Is £7000 too much for a small bathroom?

[user1473449791]

I have a really teeny tiny bathroom in dire need of repair, it's very narrow with not much storage. I want to:

Replace bath with a walk in shower unit
Replace loo
Replace sink with vanity counter & cupboard
New porcelain tiles on floor, ceiling and walls
heated towel rail
Extractor fan put in
Mirror cupboard with lights
Spot lights or some type of appropriate bathroom light
Tall cupboard for storage
Some other work needed on the walls and on general state of the place!

I've been quoted £7000. I'd like to reduce it to maybe £5-6000 max. I'm thinking is Porcelain really necessary? Is ceramic that bad? Could I cut costs elsewhere?!

It sounds about right to me, things like the quality of the taps and the tiles will make a big difference, also any "designer" element, so you could get good quality basic taps much cheaper than equivalent fancy taps iyswim.

I don't think there's a difference in ceramic v porcelain tiles for longevity, so that's an aesthetic choice, but if you're spending £6k anyway I wouldn't cut corners on something you're going to look at everyday and wish you'd gone with the other one, unless you don't intend to stay in the house for long. If a bathroom lasts 10 years £1000 is only £100pa. My bathroom is currently 15yo and no plans to change it, so it's important to get it right more than to save a few quid IMO.

Yes it sounds right mine was 12k but needed a full replacement and some lead pipe replacement

About the same as my teeny bathroom cost to be honest. The major cost was the labour for tiling (the tiles themselves were relatively inexpensive) so tiling less of the space could help bring the cost down a bit

If that includes the plumber supplying all fittings then you can probably knock the £1k off it by buying stuff yourself and then bringing in a bathroom fitter and tiler as needed.

It would give you control over the process, and allow you to make decisions over where you can make savings without compromising the end product.

I did mine a few years ago, almost the opposite of you in that we took our a shower and put in a bath. I managed to get my bath at about 70% off the RRP (another company online refused to come anywhere near a price match, I think it was mispriced!!), and also found some end of line tiles that I totally fell in love with.

Saved myself a fortune, although it did mean more work for me in sourcing everything and waiting about for deliveries.

When you say teeny what are you talking?

10ft x 10ft?

Sounds about right. Ours was around 6.5K but we had ceramic tiles not porcelain.

The size of the bathroom makes very little difference, it’s still fitting the same things you would in a big bathroom. Only difference is the tiling and flooring costs.

Are you really going to tile the ceiling?

Just re read your post. DH hates using porcelain tiles ( he plasters tiles, plumbs, the lot), can’t remember why tho. But they’re certainly not necessary and would knock some money off the price if you were to swap them.

Thats what I mean, would it be hours, days or weeks tiling, due to the size of the area?

Have you had bathroom floor tiles before? That was the first thing I changed when I moved somewhere, and got non slip flooring because a drop of water on tiles was so slippery.

The size of the bathroom makes very little difference, it’s still fitting the same things you would in a big bathroom. Only difference is the tiling and flooring costs.

This. You can also see how much labour is and if you can get the materials cheaper youself.

Re ceramic tiles - they’re cheaper, require no sealing etc but needn’t look ‘cheap’ if you choose well so I’m all for them.

When you say teeny what are you talking?
10ft x 10ft?

Smaller! Around 7.5 ft x 5.2 ft

Are you really going to tile the ceiling

More like those ceiling panel things with spot lights put in.

including labour?
sounds about right.
the porcelain is only half the story ime. all the hidden bits you need are just as expensive.

Mine cost £1800 without labour (I'm fortunate!) tiles cost pennies to £££ depends on what you choose likewise the units. Get a second quote from an independent installer (self employed are cheaper than big companies) and compare prices.

That's about what we paid for our miniscule bathroom to be done 2 years ago, so I'd say it's about right.

@Canyousewcushions

If that includes the plumber supplying all fittings then you can probably knock the £1k off it by buying stuff yourself and then bringing in a bathroom fitter and tiler as needed.

It would give you control over the process, and allow you to make decisions over where you can make savings without compromising the end product.

I did mine a few years ago, almost the opposite of you in that we took our a shower and put in a bath. I managed to get my bath at about 70% off the RRP (another company online refused to come anywhere near a price match, I think it was mispriced!!), and also found some end of line tiles that I totally fell in love with.

Saved myself a fortune, although it did mean more work for me in sourcing everything and waiting about for deliveries.

Thanks, I'm not DIY inclined at all, and the reason the bathroom's never been done is because I feel so overwhelmed by it all. Mould on ceiling and everything... This guy I know he's done several people's houses that I know, incl my mum, and they're all very happy with him. And he can do everything top to bottom. So I'm inclined to trust him and let him do it all. Cause I don't know where to start, don't have a car, and don't know what to look for! Yeah I'm useless

I'm heartened to hear that it sounds about right and he's not overcharging :D

Sounds right to me, mine was 6 k and I kept the sink and toilet!, lots of new tiling everywhere which is the main cost,

Honestly, buy the tiles and fixtures yourself - you will save a lot of money. To keep labour costs down, go for large tiles that will be faster to install.

materials - our builder bought those on his trade account and we paid those bills. ghat saved us about 1k.

I’ve been renovating my house on a budget for a year, here’s what I would do:

Source tiles online myself. I got some from tile warehouse that were 60p each and I love them.
All the tiling myself. It’s really not that hard.
Source the bath, toilet, taps etc online myself at the cheapest place.

Remove everything myself (if you’re able to use another bathroom while the works done).
Any painting, finishing, silicon etc myself.

Then I’d just get the units bath etc put in by a proper plumber (although I know a mate who did this themselves too and it was fine).

But it sounds like I’m on a much tighter budget than you. I wouldn’t go above 3.5k for everything but I’m a tightarse.

Wow my parents cost £3k and its a pretty decent sized bathroom and that included plumber, tiler, electrician fitting spotlights, new bath and shower new toilet, sink, ceiling lowered, porcelain tiles and flooring and all attachments. They are in the nw so not sire if its just much cheaper there? Their new bathroom looks incredible now it looks like what you would find in a 5 star hotel.

Oh yes meant to say my dm bought her own tiles and flooring and her plumber actually helped her look round for cheap baths and fixtures which she could have done herself also.

@pinkbalconyrailing

materials - our builder bought those on his trade account and we paid those bills. ghat saved us about 1k.

That’s what we do with our customers. Giving them our trade discount means we can guarantee the quality of what the customer is buying. Which makes the job a whole lot easier.

Because like everything else you get what you pay for and the products from some companies are utter shite and a nightmare to try and fit.