Doing a new bathroom

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

We're planning on putting a new bathroom in, basically changing everything except the actual layout. But there are badly-boxed pipes, hideous tiles, etc so everything must go!

My question is, am I mad to go to a 'showroom' type place and just say 'here's my budget, can you sort everything out for me, including fitting?'

I suspect I'd get a much better deal if I just found a local plumber, wouldn't I? But would I then have to organise separate 'bits' like plasterers and tillers? Or would they do all that for me?

Basically, I'm in a fortunate enough position to not be doing this on a shoestring, but am very stressed at work right now (hence being in the fortunate position, I'm a freelance) and just don't have the headspace to micro-manage it.

Thoughts/advice anyone?

[Jenda]

If money isn't an option then why not! It might be worth speaking to a local builder instead though because they might be able to do the whole lot and you just arrange for the bathroom suite to be delivered or collected by them. If a showroom recommended plasterers etc I would worry that the prices were ramped up just because they had linked them if you see what I mean.

[Jenda]

object not option!

[magimedi]

I've just done a bathroom & for the first time ever went down the 'showroom' route.

But, I know the owner of showroom - he did a kitchen for me about 10 years ago and budget etc was all discussed.

I am delighted with the result - much better than the last one I did which was plumber, find a tiler etc etc. The finish is amazing, no snags or problems, everything clean at all times, everyone turned up on time every day etc etc.

Can't do a real price comparison as last one was about 12 years ago.

If you are in the SE PM me & I will give you the details - I really recommend him

[magimedi]

Also meant to say that the lack of stress was amazing - just knowing everything was sorted was fantastic.

[RockinHippy]

We are doing ours now & I personally wouldn't recommend going that route at all, as we did that with our kitchen & now found out they just covered up decrepit plumbing that was about to disintegrate on us.

They were nice, but are paid minimal by the chain company you go to & work at the level they are paid for. We had cock up after cock up & ended up taking 6 weeks longer than promised, mostly waiting for replacement fixtures & fittings & work tops coming from abroad getting stuck in customs - awe found out the other week, that whilst I was out - they re boarded & tiled a wall that contained our sewerage down pipes.

Bathroom fitters have just had to take the wall down to get in as the plumbing behind it was so bad it was literally falling apart, obvious even to a layman like me - it's a miracle we have not had serious leaks, including sewerage into the cavity housing structural beams of the house.

We found our bathroom fitter via check a trade, great reviews & so well deserved, unlike our kitchen fitter they are perfectionists & have taken the extra work & in their strides & charged us very little extra, they have shown us every hidden bit of plumbing to check we are happy before boarding it in & I think they have saved us some major trouble in future by being so keen on doing the job right

[EarSlaps]

We did a showroom kitchen and it worked out cheaper than a Howdens one via builders.

I wouldn't go with the 'big' companies that quote you a ridiculous figure then give you a 'discount' but maybe a small local showroom.

When we did ours the bathroom place designed it and recommended companies offering a full fitting service. We still had to choose tiles and flooring elsewhere but the fitters coordinated everything.

[magimedi]

Mine was not a chain company, but a small(ish) local independent.

[Finola1step]

I've just had my bathroom done. Had various quotes including high st showroom. Decided on ordering what we liked from Victoria Plumb and the tiles from Topps Tiles.

Gave job to local father and Son IL team who do kitchens and bathrooms. They did the whole job between them. Like you, I had lots of boxed in plumbing to be sorted. They did a great job, on schedule, no fuss.

They did say that the items from Victoria Plumb were of decent quality but that the pipe work supplied wasn't up to much (so they purchased better quality u ben etc).

The job came in about 2k less than the high st quote. So definitely ask around for recommendations in your local area.

[Tizwozliz]

We're about 85% of the way through doing our bathroom the DIY route. I was all set just to pay someone to do it but after some research and realising just how much it would cost (££££££££££) it just seemed to be really really expensive for such a tiny space. I always thought bathrooms would be cheaper than kitchens but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Also horror stories from others about it taking 9 weeks to get things finished or another person where they chipped the bath when tiling. It seemed to me that paying wouldn't give me peace of mind that it was getting done right so might as well do it myself.

[BlackTrivet]

We're going down the showroom route this time - small local company with excellent reputation (one showroom and 4 fitting teams). We know it is costing us more but this time we are willing to pay it.

I had a showroom bathroom fitted in a house I had 12 years ago (from a similar company but completely different area) and it was brilliant - no hassle at all and the finish and design was excellent. It was rather extravagant though - especially as we ended up selling the house 8 months later (didn't see that coming!).

Since then we have had two bathrooms fitted in our current house but using local plumbers and cheaper materials. This was what we wanted at the time and both were absolutely fine - the finish wasn't as good and there was more hassle involved though. They both need replacing now or at least some work (ensuite is about 9 years old and bathroom 6 years) and we are in a position to spend a bit more.

I've no doubt that if we researched and were really into every detail ourselves we could get it all done to the same standard quite a bit cheaper but we just don't have it in us (we are a bit jaded after three extensions, new kitchen...).

[RockinHippy]

That's pretty much exactly what we have done here decks & I agree it's working out much better, though I've used a few other things for inspiration:) - our builder also got us a substantial discount on the fixtures & fitting, so like you we are going to end up with a high end bathroom for less. Plus their expect has meant the nightmare plumbing disasters they unseat here's her, where taken in their stride & put right before fitting

Yours looks lovely BTW :)

Ours is finally starting to take real shape & I'm so happy with it

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

Thanks everyone, I've been away so not responded. Lots to think about. And two very luffly loos there!

[noddyholder]

I wouldn't