A whole new bathroom

[purplecat27]

Hi, sorry I'm about to ask a really dumb question but I've never done this before so I could do with some of your knowledge and experience, please bear with me!

We've recently moved into a new house and I don't think anything has been done to the bathroom since the 90's. It's currently got a (slightly mouldy) jagged artex ceiling, shiny tiles on all the walls, a very badly grouted, tiled floor and an old, tired bathroom suite. There's also a vented brick visible on the outside wall which is tiled over inside. I'd like the vent re-opened and one of those electric extractors put in, a smooth ceiling, all new tiles on walls and floor, and a complete new suite with a shower screen instead of a curtain. My question is... do I get all this done by the same person/same place? So if I go to B&Q or Victoria Plum (or somewhere better you can suggest, they're just the ones I've seen on TV!) do I choose everything there and they send someone round to do all the work and fit everything? Or do I have to get several different people, like a tiler, a ceiling smoother (not sure that's what they're actually called), someone to fit the extractor and someone else to fit the bathroom suite?
Also around what should I be expecting all of this to cost? I don't need a super high end designer bathroom suite or anything, probably something in the middle, I'm just not sure what the middle should be!?

Sorry again for my complete naivety when it comes to bathrooms, and thanks for reading if you've got this far :)

Hi Purplecat,

I'm a bathroom installer so can give you some advice :-)
I would look for a local independent bathroom installer rather than go to a main supplier like B&Q.
I have subcontracted to the bathstore in the past and they pretty much double the labour cost to install it and take a cut for themselves.
A good bathroom fitter will either be able to do all the work himself or have tradesmen he uses to do the bits he can't do.
A ceiling smoother is called a plasterer :-)
Obviously you want a few quotes and maybe to see any pics of previous work they have done.
I have also been asked in the past for telephone numbers of previous customers so they can call and ask about me.
Depending on your price range the best places to go for the suite is a good plumbers merchants or a bathroom showroom.
Online items can sometimes be poor quality or bits missing etc. This can hold up the finish time of the job and stress the fitter out as he will be delayed on his next job etc
Some of my friends refuse to fit online goods because of this.
Don't go BandQ, wickes or the like.
You want to try and get the best you can afford. Your bathroom won't be replaced for many years so don't want any regrets with poor quality items.
With your tiles the bathroom fitter will measure up for you and work out your square meterage.
You can then work out your tile budget from that.
It's completely up to you but when it comes to tile trim, id go for the metal trim and not plastic. Chrome or brushed. Ask to see it at the tile showroom and you'll see the difference.
As for price, it all depends on the area you live really and how big the bathroom is.
In the Midlands where I am the labour would be around £1800 for a standard bathroom. That's for all work to be done.

I hope this helps

You can go to somewhere like Homebase and they will do the whole service but it will be expensive. Probably better to get an independent bathroom fitter who can either recommend a plasterer (for ceiling) and an electrician (extractor & lighting) and possibly a tiler if they don’t do it themselves, or they can subcontract the trades and manage the project.

Go to an independent who is ideally recommended by someone you know. Otherwise possibly try Checkatrade. Get 3 quotes. If they are good they will be busy so have what you want roughly in mind.Do some research Eg wall hung toilets are nice but the most expensive.
Think about storage Under sink vanity unit? Cabinet on wall? Shelves?
Any electrical work will cost heaps.

I buy a monthly magazine called my Home (£1.99) which shows how people have done out their homes nice bathroom ideas
You may have to pay a deposit before they start the work. Be prepared for doors, radiators having to be temporarily moved .
Floor and especially wall tiling can be quite expensive and ask exactly what is included

We went to an independent plumbing and heating merchant and got a local plumber to fit it. He had contact with a tiler, a plasterer and an electrician so we used them. I second not going to Bathstore or one of the big DIY chains.

Great advice Penny.
We've just had news we need to replace our shower unit and tiles (due to a bad leak). The toilet, sink and tiles are pretty horrible so need to go too.... Where do people recommend buying new Bathroom from please???

That should read 'new, nice but budget Bathroom' actually!

In no particular order , plumb world , plumb nation , eBay ( got taps at a good price) , tile mountain or QS supplies.

Nina, if you are looking for a nice budget suite id say to look at Victoria plumb online (not Victorian plumbing)
Although I had said previously about online bathroom stores, they have been the best for budget.
You would need to tell the installer first as he may not want to do it if it's from an online store.
I have fitted a lot of suites from Victoria plumb and never had any main issues.
I usually have issues with their traps, they get thrown straight in the skip as they always leak.

Thanks so much everyone for all of the advice, I knew this was the place to ask! I feel much more informed now, can't wait to get my new bathroom :)

Soak.com seem to have some good priced stuff and a decent reputation albeit I’ve nit yet bought from them.

I have fitted bathrooms from soak.com and there are always damaged items. It could be the courier they use but still I wouldn't recommend.
They are good in the fact that they send a replacement but they just get you to throw the damaged item on the skip. It makes you wonder the real value of their items.
It's just a big pain when the job slows down waiting for new items.