Bathroom Refurb - advice!

kenzie123

Hello

We are getting our bathroom changed -

currently its very small with a really dim light fitting - we basically want the whole room changed - new suite, new lighting, new tiles.

Not sure where to start - should we buy a suite and have a builder fit it, do we need a plumber who could do the lighting as well?

Not done this before but want to look at cost effective ways to make a small space look bigger. The room doesn't have a window. Any basic advice much appreciated!

Thank you

Velvet_Glove

Can you go to a designer who will do design and build all in one? We've just done our kitchen that way

SuzieSue

Depending on where you live, it can be very difficult to find a decent bathroom fitter. Around here, the good ones are booked up 3 to 6 months in advance.

It will probably be cheaper to buy your own suite, but if something goes wrong you will have to sort it out and you could find the fitter blaming the supplier and vice versa.

It is expensive to get a bathroom fitted by a decent fitter - average price is £5k to £8k around London for everything but it can go up to £20k and beyond if you go for top of the range tiles and sanitaryware.

I would avoid the chains like Bathstore as you will have no idea what their fitters will be like.

phill99

I run a property maintenance company majoring on kitchen and bathroom installations. We fit around 10 bathrooms a year.


I would say this.


1. Get a bathroom fitter that can handle the whole job and has decent subbies to do the more specialised bits like the electrics. You may pay a bit more, but having one company take overall responsibility will make sure nothing gets missed. For you to get different trades in just means that they blame each other if there is an issue.
2. Get some one that will do supply and fit and get them to give you trade catalogues to choose sanitary and brassware from. This means they have responsibility if their is an issue and it wont cost you to rectify.
3. Don't buy cheap rubbish off the internet and avoid sites like Victorian Plumb etc They sell very poor quality products that are imported en-masse from Turkey and China at very inflated prices. If you want to go down the labour only route, expect to pay for delays caused by poor logistics and poor choice of purchases.
4. Don't skimp on tiles. they will be the make or break of your project.
5. Don't expect someone to start next week. Those that can are available for a reason. We are now taking bookings for 2018.
6. Expect to pay for quality. Pay cheap and you will pay twice.
7. Get references for the fitter - decent ones will be happy to provide this.
8. Make sure the electrician is fully qualified and can provide appropriate documentation to sign off any lighting etc. If you don't get this the solicitors go in to melt down when you sell the house.