What affects the cost of a new bathroom?

"How much will a new bathroom cost?" is the first question most people ask, and the honest answer is that it depends on what you want and what's already there. Understanding what drives the price helps you plan a budget and compare quotes fairly.

The size of the room

A bigger room needs more flooring, more tiling and often longer pipe runs. A small cloakroom toilet is a very different job from a large family bathroom.

Keeping things where they are

Keeping the toilet, basin, bath or shower in their current positions is usually the biggest single saving. Moving a toilet means moving its waste pipe, which needs the right fall to work properly and may mean lifting floors. Moving taps and showers means new pipework hidden in walls or floors.

The suite and fittings you choose

Baths, basins, toilets, taps and showers range from budget to luxury. Wall-hung toilets and basins look sleek but need frames or concealed cisterns built into the wall. A thermostatic shower costs more than a simple mixer, but it's safer and more comfortable. You can choose your own suite or ask for recommendations.

Walls and floors

Fully tiled walls, large-format tiles and natural stone take longer to fit than wall panels or part-tiled walls. Underfloor heating, new flooring and boarding all add to the cost. Your quote should make clear who is doing the tiling.

Electrics and extras

New lights, an extractor fan, a shaver socket or an electric shower need a qualified electrician. Heated towel rails, mirrors with lights and built-in storage are popular extras worth budgeting for.

What's behind the walls

Older homes sometimes have pipework, floors or walls that need attention once the old suite comes out. A good quote explains how anything unexpected would be handled.

Ways to keep the cost down

• Keep the layout the same if it works.
• Tile only the wet areas and paint the rest.
• Put your money into the things you use every day, like a good shower and taps.
• Get a written quote that lists exactly what's included.

Getting an accurate price

The only way to get a real figure is a visit. Loui can come out, measure up, talk through what you'd like and give you a written quote, free and with no obligation.