Dolphin bathrooms

DevilsAdvocate1

Has anyone any experience with Dolphin? We had one of their salesmen out today. He did a good layout but we weren't totally happy with the design, so refused to sign, saying we wanted to think about it, visit the showroom etc. Also, we believe in getting 3 quotes for everything and this was our first bathroom design. As we didn't sign, the price we quoted has now gone up by £2k apparently, so probably won't go back to them.

We are having an extension built and the builder has said he can fit a bathroom for us. I thought it was probably best just to have one project manager rather than different ones for different parts of the job. The builder is fitting the kitchen which we have bought from Wickes.

D.

keystone

You made the correct decision. Absolutely. Incontravertably. As a matter of interest what is the scope and what was their quote? Detail would be nice but if you don't feel inclined to reveal that 'tis OK.

Cheers

Bikertov

I had Dolphin round years ago.

They were very pushy, and tried all the sales tactics, including the 'call my manager' and 'discount if you sign now' trick. He was even trying to get me to choose carpet and tile designs there and then, even though I was in early planning stages of the room.

He would not leave, even after about 3 hours (it was a 6' x 6' room, with not a lot of scope !) - so by 10pm I had to almost physically kick him out, never to return.

Personally ... I would never touch them again with a bargepole

ormus

As we didn't sign, the price we quoted has now gone up by £2k apparently, ..........
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

do you still believe in fairys too?

DevilsAdvocate1

It was for a whirlpool corner bath, shower wet room area with a partitioning part wall (separating the shower from the bath), toilet and sink integrated into vanity units with an additional cupboard. A curved towel rail would be on the part partition. The wet area would be fully tiled, with just one layer of tiles around the bath. The floor would also be fully tiled. I'm not sure of the room size - perhaps 9'x9'?

The room is currently a bedroom. As part of our extension (which the builders started last week), the current bathroom will become a corridor. The builder is blocking up the window (as there will be a bedroom where the window is now), putting in a new window on the other external wall and putting the pipework in place.

The bathroom fitter will have to remove the fitted wardrobes (which doesn't look like a massive job).

Final price we were quoted was for just short of 13.5K. My kitchen, which is a much bigger area, only cost £7.3K (although we do have some things to add which will make it nearer to £10K).

D.

keystone

Unless your corner bath is horrendously expensive that sounds waaay too high. and its going up anoither £2k as you didn't sign? Sheesh!

Personally I don't like wetrooms on suspended wooden floors - too much (or scope for) movement even taking the maximum precautions. I'm assuming it is being currently a bedroom?

As regards the window to be blocked up if it has to go and stiull stays within the area of the bathroom I normally suggest the client leaves it in place. Just block up the inside where the reveal comes back to the internal wall and tile over it. Doesn't affect the external appearance of the house that way - just looks like the curtains are drawn all the time. I appreciate that this might not apply in your case but its a thought.

Cheers

DevilsAdvocate1

Hi Keystone,

Not quite sure what you mean about the window. The bedroom is at the back of the house and the window looks out over the garden. We are building a 2 storey extension to the back which means that there will be a new bedroom where the garden currently is. Because I don't want to look into the bedroom when in the bath, the window is to be blocked up.

As the room would then have no natural light, a frosted window is going to be put into the other external wall (to the side of the house).

I had wondered about keeping the windowsill and using tiles to make a feature of the recessed area. Or perhaps levelling the window with the wall and then putting some recessed shelves in.

D.

Bikertov

DevilsAdvocate1 wrote: »

It was for a whirlpool corner bath, shower wet room area with a partitioning part wall (separating the shower from the bath), toilet and sink integrated into vanity units with an additional cupboard. A curved towel rail would be on the part partition. The wet area would be fully tiled, with just one layer of tiles around the bath. The floor would also be fully tiled. I'm not sure of the room size - perhaps 9'x9'?

Firstly, apart from think carefully about using Dolphin at all, I would strongly suggest NOT to go for a 'wet room'. It is prone to leaks if not done 110% perfectly, on a completely stable floor.

We had major problems with a poorly fitted shower tray, that was flexing about 2 -3 mm, and caused major leaks. A wet room would be even more disasterous.

Also, Dolphin do seem to like their very expensive corner baths - which in most cases are really of no benefit. Have a look at the layout of the room, and see if you can't use a 'normal' bath instead - it will save you a fortune !

A 'normal' steel bath, good brand and of a standard size, can be bought for around £200 - 300.

Get a piece of graph paper, cut out some shapes to scale, representing the bath, shower etc, and plan it yourself ! Work with your builder / plumber to ensure services are in the correct place.

To snazz up a bathroom, put in some little low voltage LED decking lights at skirting level all the way around - it give great mood lighting. I also put some at high level, and with an LED lit mirroor, did not even go for ceiling lights in the end.

Looks great, and everyone comments how nice it is !

ormus

http://www.ukbathrooms.com/shop/bathrooms/baths/corner_baths/products/vitra_optima_offset_acrylic_corner_bath_1500_x_1000mm.html

you can get corner baths for less than 200 quid.

13.5k :eek::eek::eek:

wallbash

It was for a whirlpool corner bath

Can any one tell me , why a corner bath , never seen the point.
As for whirlpool :rotfl: had one since we moved to this house 7 years ago.
I have used the 'bubbles ' three times.
My teenage daughters stopped over 6 years ago. Biggest waste of money in a bathroom.

If I had the money ( and inclination ) would rip the bath out .

DevilsAdvocate1

Corner bath is not necessary. But my mum has a whirlpool bath and I love it. I really miss it since I moved out (15 years ago). Its my one requirement for the bathroom. Guess we are all different.

My husband is not keen on a wet room either, so will give that a miss and put a proper shower tray in.

Thanks for the replies, D.