Process and cost factors
What makes one bathroom cost more than another
Where jobs go wrong
The complexity of the tiling, pattern, format, number of cuts around fittings, has a direct effect on time spent, independent of the material cost itself.
At a glance
- Moving the position of a WC or shower, rather than keeping it on its existing waste run, adds plumbing labour and sometimes floor structural work.
- The complexity of the tiling, pattern, format, number of cuts around fittings, has a direct effect on time spent, independent of the material cost itself.
How it works in practice
- 1
Moving the position of a WC or shower, rather than keeping it on its existing waste run, adds plumbing labour and sometimes floor structural work.
- 2
The complexity of the tiling, pattern, format, number of cuts around fittings, has a direct effect on time spent, independent of the material cost itself.
- 3
The condition of what's underneath, revealed only once the old suite is out, can turn a straightforward refit into one needing floor or wall repairs.
- 4
The number of trades involved, and how many return visits each one needs, affects the overall labour input more than any single fitting choice.
Your questions answered
Is bespoke joinery a major cost driver?
It can be, since bespoke units take longer to design, order and fit accurately compared with a standard modular range.
Does choosing premium sanitaryware always mean a bigger jump in labour?
Not necessarily, fitting time for a well-made standard suite and a premium one is often similar; the main cost difference tends to sit in the materials themselves.
Related expert guides
Planning what actually drives bathroom cost?
Tell us the town or postcode and roughly what stage you are at. We'll tell you honestly whether it is a job we can take on.