Any good tips re bathrooms?

[androbbob]

We are getting a new bathroom fitted in the next few months. I know what we want and the work is swap bath for a smaller one, install shower in corner where sink is now and then install sink on a new wall. So generally all ok, but where should I look for the items and tiles>

Tried B&Q and wickes, but is there anything any cheaper out there.

How much should I be paying for fitting? I reckon the fittings will be less than £1k just, so would it be a similar amount of cost to fit it? The toilet was replaced earlier this year as it leaked, so that does not need doing.

Also, how easy is it to tile a bath panel? I want the floor and walls the same!

Thanks!

Bathstore is cheap, especially in their continual sales, but there are lots of threads here saying people have had problems with the stuff. I have no personal experience on which to comment, though. We bought through a local bathroom shop -- he matched all internet prices for us and it was really helpful having an expert view. As a rough guide people say your fitting costs should work out at roughly the same price as the goods, and it was pretty much true for us, but there are obvious reasons why that might not apply.

£1k sounds extremely cheap though. Have you factored in tiles, taps, wastes (usually not included), shower cubicle and everything? Grout, tile adhesive, sealant etc. too. Surely if you're getting a smaller bath you'll also have to redo the floor? And it sounds like your pipes will need rerouting if you're moving the sink. I'd get a local recommended plumber/bathroom fitter to come round and have a look at the job for a prelimnary discussion if I were you, and give you a realistic idea of what to expect.

(I say tile adhesive and grout because it sounds like you are thinking of doing that bit yourself).

Plumbworld.co.uk is good for low prices, also as Hearts says try a local bathroom/plumbing supplier for advice and good prices.
I also agree that £1K fo fittings sounds very low, cost of fitting woudl be more than that too given the alterations needed.

Bathrooms are notoriously expensive and a lot of work.I ordered my bathroom from Victoria plumb.All brilliant apart from the walk-in shower [instructions were crap and metal fixings to secure the glass would have neeeded a large hole in the ceiling]but really good value.However there has been a phenomenal amount of work in the labour and fiddly bits to finish off.I have been quoted a plumbing price of 1700 for my upstairs bathroom alone!- so your budget looks on the small side.I bought my tiles from Wickes[there is 33% off at the moment]as they will take them back if you have ordered too many[which i frequently do].Altogether my 'furniture cost' 750 pounds and labour[i havn't got the bill yet!]but it will be a lot more than the furniture .

lots of online placed give better choice and value. i think 1k for fitting might be a bit tight, only vbecuase it sounds like you are moving a lot of stuff around?

tiling a bath panel is easy but make sure they allow you access to the bath.

any of the online shops who sell a good range of makes will give you a good discount. I recently bought a load of stuff from junction 2 interiors in Birmingham - it's about a third cheaper than if you bought it from a local shop. I haven't had the delivery yet - check out sanctuary bathrooms/boundary bathrooms too (mostly northern companies but deliver nationwide) - they are all much of a muchness but if you know what you want then shop around.

I was told to buy a good quality loo - taps don't worry about spending too much as they can be removed easily and replaced if money is tight..A few of the things I bought I wanted to see before I bought but I saw them locally and then ordered the cheapest place I could find them via teh net...

Ah well confused all there - I meant £1k for buying the bath, shower stuff and taps, waste etc. I have not included for tiling in that as I have yet to see what I want (renowned in this house for expensive taste - well I like what I like!).

I am trying to see whether I can get the whole lot done fot £3.5k - so if the fitting by a plumber was £1.5k, that would leave £1k for tiles, floor and ceiling / lights, etc.

We need to get new windows for the house and have £6k to do both jobs. The windows need doing first, as they are as old as the hills! The bathroom is funcitonal and cream but I have had it for 14 years so I think it has served its time!!

Thanks for comments though - I will look round a few places to see what style sink / shower I want.

We got all ours from Bathstore and they were very reasonable, it arrived all on time and it is very nice. Their stuff is just so much nicer than the old fashioned and twee stuff we found everywhere else. Also we got a really big shower tray and screen for 500 quid which was 2000 for something similar in Wickes. Who is going to pay £2000 for anything from Wickes???

3.5k sounds about right I reckon.

Wickes have a sale on at the moment and I think their prices are valid until sometime in Novemeber.

Some places to consider are Plumb Centre and online Fulham Discount Bathrooms. Have a look at claygate.co.uk. I've heard good things about them and they have quite contemporary stuff.

lowcostbathrooms are good, i'd recommend checking their website out. We've had a few bits from there and no probs.

two words

cityplumbing

£3.5k sound s perfectly reasonable. We paid just under that for new toilet, sink, bath, taps, electric shower inc installation, shower screen, full tiling, putting in extractor fan, unit around/under sink, unit attached to wall. Everything apart from flooring basically.

I bought all teh stuff via my plumber as well as he could get good deals in certain stores.