How do I find someone to redo my shower room?

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Just that really. I need to replace the shower tray and have been thinking I might take the opportunity to have the tiling redone (the whole room's tiled but the grouting is horrid in places and I hate the colour now). Any tips on how to find someone reputable? Is it possible to find someone to do the whole room or do I need to get a plumber and a tiler?

You need a bathroom fitter. We found one online and checked lots of references. He was basically a plumber who could also tile and skim walls and do bits of electrics if signed off by someone else.

Local fb groups are good for finding these sorts of folk.

a plumber for a start. Generally plumbers are competent to fit sanitaryware and to seal around them. Some are also good tilers, but it might not follow. Ask if s/he can recommend a good tiler, unless you have seen their work and it is good. Remember to have an effective extractor fan fitted if you have not already got one, the more powerful ones are fitted in the loft or other space above the ceiling, if you have room.

Best way to find a good person is to ask around friends and neighbours for local recommendations. If you see a trade van parked outside a house, ask for a card. If it has a local landline phone number and a real address, write on the back of it the address of the house they are working at and call round a few weeks later to see what the householder thinks. They will probably be glad of the chance to boast or moan.

Avoid people with just a mobile phone no. and no local address; or a non-geographic phone no. which indicates a clearing agency.

Don't be swayed by internet listings. They may have been paid for by the advertiser, who may also have written or filtered the "customer" comments. If genuine, they indicate someone who for some reason does not have a pool of satisfied customers willing to recommend them to friends and neighbours.

Start asking neighbours. Ask other parents at school gate. If there is a tile shop/bathroom shop locally ask there too.

I had the flooring people recommend me an incredible plumber and tiler. And later a central heating engineer.

They have traded locally for 25 years so knew lots and lots of trades. Also knew quite a few worth avoiding....

Where in the UK are you??

Some helpful suggestions, many thanks. I'm like Astro though - I'd prefer one company to do the whole thing. We also had an issue with a previous kitchen where we involved two companies and resolving a problem with the worktops was a nightmare - each said the other was responsible.

It's not the main bathroom, it's just an en suite with shower, loo and basin so, rather than just replace the cracked shower tray which would probably damage some of the tiles anyway, I'm tempted to have everything ripped out and a nice new room.

The last couple of workmen we've needed I've found via www.mybuilder.com - it's really good, you post your job and can invite workmen to quote you, plus read recommendation and feedback on their previous work from other people

You can get a tradesmen to supply and fit - that way hey are responsible for all elements and there's no passing the buck.

Astro - ours is nearly 15 years old too! It also gets used every day by all 5 of us. The whole room is tiled in light turquoise tiles which look really dated now. It's a difficult room to fit because the window is in an awkward position. Any off the shelf cubicle would have to be quite small to avoid the window but there's actually quite a lot of space for a shower. At the moment we have a very big, rectangular tray which is screened by a shower curtain and a glass block wall. The glass blocks also look dated so I'm thinking some sort of perspex screen but need someone to come in and make suggestions. We've had a (recommended) plumber look at it but he was really waiting for us to tell him what we wanted. And I don't know!

I'm wary about using Mybuilder or any tradesmen recommended on the internet because you don't know how genuine the posts are.

Tell us where you are and someone will recommend someone.