How to Choose a Bathroom Fitter That’s Perfect for Your Project

So you’re updating your bathroom, congrats! When done well, a bathroom renovation is one the most fun and exciting projects to take from moodboard to reality. It may be one of the smallest rooms in the house, but it can also be one of the biggest sources of joy – whether that’s due to a new mood-boosting tile arrangement or the introduction of your perfect tub. 
The first step to getting the bathroom of your dreams is to find the right person  for the job. That’s where we come in. While price tends to be the limiting factor in selecting a contractor and what guides decisions, there are so many other things to take into account too. Here we dive into the process from start to finish, so you can make an informed choice – and most importantly, enjoy the journey.

What to Consider Before Looking for a Bathroom Fitter

Once you’ve mentally committed to your bathroom installation project it’s tempting to launch straight into it and get on the hunt for your perfect contractor. However, to ensure your project moves as smoothly as possible, it’s worth taking a moment to make sure you’ve got the below points covered before contacting anyone.

The Job Requirements

While a good contractor can absolutely offer advice on layout and materials, and any additional considerations like plumbing that might not occur to you, it’s important to have a clear brief in your head as well. The greater clarity you have, the better you’ll be able to communicate and align your expectations. Image references and drawings, notes of any products and fixtures you’d like to use, plus anything you’d like to keep in the bathroom are important.

Your Budget

A biggie. Before hiring a bathroom fitter make sure that your design aspirations are feasible within your budget. Remember that it’s not just material and labour costs – depending on the scale of your project you might need to factor in budget for waste removal, or any unexpected costs like damp that might be uncovered along the way. If you can, we recommend adding an extra 20% of your budget to the pot to account for this if need be.  

It depends on your project and plans, but you can roughly expect to split your budget 70:30. 70% on labour and installation costs and 30% on fittings, fixtures and materials.

Think About Jobs for the Contractor VS DIY Jobs

If you have a really tight budget and spare time, you might get a bit creative to achieve your bathroom renovation vision. Are there any jobs that you’re willing to do yourself? Taking on removing tiles or re-tiling, painting walls or installing shelving units can lower your costs, but unless you’re particularly sure of your DIY skills, anything plumbing-based is worth paying a professional bathroom fitter for.

Prepare for the Disruption

The average time it takes to upgrade a bathroom is three to four weeks, but if your space is particularly big or your plans complex, it can take up to nine weeks.  A good fitter will do their best to minimise the inconvenience, however some disruption  is par for the course – particularly if you only have one bathroom! While showering at the office or the gym is a good workaround for a few days, if you’re going to be without a toilet, it’s wise to stay elsewhere if you can. 

Below we’ve laid out some typical timelines to help you plan:

Old bathroom removal: one to two days, depending on how much material there is to remove and how easy said material is to demolish.

Plumbing work: if you’re reconfiguring your bathroom or  installing new plumbing, this typically takes two to three days.

Installing a bathroom suite: two to four days, depending on the size and number of new fixtures you’re installing. 

Electrics: if you’re wiring new lighting, outlets or any other electrical components, expect to factor in one to two days

Sheeting (preparing the walls for new finishes): allocate one to two days for this part, potentially a little longer if your bathroom is big. 

Waterproofing: usually two to three days – it’s important to be meticulous at this stage to ensure there’s no risk of water damage in the future.

Tiling: this depends on the size of the tile and how intricate the pattern is, but should take approximately three to five days.

Painting: if you’re having your ceiling, skirting or walls repainted, allow one to two days for this work.

Fittings: the last part! Allow one to two days for adding accessories, depending on how many you’re adding. To help you plan, check out how long different elements of bathroom installations take.

Choosing a Good Bathroom Fitter

So you’ve got your mood board, budget and plan in mind, now you’re ready to start looking for your contractor. Here are our top things to consider to make sure you pick the bathroom fitter that’s right for you.

Vet Multiple Bathroom Contractors

A new bathroom is an investment (in time and emotion as well as money) and feeling confident in your choice of contractor is hugely important.

That’s why it pays to do your due diligence rather than opt for the first person you come by or have been recommended. But equally, you don’t want to overcomplicate the process or waste anyone’s time, so The Page typically advises looking into two or three contractors’ services.

Getting multiple quotes will allow you to get a feel for a realistic price range, explore different skill sets and services, and ultimately make a more informed decision as to who’s going to be best for your specific needs.

Asking for a number of quotes also encourages you to really consider the breakdown of costs and why someone might be quoting lower than others – we can help you decipher this using insights from previous projects on a quote comparison call.

Check out how we vet our contractors.

Consider Contractors’ Business Structures

Whether they’re a sole trader, a small business owner or part of a bigger building company is worth considering. 

Sole traders can be very cost effective as they usually sit below the VAT threshold, plus as a one-man band, tend to offer personalised service. It’s unlikely they’ll have the cash flow to pay for build and material costs upfront, so be prepared to be able to front this yourself. They might use sub-contractors here and there to bridge any gaps in their skill set, so you’ll probably have to be more hands-on with your project to ensure that all information is relayed correctly and everything is just how you want it. 

Most of the companies listed on The Page are small to mid-sized businesses, which are well established and work with a trusted team. We’ve found that this size of business hits the sweet spot of reliability and organisation while maintaining a tailored level of service. Typically you can expect to pay a bit more as they will have additional overheads, like office space and people on their payroll, but they’re a good choice for that added level of professionalism and security.

Then there’s large building companies. These are usually long-standing businesses with established systems for customer service and project management, as well as a diverse range of contractors with different specialisms on their books. They’ll likely be very efficient, with great customer service, plus rigorous insurance and warranties for peace of mind, but they’re at the top end of the price scale.

Check Their Experience and Accreditations

Bathroom installers aren’t required to hold qualifications. NVQ, City and Guilds, British Institute of KBB Installation and Federation of Master Builders qualifications indicate a good level of knowledge; but they’re not the only benchmark by which you should base your decision on. Lots of tradespeople hone their skills via apprenticeships and practical experience or might have similar international qualifications. Checking reviews and their portfolio is equally important.

At The Page, everyone on our books has been pre-vetted for quality as well as licences. Simply looking at Companies House, for example, doesn’t tell you much about their professionalism or standards.

Read Reviews

One of the best ways to get a feel for a contractor’s work and approach to projects is to read reviews. You can find these on Google or platforms like Checkatrade, or if they’re a more established company, often their website or social media accounts will have these too (although take these with a pinch of salt, as no one is going to shout about negative reviews here!) 

Look across different platforms and see if there is a pattern – consistently positive or negative reviews are good indicators of general performance.

Try to find recent reviews that are applicable to customers’ experiences with bathroom renovations specifically and look for those that have images if possible – photographic evidence not only gives you an idea of the finished product but makes it more likely that the review is legitimate. Also, take note of how they respond to reviews, as this will give you an indication as to how they deal with their clients and any potential problems.

Check Previous Work

Another really important one. Ask to see a portfolio of recent projects so you can get an idea of not only the quality of the work done but the types of bathroom installations that the fitter has experience in. If someone has recently completed a beautiful bathroom similar to what you have in mind, you’ll feel more confident if you choose to employ them.

When we recommend bathroom fitters at The Page, we will always send you examples of their recent renovations so you can get an understanding of their workmanship.

Check out the bathrooms our contractors have completed here.

Ask People That Have Used Them

One of the key ways that people find contractors is via word of mouth. While recommendations can be amazing, it’s worth doing your own research too. No two projects are identical as every home and renovation goal is different – just because a contractor did a great job on a friend’s bathroom doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have the same experience.

They might not be so skilled in the nuances of your project or be busier with bigger jobs, meaning yours might take a back seat. That being said, good reviews and references are a very useful benchmark; contractors might be open to you speaking to their previous clients as well. 

Discuss Logistics

What time will they arrive and leave? Will they work on weekends? Do they need a key, if so, do you feel comfortable giving them a key or access to your property? Will they be leaving their tools while they’re not there? All of these questions are important to consider so that you’re on the same page. 

Can You See Yourself Working With Them?

Yes it’s your vision, but they’re the professionals – getting a new bathroom is a collaborative process. Different personalities and communication styles are bound to gel better than others, so there is an element of trusting your intuition and gauging how well you can see yourselves working together. When you get it right, the process can be much less stressful and really rewarding. 

Knowledge of Building Regulations

You will usually need approval from a building control body if you’re changing the layout of your bathroom affecting the plumbing, adding new electrical outlets or putting a bathroom in a completely different room. If you’re not sure, your local council should be able to help. Or take a look at the government’s advice on building regulations.

Insurance

While not always a requirement, insurance is important to protect both you and your contractor – definitely ask about insurance and ask to see a copy of their policy.

Tradespeople should have public liability insurance, which will cover compensation should there be any injuries or damage to the property while your works are being carried out. Many also have professional indemnity insurance, which essentially would cover them financially in court were a client to make a claim about negligent work or advice. If you opt for a business rather than a sole trader to carry out your project, note that it’s a legal requirement to have employer’s liability insurance. This covers anyone on their payroll for injury or illness while at work. 

Getting Quotes

The dream is of course to receive quotes that are perfectly on budget and cover everything you need. In reality, though, that’s not always the case – we’ve put together a useful guide on how much you can expect to pay for a new bathroom.

Ask What’s Included in the Quote

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Make sure you have a detailed breakdown of the scope of work and understand how much each element costs. If you’d like your contractor to look after sourcing or collecting materials, this should be included so that everyone is clear. A quote should always include a timeline for the project too. 

You can request quotes from our contractors here.

Get Multiple Quotes

As we mentioned above, getting at least three quotes will give you a good idea of what a realistic budget is. It also allows you to check pricing like for like for each element and see how different bathroom fitters cost things up. 

Price is of course one of the biggest factors in quote comparison. Sometimes you do get what you pay for, though. If someone is inexperienced you might be paying less for their time as they build up their repertoire, which is potentially fine for smaller projects, but for more complex bathroom fittings it’s advisable to go for experience to save you money in the long run.

Another thing The Page can help with is comparing quotes: we’re happy to chat you through your quotes and help you to establish what’s standard pricing and what could be challenged. We can also go over the fine print with you to make sure you’re comfortable.

Get the Quote in Writing

Reputable contractors should always send you over a quote in writing. It’s fine to get a verbal estimate for a ballpark figure, but having something to refer back to makes sure everyone is totally aligned on the project. Either a contract or T&Cs should be included once a quote is agreed, which covers both parties in case there’s any debate on what is and what’s not included. 

Payment Schedule

All contractors have payment schedules, but how the cost is split varies from business to business. They’ll usually request a deposit, with further payment in instalments during your project (the number can vary based on the total cost and length of the project) and a final sum once the renovation is complete. 

You should now be armed with all the knowledge you need to choose your perfect bathroom fitter. If you don’t have a shortlist yet, send us an enquiry and we’d be happy to help.

To get matched to a list of bathroom contractors that are perfect for your job send us an enquiry.