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Bathroom Installers & Fitters

Types of Bathroom Installer

You have several options for getting someone in to install your new bathroom. The most common method is perhaps to buy your bathroom from a large showroom which offers installation by its own team as part of the price. There are also several independent firms who are happy to work with products which you have sourced yourself, whether through the internet or from a traditional high street store. Some bathroom installation companies are huge, with several different offices and hundreds of installers. Others are “one man band” operations, working in a small geographic area only. Finally, there is always the option of hiring a plumber to fit the bathroom suite, and then getting separate tradespeople in for tiling, flooring and decorating.

Choosing a Bathroom Installer

If you are buying a package from a local or national company which includes both the products and installation, do some research first. Often you won’t have the choice of the people who install your bathroom; it will just depend on who is free to do the job at the time. Choosing to buy the products and organise bathroom installation separately gives you more control over who does the job for you. The downside is that good bathroom installers are often very busy, and may be booked solid for months in advance. If you’re not in a rush though, you may decide that you’d prefer to wait for an installer who comes particularly recommended by friends or family. Whichever method you choose to find someone to install your new bathroom, it’s never wise to go with the first quote you receive rather than having a few to compare. The other golden rule is never to pay the full cost upfront either.

Bathroom Installation Costs

If you are buying your bathroom and having it installed by the same company, often installation costs won’t be listed as a separate charge. This can make it harder to work out whether their installation charges are good value or not. However, as many companies offer finance or interest free credit on packages involving purchase and installation, it can be an effective way of spreading the cost. Independent bathroom installers are unlikely to offer the option to spread the cost over several months, so it’s even more important to make sure that you’re getting value for money. Always ask at least three companies to quote for the work, and get their prices in writing. If you’re supplying all the materials and products which need installed, it’s unlikely that you’ll be asked for a hefty deposit up front. Never pay more than 10%. Fitting a standard three-piece bathroom suite of toilet, basin and bath should cost around £250. If your project includes electrical work, tiling, flooring or decoration, this should be factored into the overall cost.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Bathroom Installer

There are a few things to consider when choosing someone to install your new bathroom. One key decision is whether to look for one installer who can turn their hand to the plumbing, tiling, electrics and other jobs which may need to be done. This might cost a little more, but it’s always easier than trying to coordinate several different trades all to come in at the same time. Another thing to consider is the timescale. A larger bathroom installation company may have multiple installers, and can offer short lead times on installation. Someone working for themselves and who has a good reputation for their work, might require months of notice before he can fit you in. Friends and relatives can be a good source of information when looking for tradespeople, as can local internet sites. Many installers have their own social media feed where they post pictures of successful projects. Use a combination of these factors to contact several local installers and work out which company is best for your needs.

There’s no point spending money on buying a great new bathroom, then scrimping on the installation. Taking care over the choice of a bathroom installer will help you strike the balance between keeping within budget, and getting a professional and timely job done. There are a lot of superb tradespeople out there, and using our guide to work out exactly what you’re looking for should make the whole process much easier.

Bathroom Refurbishments

If you’re living with a very dated bathroom suite, tinkering around the edges by changing the wall colour or putting up a new blind isn’t often enough to update the room completely. Sometimes the best course of action is just to rip the whole bathroom out, get back to the brick and floorboards, and start again from scratch. Even experienced DIY enthusiasts are understandably nervous about taking on this level of project, which might require skills in everything from electrics to plastering. Most homeowners therefore choose to hire a bathroom refurbishment company to take the stress out of the project.

Types of Bathroom Refurbishment

Most bathroom refurbishments can be classed in two ways. In the first, the homeowner takes the role of project manager, and is responsible for the design, the purchase of all materials and sanitaryware needed for the job, and sourcing tradespeople for the various jobs which need to be done. Alternatively, the homeowner may choose to hand the entire project over to a bathroom refurbishment company, who project manage the job from start to finish. There are obvious advantages and disadvantages to each approach. The size of the project doesn’t really affect the steps in the refurbishment. All projects will involve the basic stages of ripping out the old bathroom, fitting the new bathroom suite, then completing the decorative touches with flooring, tiling or plastering.

Choosing a Company for Bathroom Refurbishment

Many of the large builder’s merchants and bathroom showrooms will offer a complete refurbishment service, using the items sold through their warehouses and their own team of tradespeople. There are also many local bathroom companies across the UK who are happy to turn their hand to any job, whether a tiny downstairs shower room, or a large extravagant bathroom. 

When looking for a company, personal recommendation from a friend or relative is the best guarantee or reassurance. Social media and the internet can also be a good way of finding good companies locally, but as with everything online, use other ways of checking too. Once you’ve searched around and got the name of a few companies you’re interested in using, approach them and invite them over to discuss the project. It’s probably a good idea if you have a rough idea of what you’d like them to do, but be open to listening to their suggestions too. Ask companies to send you a quote for the work in writing, and ask about their timescales. For larger refurbishment projects, you may have to wait a couple of months for installers to be free. Accept quotes in writing and agree how the balance is to be paid once you’re happy with the job.

Bathroom Refurbishment Costs

The overall cost for taking out a dated bathroom and replacing everything can very hugely. Obviously refurbishing a small shower room with basic sanitaryware will cost a lot less than replacing a main family bathroom with a top of the range designer suite. However, it is possible to get average costs for bathroom refurbishment as a benchmark. The average cost for a new bathroom in the UK is around £3,000. This includes removal and disposal of the old bathroom, the purchase of new bathroom suite, tiles, flooring and lighting, and installation. You can reduce this cost by taking on some of the tasks such as decorating or removing tiles from the wall by yourself.

Things to Consider When Choosing Bathroom Refurbishment

The first thing to consider is whether you do actually need a complete refurbishment, or whether it would be more cost effective to reuse the existing suite, tiles or shower cubicle. If you have a very standard white bathroom suite, updating the flooring, tiles and replastering the ceiling may be enough to totally change the appearance of the room. If you do choose a complete refurbishment, think about the practicalities of being without your bathroom for a set period of time. Good bathroom refurbishment companies will consider this when planning the project, and will take steps to minimise the time where you are without a toilet or bath. Think about the overall time for the project, especially if you’re hoping to do some of the work yourself or plan to get separate people in for each job. Is it worth paying a few hundred pounds more to get a company which will do the entire job from start to finish in less than a week? Use a variety of sources to find information about the companies operating locally, from personal recommendation to social media or adverts in the local press. Any good bathroom refurbishment company will be happy to show you a range of before and after pictures, or put you in touch with satisfied customers.

A complete bathroom refurbishment is a major undertaking, but doesn’t have to turn into something stressful or expensive. Be clear about what you want and what is practical, set a realistic budget and get at least three quotes before deciding which company to choose for your new project.