What does a new bathroom design cost in the Lothians?
Design has no separate fee on a supply-and-fit job. A complete fitted bathroom in the Lothians typically costs £6,200–£11,500 including VAT. Prices in the Lothians run at about 4% below the UK guide, based on Scotland labour rates.
Survey and layout
- Layout options on paper
Detailed design
- Lighting and electrical plan
Full project
- Design, supply and fit
Guide prices for The Lothians including VAT. Your itemised written quote after the free survey is the price that counts.
Which towns do we cover in the Lothians?
Water across much of the Lothians is soft. That leaves you free to choose matt black, brushed brass or clear glass without worrying much about limescale. Hardness varies street by street, so check the figure for your postcode with your water supplier. We measure Livingston bathrooms on site before drawing anything, so layouts are based on your walls rather than a standard plan.
What the job includes
- Checks on the soil stack, waste routes, joist direction, water pressure, hot water system and existing electrics
- A product list covering the suite, brassware, furniture, tiles, lighting and ventilation
- Layout options drawn to scale, showing the bath or shower, WC, basin, storage and towel rail
- A lighting and electrical plan showing switches, fittings, shaver socket and extractor fan
- Elevations and tile layouts on a design, supply and fit project, so the setting-out is agreed before tiling starts
- A measured survey of the room, including ceiling heights, slopes, window and door positions and any boxing
Decisions to make first
Keep or change the layout
Keeping the WC and shower where they are saves on plumbing. The WC is the costly one to move, because it is tied to the soil stack.
Storage
Fitted furniture, a vanity with a tall cupboard, or recessed niches and a mirror cabinet. Recessed storage costs no floor space but needs a stud wall or deep boxing to sit in.
Tile setting-out
Centring tiles on the window, basin or niche avoids thin slivers at the edges. Large tiles mean fewer joints but need flatter walls.
Where the shower goes
A shower on an outside wall is easier to ventilate; one under a sloping ceiling needs full head height where you stand, not just at the high side.
Rules that apply in Scotland
Changing the layout inside an existing bathroom does not need planning permission. The design does have to respect the electrical zones around the bath and shower under BS 7671, the water fittings rules for new WCs and taps, including a maximum 6-litre flush, and adequate extract ventilation. Listed buildings need listed building consent for alterations affecting their character, including new soil or vent pipes through walls, and in a flat the title deeds often require the other owners' agreement for moving the WC or adding a new vent.
In Scotland, a straight refit rarely needs a building warrant, but forming a new bathroom, altering drainage or structural work may. The Technical Handbook uses 15 l/s extract for a bathroom, and the Scottish Water Byelaws 2014 cover new water fittings.