Often left until last, the bathroom isn't considered a super important room when it comes to household renovations. But a bad bathroom can not only bring down the look of your home but also make it harder to keep clean, cause mould and mildew issues, and even lead to injuries if you're not careful.
So what's putting people off? Why shouldn't you get a new bathroom?
Well, one factor that might intimidate people is the cost. It's hard to determine how much bathroom installation costs, and for lots of people they jump to conclusions, assuming that their bathroom renovation cost is going to be in the tens of thousands. But we're here to tell you the truth: that doesn't have to be the case!
Here's what you need to know about bathroom installation costs.
Just like with most household renovation projects, there is no one price tag that fits all because every bathroom installation project will be different. Different elements suit different people, and there's no way of knowing what the new bathroom cost will be without knowing what the existing bathroom looks like, exactly where the house is, the bathroom fitters working on the new bathroom, and precisely what products you want.
What we can do, though, is look at the average cost across the country. The national average cost for a new bathroom in the UK is between £5,500 and £7,000. For much higher-end bathrooms, that price tag could be as high as £14,000, but that's rare.
These costs are inclusive of labour costs and materials. They may not include any unforeseen circumstances that may occur during the installation or removal of the old bathroom, and may not include things like waste disposal.
Have a look at our post "Wet room cost".
To get a more precise idea of what your new bathroom will cost, you need to know what individual items cost and what kind of bathroom suite you intend to put in your home. For example, a large roll-top bath and a separate walk in shower will cost more than a shower over a standard bathtub.
Typically, you can expect to pay the following for your average bathroom suite components during bathroom refurbishment:
Other costs to consider when looking at the total price for a bathroom renovation include the costs of ripping out your bathroom (£700 upwards, old bathroom removal cost will depend on the bathroom), any electrical work (£900), fitting wall tiles (£950-£1,250), fitting vinyl flooring (£250-£950), a decorator (£700), any re-plastering (£1,500), the cost of a new bathroom layout including the creation of stud walls (£1,750) and core drilling for new pipes (£250-£500).
It is important to note that you may also need waste disposal, extractor fans, ceiling lights, pipework adjustments and waterproofing.
Take a look at our post "How much does a disabled wet room cost".
It is important that you know which parts of your plan are going to cost the most. This will allow you to pace yourself if needed, or opt for cheaper options to save money on your bathroom renovation.
Things like electrical work, plumbing work, and fanciful extras like underfloor heating will add to the new bathroom cost. Knowing this, you can determine which elements matter the most to you. For example, is a vanity unit and walk in shower more important than the underfloor heating? Would a heated towel rail suffice in place of underfloor heating, especially if paired with a large radiator? These are all decisions you should debate when looking into a bathroom renovation and the bathroom installation costs.
You'll find that the size of your bathroom suite will impact the cost of your new bathroom. A larger bathroom will have higher bathroom removal costs as well as higher new bathroom cost
In addition, the age and condition of the property and of the bathroom in particular can dramatically impact typical bathroom installation costs. Putting a new bathroom in where the floors and walls are all mould-damaged or are dated and rotting will require extra work in the bathroom renovation, and so it will cost more. DIY built bathrooms with strange fittings and makeshift pipework will likely have higher bathroom removal costs, adding to your total bathroom renovation cost
Where your home is will also impact the cost of your bathroom installation. Bathroom fitters need to charge a rate that allows their teams to be paid fairly, so regions with higher cost of living will likely have more expensive hourly rates when it comes to bathroom fitters and other experts like plumbers or electricians.
The materials that you choose will also impact the bathroom renovation cost. If you're opting for high-end materials like gold, quartz, ceramics, etc., then you will find your bathroom price is much higher. The overall cost would be significantly lower if you opted for cheaper materials, but this is down to personal taste.
There are a few things that you can do to help you plan for a new bathroom installation and to make sure you've got the bathroom renovation cost covered.
The first thing is to determine what you can afford. Don't leave it until you've got a quote to try and wrangle the money together. It is crucial that you know you can comfortably cover the new bathroom cost -- there's no point in putting yourself in a dire situation for the sake of heated towel rails!
Next, speak to local bathroom experts like Bath Vision for advice on the best approach to the bathroom you've got. Each bathroom is different and will require different things. Likewise, not every bathroom will be suitable for everything. Tiny ensuite bathrooms may only be able to have a shower enclosure and a vanity unit, for example, whereas larger bathroom suites may be suited to more deluxe, or main family bathrooms.
Remember to make sure you've factored in every associated cost of your bathroom renovation. It may not just be the materials and the labour. Have a bit of back-up money for emergencies, and if the bathroom renovation is happening in your only bathroom, consider where you're going to go in the meantime.
A bathroom installation will usually take professional bathroom fitters like Bath Vision around 5 to 10 days, but this is dependent on a few things. The complexity of the new bathroom layout, the bathroom suite you've chosen and any emergencies or unexpected situations can all impact the time it takes to get your new bathroom completed.
Read our post "Walk In shower cost".
It might seem like the new bathroom cost is more than its worth, and you might be tempted to take a look at the bathroom and think: "it can't be that hard!".
But bathroom fitters train to do their job, and it takes a lot of knowledge and skill. Not only that, but if you do it wrong, you could do serious damage to your home. Incorrect plumbing could cause floods, rotting floorboards, moisture problems, damp, mould, etc. Likewise, incorrect electrical work can be incredibly dangerous. You're better off hiring a professional like the team at Bath Vision. They'll do a better job, and will work with you to make sure your bathroom cost is within your budget.
