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 Design Specialists

There is a lot to consider when putting in a new bathroom suite, and few of us have the skills and expertise to design our own bathroom. Having a general idea of what you like and don’t like is totally different from understanding the restrictions of plumbing, or how to make the most of a tiny shower room space. Many homeowners are put off the idea of hiring a bathroom designer because of the cost. In fact, paying a little extra to have your bathroom professionally designed can pay off by helping you avoid costly design mistakes.

Types of Bathroom Designer

If you’re thinking about installing a new bathroom then you have a range of options for having it designed. If you’re buying the bathroom suite from a large bathroom warehouse, they will have designers whose services are often available free of charge. Once they’ve measured up your bathroom, they will be able to suggest a layout and products to suit, using the products sold by that particular store. There is also the DIY option, and you could do the same job yourself by measuring the floor space, marking the positions of the plumbing and then working out how to place your bath, shower cabinet, basin or toilet in the room. Finally, the other option is hiring an independent bathroom designer, who isn’t tied to the range in one particular shop.

Choosing A Bathroom Designer

With any type of design service, getting the right person for you is largely about communication. A good designer will listen to your likes and dislikes, and take on board your ideas about how you’d like the bathroom to look. It needs to be someone you feel comfortable with.

Although it’s usually better to work with a local designer who you can meet face to face, the internet makes it easier to work with designers remotely by sharing photographs and receiving designs by email. If you don’t want to use the bathroom designer working for the store which you are buying the bathroom suite, tiles and accessories from, ask your plumber if they can recommend someone they have worked with in the past. Recommendations from friends and family can also point you in the right direction. The internet can be a valuable source of information but remember that it’s easy to set up a website and not everyone is who they say they are on the internet – always do your research.

Bathroom Designer Costs

Many large bathroom showrooms will advertise that they offer free design services, but is this really the case? The bathroom designer still has to be paid, even if their salary isn’t costed separately. Usually, this means that the showroom adds the cost elsewhere, either onto the price you pay for your bath or tiles, or onto installation costs. Using an independent designer means you have to pay the cost upfront, but that leaves you free to shop around and perhaps achieve better prices on individual products. Agree a design price upfront with the designer rather than agreeing to pay on an hourly basis. Always get quotes in writing and never agree to pay the whole cost before you receive the designs.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Bathroom Designer

The first thing to consider is whether or not you need a bathroom designer. The truth is that you probably do, unless you have some expertise in the sector. Any good bathroom designer will be happy to show you examples of projects they have worked on in the past, or give you contact details for people they’ve worked with. Many designers are active on social media, and this can give a good idea of their own style. It’s important to work with someone who shares the same basic ideas about design as you do as the whole process will run more smoothly. Before you start contacting designers, sit down and make a list of the basics such as whether you want a shower over the bath or a separate shower cubicle, whether your style is traditional or contemporary, ideas about tiles, flooring or lighting. It’s fine to have pictures found online or in magazines to show your designer for inspiration. You should also have a very clear idea of what you’re prepared to spend. A good designer will work with any budget and shouldn’t push you to spend more than you are happy with.

Putting in a new bathroom represents spending a considerable sum of money, and a designer will help you avoid the pitfalls and traps of bathroom design. Get the right person and they can take your ideas and help you source the very best products for your home, staying within your budget. A bathroom designer can also liaise with your plumber, taking some of the stress out of the renovation project for you.

Buying a shiny new bathroom suite, tiles, flooring and lighting is the easy part of the process. Actually installing it is a different matter. Unless you’ve substantial experience in plumbing, ripping out a bathroom suite and replacing it is something best left to the professionals. Choosing a bathroom installer is just as important as selecting the right basin or shower, but it’s often left as an afterthought. Getting the right person in to install your bathroom can change a mediocre bathroom into a great one and save you a lot of time and stress too.

Bathroom Repair Specialists

If you are looking to revamp your bathroom on a budget, then repairing your existing bathroom furniture makes financial sense. Repairing or resurfacing baths, sinks, and shower trays can breathe new life into your bathroom whilst being at a fraction of the price of a renovation too! There are many companies in the UK who specialise in bathroom repairs that work from commercial clients at hotels, hospitals and local authorities to domestic customers who are looking for simple repairs to refresh their bathroom. If your bathroom is looking tired with scratched, chipped or worn furniture then a bathroom repair specialist can makeover your bathroom to turn it into something modern and new.

Bath Repairs- Enamel, Plastic and Acrylic Baths

Whether you have an enamel or plastic bath does not matter when it comes to bath repairs. Repairing chipped or damaged baths can be done by bathroom repair specialists who can give your bath a new lease of life whilst saving you money. Replacing a bath is not only costly as you will need to pay for materials, re-tiling and plumbing as well but it can also be a hassle. Bath repairs have all the benefits of a replacement whilst being less hassle and cheaper too! The thing with baths is that they can damage and scratch easily just by dropping an object leading it to chip. However, the fully trained technicians that work for bathroom repair companies can repair damage in just a few hours and do not require a team of tradesman or incur the cost that replacing a bathtub does.

Most likely the repair will leave your bath looking as good as new as if the damage was never there to begin with! Although many UK baths are white, bath repairs are not limited to one colour and can be done to any colour that you can find on the market. Although there are many products that you can buy to DIY your bath repair, it is best to hire a trained professional as this can give you a superior finish and make sure that the repair is done properly. Bathroom repair companies do not just deal with bath, shower and sink repairs, they can also provide services like mastic renewal, anti-slip and re-tiling.

Bath Resurfacing

Bath resurfacing is a procedure that rectifies the enamel on your bath that has been worn, scratched, damaged or is just too difficult to clean. Resurfacing baths can be completed without removing taps, fittings or tiling which makes it quite hassle free. Bath resurfacing can last many years and you can also resurface your bath in a different colour for a bathroom makeover.

Bath Repair Companies

The UK market is filled with various bathroom resurfacing and repair companies that can do your bathroom repair to a high standard. To find the best repair company for you it is not just down to the price. Neither the cheapest nor the most expensive quote can guarantee the best work. To get the right company for you, you can ask friends for recommendations on local, reliable bathroom repair companies or get a few quotes and advice from different companies to find the best one for you.

Bath Resurfacing Costs

Although all baths are quite similar, there are a few determining factors that can vary the cost of restoring or resurfacing your bath. Colour, for one, can add to the cost. While white is the cheapest, the price for other colours can vary due to the skill it takes to match the specific colours to make it blend seamlessly into your existing colour. Also, if your bath has already been re-enamelled once before, then it may need to be completely stripped back which can be more time consuming while costing more. Most reliable companies will discuss and agree on a price before the work is started. Resurfacing white baths for the first time will cost between £200 and £500, chip repairs and adding new fixtures can range between £75 and £150 depending on factors such as size and colour.

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.