Question 1

How much does a bathroom refurbishment cost in the UK?

Accepted Answer

A full bathroom refurbishment in Greater London typically costs £8,000-£15,000 for a standard family bathroom and £5,000-£10,000 for an en-suite. This covers strip-out, first-fix plumbing, first-fix electrics, waterproofing (tanking), tiling, second-fix plumbing installation, second-fix electrical, decoration and flooring. The sanitaryware, brassware, tiles and accessories are client-supplied second-fix items. A complete bathroom suite (toilet, basin, bath, shower, taps) ranges from £800 (budget) to £5,000+ (premium brands like Duravit, Villeroy & Boch or Crosswater).

Question 2

How long does a bathroom refurbishment take?

Accepted Answer

A standard family bathroom takes 2-3 weeks on site. An en-suite takes 1.5-2 weeks. A wet room takes 2.5-3.5 weeks (additional time for the tanking membrane, falls formation and curing). If structural work is involved (moving walls, creating a new en-suite from a bedroom) add 1-2 weeks. The property will be without a functioning bathroom for most of this period, so RCB maintains one working WC wherever possible and coordinates trades to minimise downtime.

Question 3

What is a wet room and how much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

A wet room is a fully waterproofed (tanked) bathroom where the shower drains directly through the floor rather than into a tray. The entire floor is waterproofed with a liquid-applied membrane (such as Mapei Mapelastic or Schluter DITRA), the floor is graded to a linear or point drain, and large-format tiles are laid with minimal grout joints. A wet room costs £2,000-£4,000 more than a standard bathroom due to the tanking, falls formation (either in screed or using a pre-formed former) and the drainage requirements. Wet rooms are excellent for small bathrooms and accessible design.

Question 4

Can I add an en-suite to my bedroom?

Accepted Answer

Yes, provided you have sufficient space (minimum 1.5m x 2.0m for a shower room with WC and basin) and the plumbing can be routed to the existing soil stack. Key considerations: (1) The soil pipe must be accessible - if the bedroom is far from the existing stack, a Saniflo macerator (£500-£800) may be needed; (2) Adequate ventilation - either an openable window or mechanical extract fan to outside; (3) Sound insulation - acoustic matting under the floor and insulation in stud walls prevents noise transfer; (4) Fire safety in flats - the en-suite must not compromise the flat's means of escape (Part B). A new en-suite typically costs £6,000-£12,000 complete.

Question 5

What tiles work best in a bathroom?

Accepted Answer

Porcelain tiles are the best all-round choice: waterproof, durable, low-maintenance and available in every size, colour and finish. Ceramic tiles (our standard specification, 300x300mm minimum) are more affordable and perfectly suitable for walls. For floors, use a tile with an anti-slip rating of R10 or higher (R11 for wet rooms). Large-format tiles (600x600mm or 600x1200mm) create a more spacious feel with fewer grout lines. Natural stone (marble, travertine) looks premium but requires sealing and more maintenance. Glass mosaic tiles work well as feature accents. All tiles are client-supplied second-fix items at RCB.

Question 6

Do I need Building Regulations approval for a bathroom refurbishment?

Accepted Answer

A like-for-like bathroom refurbishment (replacing existing fittings in the same positions) does not need Building Regulations approval. However, approval is needed if: (1) You are adding a new bathroom or WC (Part H drainage, Part G sanitation); (2) Electrical work is involved beyond simple like-for-like replacements (Part P); (3) You are creating a wet room (structural floor modifications); (4) You are installing or modifying mechanical ventilation (Part F); (5) The work affects fire compartmentation in a flat (Part B). An electrician registered with a competent person scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT) can self-certify Part P work without a separate Building Control application.

Question 7

What waterproofing is needed in a bathroom?

Accepted Answer

At minimum, all shower areas must be waterproofed (tanked) behind the tiles to prevent moisture penetrating the wall substrate and causing damp, rot and mould. RCB applies a liquid-applied tanking membrane (two coats) to all shower enclosure walls and floors. In a wet room, the entire floor and walls to a minimum height of 1.8m are fully tanked, with reinforcing tape at all corners and junctions. The waterproofing membrane must be allowed to cure for 24-48 hours before tiling. Cement backer boards (Wedi, HardieBacker) are used instead of plasterboard in all wet areas for long-term durability.

Question 8

How do I ventilate a bathroom properly?

Accepted Answer

Building Regulations (Part F) require mechanical extract ventilation in bathrooms: minimum 15 litres/second (l/s) intermittent extraction or 8 l/s continuous. If the bathroom has no openable window, a fan is mandatory and must be on a timer overrun of at least 15 minutes. For internal bathrooms, a ducted inline fan venting to an outside wall or through the roof is required. Humidity-sensing fans (like Envirovent Silent 100HT) switch on automatically when moisture levels rise. In a wet room or en-suite, higher extraction rates (25-30 l/s) are recommended to handle the increased moisture load.

Question 9

What plumbing considerations are there for a bathroom refurbishment?

Accepted Answer

Key plumbing considerations include: (1) Water pressure - if you have a gravity-fed system (cold water tank in the loft), you may need a booster pump or a combi/unvented cylinder upgrade for a decent shower (minimum 1.0 bar, ideally 1.5+ bar); (2) Pipe sizing - a 15mm supply may not be sufficient for a large rainfall shower head; use 22mm feeds where possible; (3) Hot water capacity - a combi boiler typically delivers 12-15 litres/minute which may not support simultaneous use; (4) Waste pipe falls - a minimum 1:40 fall is required; (5) Soil stack connection - WC waste must connect to the soil stack via a 110mm pipe. RCB assesses all plumbing during the site survey and specifies any upgrades needed.

Question 10

How do I make a bathroom accessible?

Accepted Answer

Key accessibility features include: (1) Level-access wet room or low-profile shower tray (maximum 25mm step); (2) Grab rails at the WC, shower and bath (fixed to solid backing - not plasterboard alone); (3) Wall-hung WC at 480mm height (vs standard 400mm); (4) Thermostatic mixer valves with clear temperature markings; (5) Non-slip floor tiles (R11 rating minimum); (6) Lever-style taps rather than cross-head; (7) Wider doorway (minimum 775mm clear opening); (8) Contrasting colours for visually impaired users. Part M of the Building Regulations sets out detailed access requirements. A Disabled Facilities Grant from the local council may cover some or all of the cost.

Bathroom Refurbishment FAQs

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