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From first-fix plumbing to the last bead of silicone, the whole job in the order it has to happen.
The most technical room
in the house.
Water, electricity, ventilation and drainage all meet in about four square metres, and a small mistake stays hidden behind tile until it becomes an expensive one. This guide takes you through the whole job in the order it has to happen.
The regulations, in plain English
Bathroom zones and IP ratings, RCD protection, extract rates and hot water safety, explained so you can check the work rather than hope.
The hidden half, properly covered
Tanking systems, floor falls, substrates and pressure testing. The part nobody sees and everybody regrets skimping on.
Numbers you can use
Clearances in centimetres, waste falls, extract rates in litres per second, wet room gradients and a realistic programme in days.
Written in build order
Eleven chapters that follow the job from strip out to snagging, so you know what has to be decided before the walls close.
- 01Before You Touch AnythingThe seven things to establish first, from the soil stack to the floor construction and your consumer unit.
- 02The Budget and the ProgrammeWhere the money actually goes, a realistic stage-by-stage timeline, and what to buy before first fix.
- 03Layout and ClearancesThe clearances that make a bathroom usable, wet and dry zones, and the order of priority in a small room.
- 04Water, Drainage and PressureCombi, unvented or gravity, measuring your flow rate, waste falls, and why level access sometimes is not possible.
- 05Waterproofing and Wet RoomsWhat tanking really is, where it goes, floor falls, and the single-system rule that prevents most failures.
- 06Electrics, Zones and VentilationBathroom zones and IP ratings, RCD protection, extract rates, duct runs and fan overrun.
- 07Tiles, Stone and SurfacesPorcelain, stone and microcement compared, slip resistance, grout, silicone and setting out.
- 08Sanitaryware, Brassware and ShowersWhat is worth paying for, wall-hung versus floor standing, finishes, and an ordering checklist.
- 09Lighting, Heating and StorageFace-level light at the mirror, a night circuit, underfloor heating and the details people forget.
- 10Small Bathrooms and En-SuitesWhat genuinely makes a small room feel bigger, windowless rooms, and en-suite acoustics.
- 11Snagging, Care and What Fails FirstThe snagging list, what fails and why, and how to look after it for the next fifteen years.
A look at how the guide is laid out. Every chapter pairs plain-English guidance with something you can act on, a table, a checklist or a worksheet.
In the guide
In the guide
In the guide
In the guide
In the guide
In the guide
Two editions, same guide
The UK edition references the Building Regulations, BS 7671 bathroom zones and Approved Documents F and G, and prices in pounds. The EU edition references IEC 60364-7-701 and national equivalents, and prices in euros. Everything else is identical.
Add to basket using the button at the top of this page. Your download link arrives by email straight after checkout.
What format is it?
A 36-page A4 PDF. You get a download link by email straight after checkout, and you can read it on any device or print it at home.
Is there an EU edition?
Yes. The UK edition references the Building Regulations, BS 7671 bathroom zones and Approved Documents F and G, and prices in pounds. The EU edition references IEC 60364-7-701 and national equivalents, and prices in euros.
Can I use this to do the work myself?
Partly. Tiling, decorating and fitting are within reach of a confident DIYer. Electrical work in a bathroom is notifiable and must be certified, and we would not recommend anyone tackle drainage or waterproofing without experience. The guide is written so you can specify, check and manage the work properly either way.
Is it useful if I am hiring a contractor?
That is arguably who benefits most. Knowing what to ask about tanking systems, falls, extract rates and zones is the difference between a good job and an expensive one, and the snagging list in Chapter 11 is worth the price on its own.
Want a second opinion before you start?
Studio Akiva is an award-winning London interior design studio. If you would rather talk your bathroom through with someone before committing, book a free fifteen-minute discovery call.
