What is the cheapest way of doing a bathroom?

gingergirl21

Hi, we are about to make a room in our house into a bathroom (and turn the current bathroom into an office). We have a budget of about £8,000 for the bathroom which I feel is quite a good budget and should give us a bit of freedom.

However, I would still like it done as cost effectively as possible and have heard so many conflicting opinions on this.

Firstly - DIY is NOT an option. We have done a lot of DIY but do not have the confidence to mess around with plumbing etc especially since we want underfloor heating, and this is not a case of refitting an existing bathroom, but getting a new one.

So, the options that I know of are:

1. Get a bathroom company to come and do everything - presumably they will employ tradesmen and put a markup on their rate so that they profit.

2. Get a builder/plumber to come and do the work - although I will need to get both and my worry is that they won't liaise with each other and things will take time. Also, do we buy the bathroom ourselves, or will they have a discount if we buy through them? Is there such thing as a jack of all trades?

I am sure there are other options too.

We got a quote earlier this year from a bathroom company and a builder and they both came out about £8,000 - funny that they came exactly at our budget! I don't want to take the micky though by saying our budget is £5,000 and also I want to get what I pay for i.e. a good quality bathroom.

I have asked for recommendations but no one has any.

I am really stuck with this one - can anyone point me in the right direction?

So to recap I want good quality bathroom and workmanship, but at the best price and method possible without being ripped off.

Thanks

gingergirl21

Oh forgot to ask - is it the done thing to barter? I did tell the people before that their quotes were just too expensive but they just kind of shrugged and grunted and that's the last I heard of them.

helping_hubby

I don't know the answers to your main question, but as for bartering, it's worth a try.

It doesn't always work, but what's to lose? They are playing a game as much as we are in my eyes. I got nearly 20% of my bathroom quote. I had actually written him off completely from the first quote, but ended up being desperate due to lack of trades people that actually get back to you, and asked if he'd do a deal because I couldn't afford it. And we came to an agreement and hopefully we're both happy. Well I am anyway

Broadsword

Both have their risks but a good plumber will have plenty of contacts for tiling/electrics if they cannot do it themselves (although if your underfloor heating is electric you'll need a qualified electrician). If you use a national bathroom company you will be paying for a share of a large overhead and marketing spend and no guarantee of a better job. This should be much easier to organise than a full scale building project. Having done similar, choose the products you want installed (sanitaryware and tiles) get at least three plumbers to come and quote and tell you what they can do, get at least three tilers to quote, and then an electrician (or three). Ask the right questions so you know who needs to follow who and what needs to be done first, middle or last. You will learn a lot from each and be able to get ideas to refine your final choice. If you feel confident buy the products you want and get the tradesmen to simply quote to fit them. this way you avoid them getting a mark up on the purchases. Try to avoid telling them you just want a white bath or white tiles. Nothing wrong with white of course, but as a universal bathroom colour, it embraces all price ranges and you want to be able to compare like for like with quotes.

However, never ever start by revealing your budget. Amazingly all quotes will come within a whisker of your budget. Don't tell them how much you want to spend and don't pick a false figure out of the air (e.g £5000). Simply ask for prices. You may well find you will save a lot

27col

Never say what your budget is, you will always get a quote for that price. It is just human nature.
I remember as a kid going with my friend to buy a rowing boat for fishing. We told a chap who had three boats for sale, how much we wanted to spend and, low and behold, all of them were £25.00. It did not matter that one was twice as good as the other two. You can tell by the price that this was a very, very long time ago.

moneysavingplumber

Start with a decent plumber, as Broadsword says they will have contacts (or they should have). Tell the plumber what you have in mind in terms of the suite, fittings etc. I generally have always pointed my clients to a trusted trade counter that will source virtually any product for them, are usually cheaper than most online or showroom outlets, and that will deliver for as little as £10 (sometimes free), and will be able to follow up any problems or queries with the order, and I have always been able to lean on them on behalf of the client if there are problems. Personally I would steer clear of 'all in' showroom and fitting services, they often use 'multitrade' fitters and whilst the finish is often very nice, I have often had the privilege of putting right some of the workmanship under the floor, behind walls etc., and it hasn't been pretty.

It may take a little longer and be more work to co-ordinate separate tradespeople, but you will at least be getting genuine trades, and in my experience it usually works out cheaper than using a showroom's fitting service.

Canucklehead

Good morning: A plumber with multi-trade experience (including electrical qualifications) should be able to complete the job to a high standard. If you supply the sanitaryware etc. consult with your plumber to check suitability before ordering (which you would do well in advance of the start date) and check the goods immediately on delivery to ensure everything is fit for purpose.

The OH never 'barters' on price and doesn't chase work: a quality job doesn't come cheap and quality trades are always in demand. Chopping and changing the nature of the job will incur additonal costs as will delays to the provision of materials by the client. Indecision costs £££ and generates frustration.;)

Find a plumber on the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering website i.e. CIPHE

The Bathroom Academy has an excellent range of free guides to help you along.

HTH

Canucklehead

gingergirl21

Thanks your replies have been very helpful. If anyone can recommend a good plumber in the Yorkshire area please let me know.

moneysavingplumber

Follow Canucklehead's link to the CIPHE website and go on their database for your area.

sebastianj

I would approach it differently, take the measurement of the bathroom to a bathroom supply company and ask them to design it using their products. You can negotiate the cost of parts etc. Then tell a plumber you want this fitted where, the tiler and plumber should work together, agree a the time scale in advance and pay them per hr.
rgd
seb

edthedead

I would source the suite yourself from B&Q, Wickes, Screwfix, even Argos do them I think! I have always found them to be much much cheaper than these specialist bathroom shops. The taps can be sourced much cheaper as well from the same sources, or even e-bay (although the quality would worry me if I couldn't see it before buying).

Then get out the yellow pages and find a local plumber who will fit it for you, the chances are that he/she (;)) will also doing the other bits and pieces for you too.

I usually reckon on £500 max for the suite and taps and about £500 more for the fitting (I do my own tiling and other bits and bobs so that really is just for the plumbing bit)... for £8000 you should be able to get a stonking bathroom fit for a king!