Measure your bathroom and create a to-scale plan!

The most expensive and difficult to change items should go first.

Mark where your soil pipe leaves your room

This determines the ideal position of your new toilet.

Add windows and doors

Add any structural obstacles

Like a supporting column.

Mark your wall types solid, stud, external

Solid walls (or brick cavity walls) sound dull when you knock on them and are cold to the touch whereas stud walls sound hollow when you knock on them and may flex or move when pushed. Knowing that the wall behind your shower is a stud wall for example, could make a difference to the options you have for your layout.

Understand your floor construction

Concrete (means lots of hard work to move plumbing around 😢) or suspended timber (less work 😅)!

Make a decision on your style

Decide on the overall style of your bathroom. Are you going traditional or modern? Moody powder room or functional shower room?

Explore and choose a layout

Look at what you can achieve moving the furniture around (remembering that the more that is moved, the greater the cost) and what additional space you would need for fitting (e.g. space for hiding anything coming from “concealed” or “wall mounted” “back to wall” fixtures and fittings)

Clarify if you need planning permission

E.g. If this is part of an extension.

Make sure you've captured the work required beyond the bathroom install itself

E.g. A new door, new window, moving an attic hatch etc.

Choose your sanitaryware, materials, fixtures, and fittings

Check the dimensions of your chosen fixtures and fittings, and their delivery lead times

Ensure they will actually fit against your to scale plan, and make sure you check those delivery lead times.

Layer on your electrical plan

Think in particular about the practical lighting you'll need - a light either side of a mirror is often the best option to light your face minimising shadows

Ask local friends and family if there is anyone they would recommend

If you're new to the area, find local community forums, Facebook and Whatsapp groups to ask for recommendations. If you do need to use sites to find a trade, make sure they vet their members for quality of workmanship as well as customer service.

When someone recommends a trade, ask questions!

You'll be working together for the best part of a month so you want to make sure you can easily communicate to get the job done within time and budget. Ask about the quality of the work, the communication, their planning, whether there were any surprises. How did they handle issues that came up?

Create and verify your shortlist

Check out reviews online. Look for pictures of past projects and customer reviews, it 100% helps if they have completed a project of a similar style to your own! Before you finalise your shortlist, take a look at their Companies House records for legitimacy and financial health.

Get three quotes from your shortlist

You won't always get a quote from everyone you ask, so ask four people / firms straight off, so you have a better chance of getting 3 back.

Request a detailed breakdown of costs

Broken down between materials and labour and make sure you are clear who is responsible for buying what, whether the costs are inclusive or exclusive of VAT.

Clarify whether it is an estimate or fixed cost quote

Estimates are an idea of potential costs but you pay 'actuals' for labour time and materials etc. whereas fixed cost you will pay exactly that amount unless you change your requirement, regardless of how long it takes or the actual cost of materials when purchased.

Ask about availability and potential start dates

Immediate availability isn't necessarily a good sign! Why aren't they busy?

Agree the terms of the work

A written contract* protects both sides - ensuring everyone knows what to expect and what's covered.

Agree payment gateways

And never pay large sums up front. If you're comfortable doing so it's fine to pay a deposit, but be sure to keep it to no more than 20-30% of the overall cost, the smaller the amount the better.