane must cure before tiling and a first shower.

During the work: staying in control

[ ] Agree one point of contact and a short daily or twice-weekly update
[ ] Choose all remaining finishes before first fix, not during it
[ ] Put every change in writing with its cost and time impact
[ ] Keep a photo record of pipes and wiring before they are covered
[ ] Confirm which days the water or power will be off
[ ] Protect the rest of the house: floor covering on the route from front door to bathroom

A single team handling design, supply, fitting and coordination avoids the gaps that appear when a plumber, tiler and electrician each assume another has done something. That is the core reason we run projects as one managed job.

Handover checklist and snagging

Do not rush the final walk-through. Do it in daylight, with the contractor, and with the checklist in your hand.

[ ] Run every tap and the shower, check hot and cold, and look under the basin and around the toilet for drips
[ ] Flush the toilet several times and watch for slow drains
[ ] Run the shower for at least ten minutes, then check the ceiling below and surrounding walls
[ ] Test the extractor fan and confirm it clears steam
[ ] Open and close the shower door and every vanity drawer
[ ] Look along tiles from a low angle for lippage, chips and uneven grout
[ ] Check silicone joints are continuous and neat
[ ] Test all lights, switches and sockets
[ ] Confirm paint touch-ups, door ease and silicone at the floor edge
[ ] Receive electrical completion certificate, any building-control paperwork, product guarantees and care instructions

Write every defect on a snag list with a date for correction, and hold back an agreed final payment until the list is cleared. Agree that holdback in the contract at the start, not at the end.

Keeping the finished bathroom in good shape

Run the fan during and for a while after every shower, and wipe the glass or walls to cut moisture.
Use non-abrasive cleaners suited to your tile and tap finishes. Check the manufacturer’s care sheet.
Check silicone around the bath, shower and basin twice a year and replace any that has cracked or blackened.
Learn where the isolation valves are, so a dripping tap never turns into a flood.
Keep the guarantee paperwork and product codes together so spares are simple to order.

Our perspective

Most renovation stress comes from decisions made too late. A homeowner chooses the tile after the plumbing is already in, or discovers the shower door has a ten-week lead time when the room is already stripped.

That is why we start with a thorough consultation and a visualization before any work begins. Our AI Concept Engine takes your room dimensions and style preferences and returns layout and material suggestions in seconds. Our studio then builds photorealistic 3D mockups, so you can see the finished room and change your mind on screen rather than on site.

We also believe one in-house team, from survey to completion, is the simplest way to keep a project on track. One point of contact manages the trades, the sequence and the snag list, and we can help with the paperwork for accessibility grant applications.

David

Talk to us about your bathroom

If you are renovating in Kildare or Dublin and want this checklist handled for you, we design, supply and fit bathrooms, including accessible bathrooms and luxury wet rooms, with full project management from survey to completion. See our bathroom design and installation services or start from our home page.

Planbbathrooms

Browse our gallery of finished bathrooms and local projects for ideas, and read what to expect from a bathroom renovation service before your first consultation.

FAQ

How long does a bathroom renovation take?

It depends on scope, lead times for made-to-measure items and the condition of what is behind the walls. A like-for-like swap is quicker than a full strip-out with layout changes and waterproofing. Ask your contractor for a dated sequence of stages, and expect that hidden problems can add time.

Do I need planning permission to renovate a bathroom in Ireland?

Usually not for internal changes, since Citizens Information says minor changes generally do not need it. Extensions or a change of use may. Building Regulations can still apply, so check with your local authority before you start.

How much contingency should I keep?

Hold it outside the contract price, as This Old House advises, to cover concealed conditions and mid-project selections. Older homes with unknown pipework and floors justify a larger cushion. Ask your contractor what they have seen on similar homes.

What should come first, design or budget?

Do both together. Set a realistic range, then define the scope and finish level that fits it. A visualization before ordering shows whether your wishlist fits the room and the budget.