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Bathroom Suite - where to source

53 replies

DavinaSmith · 22/03/2026 18:05

We have a builder we trust to install our bathroom once we have picked it.
I am looking online and in brochures at Kartell, Tavistock, Victoria Plum and Howdens.
Does anyone have any experience fitting a bathroom from these or similar companies who can advise on quality? I do not want to be looking at cracked, swollen or chipped bathroom furniture in a few short years, would rather pay more upfront as long as it is actually better quality.
Also need to pick tiles but assume Topps is fine for this, I think our kitchen tiles came from b&q.

OP posts:
DavinaSmith · 22/03/2026 21:05

@PigletJohn I am now looking seriously at PlumbWorld so would welcome anyone’s experience.

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 22/03/2026 21:50

Get a big brand bog.

There are lots of unbranded ones at modest price and people moan about how poor the flush is (modern WCs cisterns have low water content)

I find Twyfords very good. I got an E100. Syphonics appear to be unobtainable as they use more water. A hundred pounds extra on the price is trivial over the years it will last. They have been bought by a German group now. There are a few other big British brands. Armitage Shanks look old fashioned to me.

If you are getting white they do not have to be the same brand.

Plastic baths are very feeble. There are a few brands that make reinforced plastic baths (very heavy, gave me a hernia). I recommend Carronite. You will have to order it, they have a good range of sizes to order. Get heavyweight bath panels (you can get matching reinforced ones, they are very difficult to cut to size) or painted chipboard ones that are cheaper. The thin plastic ones are rubbish and will crack when you lean your knees against them. Do not let the bathroom fitter glue the panels into place.

Pop up wastes operated by a knob on the overflow look nice but leak or break, and are difficult to replace.

I would avoid basins set into a cabinet, the cabinets are prone to water damage.

DON'T have a cabinet or shelves over the basin. When a glass jar or bottle falls out, as it will, the porcelain will be cracked. Have the largest possible mirror on the wall to accommodate people of varying heights (tilting mirrors are a nuisance, and go wrong) and your shelves or cupboards to the side.

High street Bathroom showrooms are handy for people who have lots of money to throw about.

If you have a hot water cylinder you can have big taps. If you have a combi, you can't have such a good flow. If your hot and cold taps are different pressures you must have separate taps, not a mixer.

Chrome taps and fittings last a long time. Gold or painted ones don't. I like Bristan. Ceramic taps wear out, so buy a reputable UK brand or get some spare cartridges. Tap washers are cheap and easy to replace.

PigletJohn · 22/03/2026 21:56

Yes, Plumbworld. Search for "clearance" and you might find some fantastic bargains. I got some Aqualisa round shower mixers once, IMO the best.

Round shower mixers are always better than the bar type, I don't know why.

PigletJohn · 22/03/2026 22:19

As I am hoping to live into old age, I fitted chrome grab rails, which can be used as towel rails, beside the bath and WC

You must of course have effective extractor fans. The ones made by Soler & Palau (also sold under the Envirovent brand, sometimes cheaper) are very quiet and IMO the best you can get. I recommend timer fans that come on with the light switch and turn off automatically after a set time.

If you have steamy showers, an ordinary 100mm wall fan is insufficient. You can fit a ducted fan above the ceiling if you have an accessible loft. 250 cu.m/hr is suitable (cheap little fans fitted by builders are usually about 80 cu.m)
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Ventilation_Index/Soler_TD_Silent/index.html

They do also make very good little quiet fans suitable for a WC
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/tcl/search?query=palau%20silent%20100&sort_order=&category_id=&sub_category_id=&manufacturer_ids=

You can get powerful wall fans but they are rather big.

Soler & Palau TD Silent In Line Fans

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Ventilation_Index/Soler_TD_Silent/index.html

SexIsNotNebulous · 22/03/2026 22:27

My recent bathroom came from the plumbers merchants James Hargreaves. They were superb, the have small showroom behind the trade desk at my branch. The plumber I picked told me what size products I could have then the guy at the showroom talked me through and helped me choose every item right down to plugs.

They sell lots of quality brands and have access to dozens of manufacturers. I’ve used them twice now.

Didimum · 22/03/2026 22:32

Drench

careerbreak · 22/03/2026 22:45

Good thread

grizzlyoldbear · 22/03/2026 22:52

Buy a steel bath rather than acryllic, they last longer.

SpidersAreShitheads · 23/03/2026 05:07

Villanousvillans · 22/03/2026 22:47

I’ve used Victorian Plumbing.

https://www.victorianplumbing.co.uk/

I hate to disagree but I wouldn’t ever buy from these charlatans again.

If nothing goes wrong, you’re fine. But if there’s any kind of problem it’s an uphill battle. You can’t speak to them on the phone, and their people on the web chat can’t help.

We had multiple problems with them.

One example was they sent the wrong cabinet. We returned it still in the packaging. Our courier left it where they were instructed - it got damaged in their warehouse and they tried to claim it was us. Thankfully the courier took photos after dropping it off that proved the packaging wasn’t damaged! It took a long time to sort and no apology.

There was also a broken toilet they sent - in the end I gave up asking for a refund. They kept closing the case on email, I’d speak to them on web chat and ask what they were doing. They’d re-open the case and insist it had to be referred for a decision…..and then I’d get another email saying they hadn’t heard so we’re closing our refund request. I gave up in the end because I’m self-employed and the money I was losing in the time I was chasing them I could have made by working. Not really the point though.

Shower Trays UK are another one to avoid. Shady practices and nowhere to complain to.

Bathroom Mountain were great though.

Alltheusernamesaretakennow · 23/03/2026 14:49

Defintely recommend Plumbworld - they sent a mirror cabinet which got damaged by the courier in transit, and they sent a replacement, with no quibbling.

We also managed to get lots of ex display bargains from local shops, which helped.

Filsbilswils · 23/03/2026 17:58

PigletJohn · 22/03/2026 21:56

Yes, Plumbworld. Search for "clearance" and you might find some fantastic bargains. I got some Aqualisa round shower mixers once, IMO the best.

Round shower mixers are always better than the bar type, I don't know why.

Edited

Hi PigletJohn, there’s some really good advice here - thank you. Please could I ask a question? I’m hoping to install a new bathroom but would like to treat myself to a whirlpool bath - it would also be a shower bath. Please could you recommend a brand?

DavinaSmith · 23/03/2026 18:57

Thank you PigletJohn fantastic advice as ever.

@Filsbilswils I think whirlpool is a brand but I know what you mean 🤣

OP posts:
Villanousvillans · 23/03/2026 19:07

Victorian Plumbing supplied all my neighbour’s bathroom stuff and they recommended them to me. They had a slight problem and it was rectified very quickly.

I’ve used them and everything is excellent.

Filsbilswils · 23/03/2026 19:08

DavinaSmith · 23/03/2026 18:57

Thank you PigletJohn fantastic advice as ever.

@Filsbilswils I think whirlpool is a brand but I know what you mean 🤣

Haha oh dear, really?!

Suedoh · 23/03/2026 19:11

Don't get black taps and shower ware as bloody AWFUL to keep looking nice!

Villanousvillans · 23/03/2026 19:13

I second that. My brother chose black, it looks nice for about 10 seconds. Black shows every single mark of water and soap.

Right2BareArms · 23/03/2026 19:19

DON'T have a cabinet or shelves over the basin. When a glass jar or bottle falls out, as it will, the porcelain will be cracked.
I learnt this the hard way.

Have the largest possible mirror on the wall to accommodate people of varying heights Men hang them up for their height not mine. Smile

PigletJohn · 23/03/2026 19:37

Filsbilswils · 23/03/2026 17:58

Hi PigletJohn, there’s some really good advice here - thank you. Please could I ask a question? I’m hoping to install a new bathroom but would like to treat myself to a whirlpool bath - it would also be a shower bath. Please could you recommend a brand?

No, I don't know what it is. Is it a bath that has a pump and pipes to recirculate used soapy water and squirt it back at you?

SpidersAreShitheads · 23/03/2026 19:59

Villanousvillans · 23/03/2026 19:07

Victorian Plumbing supplied all my neighbour’s bathroom stuff and they recommended them to me. They had a slight problem and it was rectified very quickly.

I’ve used them and everything is excellent.

Fair enough. Glad you had a good experience - DIY work is enough of a pain without more hassle!

I'm sure that plenty of people use Victorian Plumbing without an issue, however, there does seem to be a significant number who have a nightmare with them.

There is a big group set up dedicated to helping people who are having problems with Victorian Plumbing, so it's clearly a recurrent issue along the same kind of lines as Wren Kitchens I'd guess.

Just commenting here in case anyone searches for info on Victorian Plumbing so they can go and investigate and decide for themselves whether they want to take the risk.

Filsbilswils · 23/03/2026 20:59

PigletJohn · 23/03/2026 19:37

No, I don't know what it is. Is it a bath that has a pump and pipes to recirculate used soapy water and squirt it back at you?

Ha, hopefully clean water! But yes essentially 😂

Filsbilswils · 23/03/2026 21:08

That looks heavenly!

funnyfoursome · 23/03/2026 22:05

Great thread thank you, about to replace our 1976 avocado bathroom! Wish me luck!

redmimi · 23/03/2026 22:10

We’ve recently bought two bathroom suites from Bathroom Mountain and are really happy with them. Fitters said good quality and easy to fit.