Bathroom fitting means replacing a bathroom from the walls in: stripping out the old suite and tiles, altering pipework, waste and electrics, then fitting the new bath or shower, toilet, basin and furniture, and tiling and sealing everything. A full refit usually takes one to two weeks and leaves the room ready to use.
Bathrooms pack a lot into a small room: hot and cold supplies, waste pipes with the right falls, electrics in wet zones, extract ventilation and waterproofing. That's why a good refit depends on what's behind the tiles as much as the suite you choose. We start by checking water pressure, the boiler type, the waste route and the condition of floors and walls, because they decide which showers will work and where everything can go.
Most people refit a bathroom to fix something, such as a leaking shower, cracked tiles or a layout that wastes space, and to make the room easier to clean and use. Some swap the bath for a large walk-in shower; others keep a bath for children and add a better shower over it. We'll talk through how the room is used, then plan a layout that works with the pipework rather than against it.
Which options suit your home?
Like-for-like refit
The new suite goes where the old one was, using the existing water and waste positions. It's the quickest and most affordable option, and it's often all a bathroom needs. Tiling, flooring, furniture and the shower choice can all change completely while the plumbing stays essentially the same.
Bath with shower over
Still the most practical layout for many family bathrooms, especially with young children. A shower over the bath needs a fixed glass screen, a well-sealed bath and tiling or panelling to full height. Choosing between a mixer shower and an electric shower depends on your boiler and water pressure, which we test at the survey.
Walk-in shower instead of a bath
Replacing the bath with a large low-profile tray and a glass panel makes the room feel bigger and is easier to step into. The waste needs a suitable fall, which can be tricky on timber floors, so the tray position and height are planned carefully. It's worth thinking about whether you'll want a bath when you sell.
Layout change
Moving the toilet, bath or shower can make a small bathroom work much better. The toilet is the hardest to move because its large waste pipe needs a direct route and fall to the soil stack. Water supplies and smaller wastes are easier to reroute, especially under timber floors, where joists can be drilled within safe limits.
Panels or tiles
Large-format tiles look smart but need flat walls, careful setting out and waterproofing in the shower area. Waterproof wall panels go up faster, have fewer grout lines and can be fitted over sound existing surfaces. Many bathrooms mix the two, with panels in the shower and tiles elsewhere to suit both budget and look.
What's included when SKJ does the work?
- Free survey, including water pressure, boiler type and waste-route checks
- Itemised written quote, with suite, tiling and labour shown separately
- Strip-out of the old suite, tiles and boxing, with waste taken away
- Pipework, waste and isolation valves renewed where needed
- Electrical work for lights, shaver point, extractor fan and electric shower, tested, certified and notified
- Extractor fan ducted to outside, sized for the room
- Wall and floor preparation, waterproofing in the shower area, tiling or panels, and sealing
- Suite, furniture, towel radiator and accessories fitted and tested, with a clean handover
How much does a bathroom cost?
Guide prices run from £4,500 to £16,000 depending on size and specification. Full refit of a 2 m × 2.5 m family bathroom with a bath and shower over, tiled: typically £6,500 – £8,500.
| Option | Guide price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Like-for-like refit, standard suite | £4,500 – £6,500 | Same positions, part-tiled or panels |
| Full refit, fully tiled | £6,500 – £10,000 | Bath with shower or walk-in shower |
| Larger or premium, with layout change | £10,000 – £16,000 | Moved toilet, bigger tiles, underfloor heating |
Usually included: Strip-out and disposal, plumbing and waste alterations, electrical work with certification, extractor fan, wall and floor preparation, waterproofing, tiling or panels, and fitting the suite, furniture and towel radiator.
Usually extra: Decorating outside the tiled areas, flooring outside the bathroom, boiler work, and replacing joists or ceilings below if found damaged (priced in writing first).
Guide ranges are the total a homeowner would expect to pay, including VAT where it applies. Your fixed price comes after a free survey.
What changes the price?
- Room size and the amount of tiling or panelling
- Suite and brassware specification
- Moving the toilet, bath or shower to a new position
- Shower type: mixer, electric or pumped, and any boiler or pressure limits
- Floor and wall condition, including rotten boards or loose plaster
- Extras such as underfloor heating, illuminated mirrors or a new extractor route
How does the job run, start to finish?
- Survey and designWe measure the room, test water pressure, check the boiler and look at where the waste can run. Then we talk through layout, shower type and storage, and give you a written quote with the suite, tiling and labour shown separately, so you can see where the money goes.
- Order and scheduleOnce you've chosen the suite, tiles and furniture, everything is ordered and checked on arrival before the old bathroom comes out. If you have only one bathroom, we plan the stages so the toilet is out of use for as short a time as possible, and we tell you which days.
- Strip-out and first fixThe old suite, tiles and boxing are removed. Pipework, waste and electrical cables are moved or renewed while the walls and floor are open, and any rotten floorboards are replaced. Walls are made good or boarded ready for tiles or panels.
- Waterproofing, tiling and panelsThe shower area is waterproofed, then walls and floor are tiled or panelled. Tiling is usually the longest single stage, especially with large-format or patterned tiles. Grout and adhesive need time to cure before the shower is used, and we build that into the programme.
- Second fix and handoverThe toilet, basin, bath or tray, taps, shower, towel radiator and furniture are fitted and connected. Lights, extractor fan and shaver point are fitted and tested. Everything is sealed and run for leaks. You get the electrical certificate and manufacturers' paperwork, and we walk round with you before the final payment.
Timescale: Usually 7–12 working days on site.
Planning, Building Regulations and approvals
Do I need Building Regulations approval to refit a bathroom?
Refitting a bathroom in the same room doesn't generally need Building Regulations approval in its own right. Approval may be needed for associated work: new or altered drainage connections, structural changes such as notching joists beyond safe limits, and creating a bathroom in a room that didn't have one. Electrical work in a bathroom is often notifiable under Part P. Planning permission doesn't apply to internal works in a house, though listed buildings may need consent.
Is bathroom electrical work notifiable?
Often, yes. Under Part P, the zone around a bath or shower is a 'special location', so adding or altering a circuit there is notifiable, and so is any new circuit, such as the dedicated supply for an electric shower. It must be certified by an electrician registered with a competent person scheme, or inspected through building control, and you should receive an electrical installation certificate. Your quote names who carries out the electrical work.
What ventilation does a bathroom need?
When you refit a bathroom, any existing extract ventilation should be kept or replaced, and a new extract fan should be sized to meet Approved Document F, which sets a minimum intermittent rate of 15 litres per second for a bathroom. In a bathroom without an openable window, the fan should keep running for about 15 minutes after the light is switched off. Ducting to outside, rather than into the loft, keeps moisture out of the roof space.
Bathroom fitting: your questions answered
How much does a new bathroom cost in the West Midlands?
Most bathroom refits cost £4,500–£16,000, including VAT where it applies. A full refit of a typical 2 m × 2.5 m family bathroom, with a bath and shower over and full tiling, usually costs £6,500–£8,500, including the suite. Your itemised quote shows the suite, tiling and labour separately, so you can see where to save or spend.
How long does a bathroom refit take?
Most refits take 7–12 working days. Strip-out and first fix take two or three days, tiling is usually the longest stage, and second fix and sealing take a day or two. Large-format tiles, layout changes and underfloor heating add time. We give you a day-by-day outline before work starts, so you know when each stage happens.
What if it's our only bathroom?
We plan around it. The toilet can usually be refitted temporarily at the end of most days, or put back early in the programme, so you're not without one overnight. The shower and bath will be out of use for most of the job, so it's worth arranging somewhere to shower, with family or at a gym, for a week or so.
Should I choose a mixer shower or an electric shower?
It depends on your hot water system and water pressure. A combi boiler or unvented cylinder usually gives a good mixer shower. Low-pressure gravity systems may need a pump, or an electric shower may be simpler, though that needs a dedicated circuit, which is notifiable work. We test pressure and flow at the survey and recommend what will actually perform.
What guarantees come with a new bathroom?
Baths, trays, toilets, taps, showers and furniture carry manufacturers' guarantees, and their terms are set out in your quote. Some shower manufacturers ask for an annual service or a registration after installation, and we'll tell you if yours does. You'll receive the electrical certificate for any notifiable work. If anything we fitted isn't right, call us.
How do I get ready for the bathroom fitters?
Clear the bathroom completely, including the cabinets and the airing cupboard if it's in the room. Make space on the landing or in a spare room for deliveries. Decide on things like towel radiator size and mirror position before first fix, because cables and pipes are placed early. Let us know about parking and access for the skip or waste.
Which areas do we cover for bathroom fitting?
We cover the whole West Midlands from West Bromwich. Pick your area for local details, councils and postcodes: