Cheapest way to get a new bathroom?

Fraggle25

Hi there,

We want to install a new bathroom and am wondering what is the best and most cost-effective way to do this. (Not really considering DIY although could do basic decorating like painting, laying vinyl flooring and at a real push then possibly tiling but would prefer not to).

We want to put in a false ceiling with halogen lighting and also remove an old window frame (left when the extension was built) and get that plastered over. Probably also need to sort out floorboards.

So the options I can think of are:

1) Get one-stop shop to do it all, including supplying and fitting the suite.
2) Get individual plasterer, plumber, etc. to do work and buy suite (from ebay if possible!)
3) Buy builder to do the ceiling, plastering, etc. and a professional 'bathroom fitter' to do the rest and buy suite

Would be great to hear of anyone's experience in this area. It's early days in the planning so I'm not sure I fully understand who exactly does what yet!!

Thanks!!

Canucklehead

Good morning: There are experienced and qualified plumbers (multitrade in fact) out there who can do it all to a very high standard eg. my OH;) Visit local plumbers/builders/electrical merchants and tile shops to source your materials (you can buy quality goods at reasonable prices) but always consult your plumber before you commit yourself to any purchases as some items might be inappropriate for your installation. Have your plumber check over your purchases as any defects in materials etc. will cost you more in wasted labour costs. You can keep costs down, for example, by removing waste materials and stripping tiles yourself but keep in mind if any work you take on yourself causes delays for the plumber labour costs for wasted time will be incurred.

Get 3 full specification, written quotations from plumbers recommended to you by a source you trust and compare like for like.
Several excellent guides are available for download from the BMA

HTH

Canucklehead

sheilavw

We had a bathroom fitted three years ago. We went to the place that had done our kitchen and guy came and said 3k for everything (before I had even chosen what I wanted). We then looked around a plumbers merchants and found what we wanted but they didnt do fitting but had cards out with local plumbers on. We contacted one who turned out to be the brother in law of someone I used to work with. He came to look and we showed him what we wanted and he told us to get the suite from screwfix direct. They delivered what we wanted and it included everything down to the toilet seat and bath panel , bath was metal.It was £200 and has been fine. We bought the floor and wall tiles and shower screen. The guy did all the fitting, removal old suite, incl in cost were 4 small ceiling lights (tiny bathroom, just length of bath with basin next to it then toilet) and removed old suite. All in 3 years ago was £1700/.My advice is do look round. Many shops show bathroom suites cheap then charge extras for taps, toilet seats, bath panels etc.

Fraggle25

Thanks - so it seems like there are plumbers who specialise in bathroom fitting and do it all (including tiles, etc)? In my ignorance I assumed plumbers only did the actual pipework!

Canucklehead

Good evening: Yes... tiling, electrics, gas/central heating, carpentry, plastering, P&D, leadwork, brickwork, kitchen fitting etc....if you're in the trades long enough and are open to developing new skills and gaining qualifications you can turn an experienced and qualified hand to almost anything in the building industry (until the knees and back finally give out that is;) )

HTH

Canucklehead

mondayitis

right

first where do you live ISH ie london se or manchester..


secondly ask around:freinds neighbours, builders merchants, for recomendations.

thirdly get 3-4 quotes for what you want done..( your looking at ball park figure £6000+).

when you finally narrow it down to 1 person/s get a written quote saying exactly what will be done, how long it will take and costing of each stage..
ie fitting new units+plumbing..fitting celing + lights...tiling,painting flooring..

ask if they excpect to come across any problems ( ie: in this area the elecktrics was done by a blind man with no arms so extensive wiring might be in order)...

agree pricing IN WRITING...and have signed copies..

do allow a contigancy for extras and when theses occur have written costings before they are done..



In my experiance it always helps to have one person/company do the whole job..there is less to go wrong and if something did they couldnt blame each other..


IE lights keep shorting out...leccy says its the way the earth was attached to plumbing..plumber says it was the carpenters fault for moving it over slightly..etc etc etc.....

Fraggle25

That's really helpful, thanks! I love in the South-East, just outside London so expect I won't get the cheapest prices, but it's good to know there are specialists out there who will do the whole job.