Need a REALLY cheap but decent quality bathroom suite...

[JingleBellsJuliet]

I'm getting the bathroom done in the next few weeks and I need to get stuff ordered! I have a total budget of £500, including £200 for a plumber to fit it (a friend did offer to do it for free, but said it would take him 2-3 days and I don't have a second loo. Plumber comes recommended and said he'll have the toilet up and running the same day, bath within 24 hours). So that leaves me £400 for a suite, wastes, taps etc., which really isn't much!

A local company are offering a basic suite for £149 excluding taps. I've seen something that looks identical elsewhere for £400 - is there likely to be that much difference? Both have 10 year guarantees.

I'm also really rather fancying a vanity unit toilet/sink combo, which I've seen for £175 plus a bath from a local place for £59 (ex-display), so that's another option, but are there any issues with the back-to-wall type toilets?

Any recommendations would be greatly received! Really can't afford to go much higher in price, as I need to find the money from somewhere for the floor and tiles, but need to get it done ASAP as I have a silicone sealant filled hole in the bloody bath at the minute, and the toilet doesn't flush without the help of a plunger (note to self - check these things when buying next house!).

Would I be better looking for a new electric shower maybe? The one I have is old and yellowing, and sounds like it's struggling which is why I want rid! Just found a brand new Bristan one on eBay for £59.99 - do they make good showers as well as taps? Sorry for all the questions, but I'm a bathroom novice!

Have a look at toolstation and screwfix for wastes - they don't need to be expensive or come from ebay ...whatever you get make sure they are compatible with your trap -maybe even get one at the same time...

I had to get a new bath trap -old one was a slightly different size. I got it from Toolstation -cost about £4....the exact same one - same manufacturer etc was on sale in B&Q for £8.
(And screwfix and B&Q are the same company...except most things are cheaper in Screwfix ...who are competing more with Toolstation now- but worth comparing - and the rare thing might be cheaper in B&Q....)
I think you might struggle to get a loo cistern that isn't push button these days - but I think they are called 'levers' rather than handles...

Something like this which is thermostatic would be better for your shower mixer. They have them in hotels so they must be indestructible. Separate taps and a chain plug will be cheaper for your basin.

Tiles wise just tile the minimum around the shower/bath and sink. Topps do white ones about 20x25cm which are quick to put up. It looks boring but you can paint the room a cheerful colour more cheaply than buying fancy tiles.

Screwfix and Wickes are good sources of cheap but decent no-frills stuff IMO. E.g. here

Oh x-posted there

Raising -I found Wickes good for some things but (at least at one time) tended to price match with B&Q...
so bog standard isolator B&Q £4.99, wickes £4.98, toolstation £2.50
(and (almost) completely off topic...B&Q and Wickes do watch what each other charge...and can be sneaky. Eg I was looking at green fibre board underlay - on the surface B&Q were slightly cheaper per pack and their boards are a cm wider - except their pack contains 19 boards - Wickes has 20 ....so Wickes is actually cheaper per m2...)

all electric showers are weedy and useless, especially in winter, because they are so limited in power. If you are looking for a low-cost installation, don't use any of your budget for a new electric shower. If and when you do get a new one, you may need a more powerful electric supply. Tuck your money in the piggy bank for now.

I do not have experience of Bristan electric showers, though I do find them a very sound company.

Right I'll stick with the mixer tap option then for now. It's certainly given me something to think about!

Good luck hope it all pans out well.
Am sure you will be pleased to have a functional loo and non leaking bath!!

Well I've taken the plunge and ordered a basic bathroom suite, Bristan basin and bath mixers (just their cheap ones) and plug and chain type wastes, so hopefully it will be long lasting and non-leaking!

Just looking at tiles now with a very small non-existent budget as I'm going to have a go at doing the tiling myself.

What did you decide re the bath/shower mixer?
WHat budget do you have for tiles?

I've gone for a shower mixer tap for the bath. It cannot be any worse than this bloody electric thing I currently have - honestly I could spit faster!!

Budget for tiles is about £90 at the minute, and I need 7sq m so should be doable. I a having a go at that and the flooring myself so no labour costs.

However, upon having a good look under the bath, there's going to be an issue with the floor, as there's a fairly large hole under the piping which I'm fairly sure shouldn't be there

Does that look normal???

Are you in a flat or a house?

Plastic connectors on copper tubes is very amateur.

Plumbers often take up bits of floor to poke pipes down, and don't bother replacing if you won't see it. If you have a cat, it will probably climb down and not come out.

The space behind the bath panel is usually very dusty.

I like to hoover out the gap because I don't like dirt and dust, and apply Cuprinol wood preserver "just in case"

your floor looks like it is made of "planks" floorboards. Have a good look for wormholes or rot. Any new bits of floor should not be chipboard, which is cheap but falls apart, but in WBP ply or "planks"

The feet of the bath should preferably sit on bearers, which are pieces of wood, say 2"x3", long enough to spread the load of the feet over at least two joists. Baths full of people and water are heavy, and the feet are small.

If your new bath comes with a flimsy plastic front panel, it will crack when you lean your knees against it while cleaning the bath. Save up for a more solid front panel. They are mostly MDF. White gloss is OK.

Hole is probably normal to leave space for the u bend. Not tidy, but not unusual if its just one board.
Good luck with the tiling, Topps tiles have some good videos. Suggest you seal round the bath twice, before and after tiling, just to be extra safe.

I'm in a house, bathroom upstairs. There's some old water damage to the hall ceiling directly below the bath, so there's clearly been a leak, but I've had my hands under there and had a good feel around and it doesn't feel damp.

The feet of the bath are directly onto the floor! I did wonder if that was right. I'll make sure the plumber fits the new one properly. Would you believe I bought this house from a builder? And everything's falling apart!

Yes the new bath has a flimsy bath panel, but I've got my eye on they tongue and groove one from Wickes :)

PigletJohn I wish you could come around to my house for a one to one consultation - your knowledge is amazing