Bathstore or alternatives

onlyroz

Another home improvement thread from me, this time about bathrooms.

I had a look in Bathstore today and they've given me a guesstimate of around £5k for a fitted bathroom (approx 2m square), which doesn't seem too bad to me. We're looking at a whirlpool bath with shower enclosure, sink and toilet (both relocated), tile removal and new tile fitting (although we'd have to buy the tiles ourselves separately).

So are Bathstore any good? They get so-so reviews on the web, but seem to be higher rated than B&Q or Homebase.

Also, should I go with their own fitting service? Or should I buy the new suite and arrange the fitting separately through a local builder?

cddc

Price is OK for a company backed fitting service, certainly better than you would be likely to get from B&Q or Homebase and similar to Wickes to order. A local builder would almost certainly be cheaper to fit overall but get some recommendations.

keystone

Arrange your fitting service either through an independent unofficially recommended by the guy instore or via an independent bathroom fitter you have found yourself. Don't bother going through a builder.

Oh and a £5k budget is not far off on a wet finger basis whichever way you look at it.

Cheers

cyclonebri1

keystone wrote: »

Arrange your fitting service either through an independent unofficially recommended by the guy instore or via an independent bathroom fitter you have found yourself. Don't bother going through a builder.

Oh and a £5k budget is not far off on a wet finger basis whichever way you look at it.

Cheers

Juesss, :eek::eek: I know the cost of the stuff but boy the labour, you guys live in a different world to me.

I only do supply and fit for the family, no labour costs, I could cut that by 2/3s.

Which is why I am here trying to promote DIY, :D

keystone

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Juesss, :eek::eek: I know the cost of the stuff but boy the labour, you guys live in a different world to me.

Ha Ha. I have family to feed and bills to pay !!!!!! as does any other tradesman. Average cost to fit a bathroom is £1500 - £2k labour and iro £ 500 building materials. Then you can add cost of suite, tiles etc to that. If OP budgets £5k on basis of getting someone to do it for him then he could well get a pleasant surprise when his scope comes in cheaper. Thats all I was saying really. The problem occurs when someone budgets £2k total and it costs them a lot more because they didn't do their research. This is called reality. Out oif the labour has to come overheads and taxes to mention but two.

I only do supply and fit for the family, no labour costs, I could cut that by 2/3s.

I'm impressed of course but if you do it for nothing then of course you can cut the cost. Service and repair your own car and you won't pay £ 50 per hour labour plus VAT. Doesn't seem a logical argument IMHO.

Which is why I am here trying to promote DIY, :D

Well OP could DIY it if they a) felt capable, b) had the time, and c) had the knowledge. I'm all for promoting DIY thats why I come here offering advice to peeps. But I shudder sometimes at some of the DIY efforts that I get called in to rectify. The case of the not connected oveflow waste pales into insignificance in comparison.

Cheers

cyclonebri1

It's not an argument chap, it's me putting my hand up to what "non able" folks have to pay.
Yes, you are talking to a person who has never had to pay anything to anyone else to do something for himself, I'm sure you get my drift now???, ;);):D

I'd have to qualify that but that's the bones, rewind and think MSE not trade journal:D:D:D:D

And please, please remember the customer has the same bills to pay, touchee? (sp)

keystone

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

It's not an argument chap, it's me putting my hand up to what "non able" folks have to pay.

Wasn't trying to have one actually and you are right to flag it up in reality. The only thing is that I am not a charity even if I'd like to be for the benefit of my fellow man. Most reasonable people will help someone out thats clearly in difficulty. What sticks in my craw are the people who claim they don't have the ability to pay for the "luxury" of a half decent bathroom (I'm not talking the gold plated stuff here) but still sit there with the 50" 3D telly, the designer clothing and smoking 40 fags a day and expect me to do some work for them for a pittance.

Yes, you are talking to a person who has never had to pay anything to anyone else to do something for himself, I'm sure you get my drift now???, ;);):D

Yes no problem.

And please, please remember the customer has the same bills to pay, touchee? (sp)

I don't regarding domestic bills and am moderately offended (:D) that you think I do but many customers do forget or don't understand about the cost of running a business. They see a charge of "x" for a fortnights work, think well his domestic bills are probably "y" like mine so x - y is just being trousered and thats being greedy. It ain't like that and you know that as well as I do. Its touch! BTW.

Cheers

onlyroz

Really, I am not in a position to install my own bathroom (or even to put up a shelf, mind) so I'm happy to pay somebody to do it for me - but of course, while I don't want to see builders and their families starving, I don't want to pay more than the "going rate" either...

keystone

keystone wrote: »

Its touch! BTW.Cheers

Why in the name of all that is holy has the forum automatic censor blocked out my e acute?

Huh??

keystone

onlyroz wrote: »

I don't want to pay more than the "going rate" either...

You shouldn't have to. Thats why you'll be needing three quotes for the exact same scope of work from three independent contractors for the purposes of compare and contrast.

Cheers

The_Blue_Hatter

Where are you onlyroz because the price will also depend on where you live. 5k in London is probably a decent price whereas it could be cheaper in for example Lancashire.