Planning a Bathroom Renovation: What You Need to Know
A bathroom renovation is one of the best investments you can make in your home. A well-designed bathroom improves your daily life and adds genuine value to your property. But without proper planning, costs can spiral and timelines can stretch. Here is how to approach a bathroom refit the right way.
Start With a Realistic Budget
Bathroom renovations vary hugely in cost. A basic refresh — new taps, toilet seat, shower screen, and fresh tiles — might cost £2,000 to £3,000. A full strip-out and refit with new suite, tiling, flooring, and plumbing can range from £5,000 to £10,000 or more depending on the fixtures you choose.
Set your budget before you start looking at products. It is easy to fall in love with a £600 rainfall shower when your budget calls for a £150 mixer. Decide what you can spend, then allocate roughly:
- **40 percent** on labour (plumbing, tiling, electrics)
- **35 percent** on fixtures and fittings (suite, shower, taps, towel rail)
- **15 percent** on tiles and flooring
- **10 percent** contingency — there are always surprises behind old bathroom walls
Measure Everything Twice
Before choosing any fixtures, measure your bathroom carefully. Note the positions of the soil pipe, waste pipes, and water supply. Moving these is possible but adds significant cost.
If your bathroom is small, every centimetre matters. Consider:
- **Wall-hung toilets and basins** — they free up floor space and make the room feel larger
- **Sliding shower doors** instead of hinged ones
- **Recessed shelving** (niches in the shower wall) instead of free-standing caddies
- **Large format tiles** — fewer grout lines make a small room feel bigger
Choose Your Fixtures Early
Lead times on bathroom products can catch people out. A specific toilet or vanity unit might have a three to four week delivery time. Order everything before work begins so your tradespeople are not standing around waiting for deliveries.
Key items to choose and order upfront:
- **Toilet** (close-coupled, wall-hung, or back-to-wall)
- **Basin and vanity unit** or pedestal
- **Bath and/or shower** (electric shower, mixer shower, thermostatic valve)
- **Taps** — make sure they are compatible with your water pressure
- **Towel radiator** — heated towel rails are a small luxury that makes a big difference
- **Tiles** — order 10 percent more than your measurements suggest to account for cuts and waste
Think About Ventilation
Poor ventilation is one of the biggest causes of mould and damp in bathrooms. If your bathroom does not have a window, a good extractor fan is essential. Even if it does have a window, an extractor fan is still worthwhile — especially during the Wirral's damp winter months when opening a window is not practical.
A humidistat fan that activates automatically when it detects moisture is the best option. Your electrician can wire this in during the renovation.
Consider the Order of Work
A bathroom renovation typically follows this sequence:
A straightforward bathroom refit typically takes five to seven working days. More complex jobs with structural changes or underfloor heating may take longer.
Hire the Right Tradespeople
A bathroom renovation involves plumbing, tiling, and sometimes electrical work. Using a company that can manage all these trades — rather than coordinating separate tradespeople yourself — saves time and avoids miscommunication.
JF Plumbing & Heating handles full bathroom renovations across the Wirral, from design advice through to the final silicone seal. If you are thinking about a new bathroom, get in touch for a free consultation and quote.