What does an accessible bathroom cost in the Scottish Borders?
Our guide range in the Scottish Borders is £5,800–£13,500 including VAT. Prices in the Scottish Borders run at about 4% below the UK guide, based on Scotland labour rates.
Level-access shower
- Slip-resistant floor
Accessible wet room
- Level floor throughout
Walk-in or low-level bath
- Thermostatic filler
Guide prices for Scottish Borders including VAT. Your itemised written quote after the free survey is the price that counts.
Which towns do we cover in the Scottish Borders?
Supplies across most of the Scottish Borders are soft. If that holds for your street in Hawick, limescale on shower glass and heads builds up slowly and a squeegee after use is usually enough. Hardness varies street by street, so check the figure for your postcode with your water supplier. For Hawick homes where the only toilet is in the bathroom, we plan the work so it stays usable for as much of the job as possible.
What the job includes
- A thermostatic shower valve, so the temperature stays safe and steady
- A home survey of how the room is used now and what needs to change, including door width and turning space
- Lever taps, contrasting colours for rails and fittings, and good lighting for people with low vision
- Removal of the bath and a level-access or low-profile shower in its place, or a full level-floor wet room
- Slip-resistant floor tiles or safety flooring that grips when wet
- A fold-down shower seat and grab rails fixed into solid wall or timber backing fitted behind the boards
Decisions to make first
Rail positions
Rails go where you need support: beside the WC, at the shower entry and near the seat. We set heights with the user at the survey so they suit their reach.
Screen or curtain
A half-height or folding screen lets a carer help without getting soaked. A weighted curtain is easier than glass for some people to move.
Colour contrast
Contrast between floor, walls, rails and the WC seat makes the room easier to use for people with sight loss or dementia.
Low tray or level floor
A low-profile tray with a very shallow lip suits someone who can step a little. A tiled level floor falling to a drain is needed for a wheelchair or wheeled shower chair.
Rules that apply in Scotland
Building work to adapt a home for a disabled person can be zero-rated for VAT under HMRC VAT Notice 701/7. It is not means-tested; the person signs an eligibility declaration before work starts. Disabled Facilities Grants and similar schemes are means-tested and need council approval before any work begins. All electrics must meet BS 7671, with 30 mA RCD protection on every circuit.
Scotland does not have Disabled Facilities Grants. Councils run a Scheme of Assistance instead, which can help with adaptations, so contact your council before planning the work. A building warrant may be needed if the drainage is altered for a level-access floor.