installing a shower cubicle

wannalot

hello all

my mother is getting on a bit and is no longer able to get in and out of the bath easily so I'm currently trying to arrange to have the bath removed and a shower tray and cubicle installed. There is already a shower there, so I just need to have these installed around it and around 4 square metres of tiling done to make it match. everyone I have asked to quote says I need to provide the tiles.

Ideally I want to have a handrail fitted onto the wall to make it a bit safer.

I have had three quotes from bathroom firms. One local firm quoted 3800 pounds. Two national firms, both endorsed by charities do guaranteed work, but one said prices start from 500o pounds and the other quoted 4100, but then phoned to say that they would have to charge an additional 250 pounds because they would have to do an extra 2 square metres of tiling!

I think these prices are extortionate, but I have never had to do anything like is before so I'm not sure if this is the going rate?

I'd be really grateful for any advice anyone would offer on the price, and whether it is possible to get it done cheaper whilst still avoiding cowboys!

Habbakuk

I wanted a quote from this builder regarding a house renovation and he quoted £2400 for a new bathroom. OK....it wasn't going to be something top of the range or anyhting like that but he's no cowboy. My sister told me of somebody she knows who got a really good shower off ebay for a few hundred. Those prices seem extortionate to me.

andyhop

I would allow 2.5-3k for a bath removal and install new cubicle . We charge this sum on a regular basis in Edinburgh

lee111s

Christ! I done a full bathroom to a very good standard, fully tiled, replaced the whole suite and converted a cupboard into a shower and it cost me £2800! So glad I'm handy and have plenty of mates who are tradesmen...

Habbakuk

Is this of interest?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AKW-Medicare-Disabled-Walk-in-Shower-Tray-Enclosure-Option-B-1200x700-R-H-/231200266782?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Bathroom_Shower_Units_PP&hash=item35d49c1a1e

jellie

lee111s wrote: »

Christ! I done a full bathroom to a very good standard, fully tiled, replaced the whole suite and converted a cupboard into a shower and it cost me £2800! So glad I'm handy and have plenty of mates who are tradesmen...

Helpful for you but not particularly so to the OP's situation, where they are looking at having to pay full price for someone else to do the work for them.

zenmaster

jellie wrote: »

Helpful for you but not particularly so to the OP's situation, where they are looking at having to pay full price for someone else to do the work for them.

Actually it is quite helpful in that it provides a bottom line and puts things into perspective.

I was looking at a shower cubicle, with all the fittings, this weekend. It was not much short of £1,000 off the shelf, even before I'd thought about the cost of having it installed.

lee111s

jellie wrote: »

Helpful for you but not particularly so to the OP's situation, where they are looking at having to pay full price for someone else to do the work for them.

Could be helpful if they're willing to have seperate tradesmen do the required work as opposed to a firm who will do the whole lot.

Given this is a money SAVING forum, people tend to come looking for ways of saving money.

cattie

I wouldn't be looking to use a company to do an installation unless you've particularly chosen a specific shower intended for disabled access use.

I've recently had my bathroom completely refitted with bath taken out & replaced with shower cubicle. I just had the one guy in to do the work, I've used him before & he is an excellent all rounder.

I sourced all my own main items such as thermostatic shower & cubicle, vanity unit, taps, tiles etc. myself & with the labour costs it came in at no more than £3k, which included the same flooring for my separate wc.

See if you can't find a recommendation for an all round tradesperson who could carry out all of the necessary works as this would definitely work out much cheaper.

And bear in mind, if the shower is required for a disabled person, then providing the supplier provides items under the disability relief scheme, the purchase should be vat free. A short form usually needs to be filled out, just confirming what the disability is that requires the items. I got my shower cubicle & basin taps vat free as they were bought from a company that is familiar with this scheme.

This is the company that supplied my shower cubicle & basin taps. http://www.buyaparcel.com/p/shower-enclosures/