New bathroom - where to start?

[JamieOliveOil]

We really need a new bathroom as our current one is so tired looking. It all needs completely replacing - new suite inc. shower cubicle, tiles, flooring etc.

What should I do first? I'm looking at spending a little as possible, say, £2000 - £3000 all in. Is that doable? I know you can buy a fairly standard suite and get nice taps and fittings to make it look more expensive.

Can anyone recommend places in the North West or online stores? any advice, great fully accepted.

Do you know what you need or are you looking for ideas/inspiration?

Might be worth looking at catalogues to decide on the sort of style you are after, the Bathstore one is quite useful.

I have used Plumbworld before for fittings and they are well priced.

But I wouldnt order anything until you have sorted our someone to do the work and you have discussed what you want to buy and if it will work with your heating system (shower/taps etc).

Are you me? NW & we are also doing our bathroom, hopefully this summer. Awaiting some quotes this week...

I'd start with the floor. Very likely your house was built with chipboard flooring which is weak and noisy, and crumbles away if wetted. Given a few overflowing baths or a leak, it will be due for the bonfire by now. New 18mm WBP ply will be far better. If you want to tile it, use 25mm and screw it down twice as well.

If it is not T&G it can be put in panels that can be easily unscrewed (don't use nails) and lifted to run the new pipework and cables during fitting or remodelling of the bathroom suite. Cables must not touch hot pipes as it degrades the insulation.

Try Boundary Bathrooms which is online. Prices are excellent. Online mostly cheaper.

Don't be afraid to phone up a couple of places and ask for a discount.

Your budget is tight. You probably won't be able to manage things like thermostatic shower valves as they are usually 3 times the price of manual ones.

Don't cheap out on your suite entirely. False economy. It really will look cheap then. Chose style you like and shop around. I do mean hours of searching online and you are bound to find a supplier with something you like on sale. This way you get a better quality suite for same money.

is your cold water from the main and the hot from a combi? If not avoid stylish italian designed taps as they will give poor flow with low pressure water from a tank. British tap makers have many designs suitable for British plumbing.

If the hot and the cold are different pressures either change it, or avoid mixers as the high-pressure cold will tend to force its way up the hot pipes.

Thank you for your replies. I've looked on pinterest and housetohome and have a fair idea of what I want. Just seems like a big task putting it all together.

We got a quote a couple of months ago which came in at over 5k all in. We thought to save costs we'd source the suite, tiles etc and employ a plumber and tiler to do the work.

Does anyone have any experience of this? Is it worth the hassle?

I've gotten a plumber in to do a new bathroom before it cost £2600 but that included a new combi boiler and was a bit basic (for a rented flat). I think you could easily do it in budget.

I sourced the fittings for our shower room and got a plumber to fit it. I also organised the electrics, plastering, floor sanding and decorating.
It still ended up very expensive as the room was converted from a bedroom but we had problems with the plastering (the walls were very wonky) and the shower leaked twice.
So my advice woudl be to use someone who can co-ordinate all the above.
But it might well be worth you sourcing the kit, but you need to make sure it fits with your heating/hot water system and you need to check everything very carefully when it arrives.