What does a new bathroom design cost in the Scottish Borders?
Design has no separate fee on a supply-and-fit job. A complete fitted bathroom in the Scottish Borders typically costs £6,200–£11,500 including VAT. Prices in the Scottish Borders run at about 4% below the UK guide, based on Scotland labour rates.
Survey and layout
- Written, itemised quote
Detailed design
- Elevations and tile layouts
Full project
- One contract and one team
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. 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. A design survey in Hawick covers drainage, supplies, electrics and ventilation, so nothing on the drawing is guesswork.
What the job includes
- A measured survey of the room, including ceiling heights, slopes, window and door positions and any boxing
- A clear view of which changes are cheap and which mean moving drainage or opening floors
- Layout options drawn to scale, showing the bath or shower, WC, basin, storage and towel rail
- A written, itemised quote, with the price fixed in writing once the layout and products are agreed
- A product list covering the suite, brassware, furniture, tiles, lighting and ventilation
- A lighting and electrical plan showing switches, fittings, shaver socket and extractor fan
Decisions to make first
Planning for later
Timber noggins in the walls for future grab rails, a wider door or a level shower floor cost far less to build in now than to add later.
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.
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.