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Original poster

Anyone recently installed a new bathroom? I'm about to and want to ask a few questions.....

28 replies

MadameGazelle · 07/01/2010 20:20

We are looking to replace our bathroom this month, were quite limited for space and want a showering bath as no room for seperate shower. We have been looking on the High Street (Wickes, Bathstore etc) but wondered if it might be more cost effective to get a plumber/bathroom fitter to buy the gear and fit it rather than buy from the High Street. Really wondered if anyone has any recent experiences (good or bad) that they want to share TIA

OP posts:

ImSoNotTelling · 07/01/2010 20:34

Don't look at dolphin. They are arses. not used them but got a quote and by god the cost, plus bloke was a complete twat.

Got a toilet from wickes recently and plumbed it in ourselves, it seems quite comfy

That's the best I can do I'm afraid!

Do you have anyone who can recommend a plumber/bathroom fitter to you? in the end my dad's mate did it and he was £££ as well...

nappyzonecantrunfortoffee · 07/01/2010 21:04

We have just bought our stuff from bathstore in the sale and have our own plumber to fit it - seemed alot cheaper than having some company supply and fit.

blithedance · 07/01/2010 21:11

Depends a bit how fussy you are as to the exact style. I am a control freak and would want to specify everything down to the bath plug. Unless you tell the plumber otherwise he will get the cheapest sort - but if you are strapped for cash that might be best. Are you looking to replace your exiting suite in the same locations?

If you went to a trade showroom or got some catalogues you could pick one out (brands like Ideal standard you can get anywhere). The plumber might prefer to get from a trade supplier and will get a discount if he has an account.

If I was doing it I'd specify the make/style and ask the plumber whether he could get it cheaper than i could.

Pannacotta · 07/01/2010 21:14

Its always cheaper to source the things yourself and get a plumber to fit them.
Have a look online, I have used
www.plumbworld.co.uk/ and they are pretty good price-wise, there are some bargains on ebay too if you have time/inclination to look.

Another option is to find a good local plumbers merchant and look through their catalogues and get them to order for you, this is prob easiest, as if there are any probs you can just go back to the shop. They will also be able to recommend good local plumbers if you need names.

Do remember to ask your plumber to come and check that everything is ok before he comes to fit it and book him in for well after the delivery date, esp at the mo with the poor weather and delivery probs.

Pannacotta · 07/01/2010 21:17

Sorry should have said that it's always cheaper to get the things yourself on-line/from merchant than go to a named bathroom store.
But yes your plumber may pass on a discount, if you get some prices of what you want then you can check against his prices.

kwaker5 · 07/01/2010 21:21

What Pannacotta said. Plumbers will charge you for the time they spend getting it and if you don't want just any old tat, you are better choosing it yourself.

ImSoNotTelling · 07/01/2010 21:42

Mine gave me the catalogues and told me where his acocunt was and we looked at all that and chose. Worked out fine.

Reason he was £££ is he's always £££, but he's my dad's mate. I don't use him any more but it's taken years to make that decision!

PestoSnowMonster · 07/01/2010 21:46

We refurbed our bathrooms last summer and the plumber suggested we choose from some outlets where he had accounts and then put it through on his account to receive the discount. However, we didn't see any we particularly liked at those places and ended up choosing stuff from Bathstore. It was during their sale, so we didn't pay any more than we would have done using the plumber's discount, AND we got exactly what we wanted.

Original poster

MadameGazelle · 07/01/2010 22:08

thanks everyone - Bathstore have a sale on atm and their kit looks good so may buy from them, my sister knows someone who may be able to fit it so will prob take this route as long as installation cost not too much. Our total budget is approx £3,000 for everything including installation, seems doable with the prices on bathstore. Thanks for all your comments

OP posts:

mazzystartled · 07/01/2010 22:19

we went direct to plumber's merchants and got sinks, loos taps, shower heads at v good rates (fab stuff too). bath of ebay at less than 10% of shop cost, but blew all savings at DH's insistence on shower tray and door from Aston Matthews. Is lovely though.

I regret we didn't get underfloor heating.

Original poster

MadameGazelle · 07/01/2010 22:33

Hi Mazzystartled - yeah - would love underfloor heating too, but don't think our budget would stretch to it

OP posts:

GrumpyWhenWoken · 07/01/2010 22:43

I got my bathroom done last year and I sourced all the items myself. If you like bathstore have a look at this site www.bathroomevolution.co.uk/cat--Freestanding-baths--FreestandingBaths.html as they have lovely baths at a great price. I got mine from there and they were brilliant, also the taps are so much cheaper.

ninah · 07/01/2010 22:47

Why not get quote for a wetroom to maximise the space

ninah · 07/01/2010 22:49

Ok ignore that, makes sense if the whole thing needs rebuilding but for a refit the bathstore option is way to go, they have some great stuff

dontknowwhat2do · 07/01/2010 22:55

We are just doing ours and we are getting underfloor heating - cant wait for lovely warm toes!

There are some really good deals on ebay for underfloor cables (dh a plumber) that are effective and wont break the bank!

ninah · 07/01/2010 22:57

It's not so much installing it that would worry me as the bills when you actually use it

Toots · 08/01/2010 09:52

Grumpy that website is great!

HerHonesty · 08/01/2010 10:21

really really wish we'd put underfloor in.

i think bathstore is overpriced for what it is. choose the brands you want and search on the internet, i reckon you would probably save 20%. taps esp overpriced at bathstore, and their range is actually quite small.

ImSoNotTelling · 08/01/2010 10:54

Is it electic underfloor you all have/want?

I thought it was quite expensive?

ImSoNotTelling · 08/01/2010 10:58

The running costs I mean like ninah said.

Original poster

MadameGazelle · 08/01/2010 18:06

Hi nappyzone - if you don't mind me asking, roughly how much did you pay for installation?

OP posts:

EvilHRLady · 08/01/2010 18:17

We are mid bathroom installation.
We are lucky because DH can do almost all of it himself ...although when he started in August, I did jokingly say that as long as it was finished by the time DC 2 arrived (16 Jan) I didn't mind when it got done. That will teach me, as we still have 2 walls to be tiled and NO chance it will get done in the next week!

But back to your Q - DH would definitely say Bathstore and the likes are overpriced. Their (constant) sales really just bring prices back to a normal level. If you have the time, go and look at Bathstore (and any other shops you like), find the styles you like, then get online. I know he used Plumbworld, but also looking for manufactureres details & going to their sites gets you good prices.

Screwfix for all kinds of DIY kit is his equivalent of MN (ie he's on it all the time )

nappyzonecantrunfortoffee · 08/01/2010 18:33

Madamgazelle our pricing wont be much good as we were priced for a newboiler, rads and fitting and other plumb work as part of an extension. We did shop online to price compare and at b n q etc... and saved quite a bit at bathstore as their walk in shower enclosure was particularly well reduced for us.

cece · 08/01/2010 18:41

I went directly to the plumbers merchants myself and bought everything I needed. Plumber fitted it all for me.

It is very male in their though so you have to be quite brave. For instance I asked for advice on baths. I was told at least once a week is recommended. Cue much laughter from the many plumbers at the counter

cece · 08/01/2010 18:44

Having said that I did go in a few weeks after that with a 2 week old baby. After an hour of indecision he started to cry. I did ask what their breastfeeding policy was. Cue lots of shuffling and looking at the floor

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