Most bathroom plumbing problems come down to a few things: not enough pressure or flow at the shower, wastes that run too far without enough fall and then gurgle or block, and a WC that has to go somewhere the soil stack cannot easily reach. Before any fittings are chosen, it pays to know your hot water system. A combi boiler, a gravity system with a tank in the loft and an unvented cylinder all behave differently and suit different showers.
Like-for-like plumbing for a new suite in the same positions, with isolation valves, new tails and a pressure test, typically costs £600 to £1,500 including VAT. Moving a basin or shower with new hot and cold runs and a re-routed waste costs £1,200 to £2,500. A new layout that moves the WC on the soil stack, or adds a pumped waste or a pressure upgrade, costs £2,000 to £4,000. Most jobs take one to five working days.
What does bathroom plumbing work with us include?
- A check of your hot water system, and the pressure and flow rate at the bathroom
- Draining down and isolating supplies, with the rest of the house back on water as soon as possible
- New hot and cold pipework in copper or plastic, properly clipped, and insulated where it runs through cold spaces
- Isolation valves on every fitting, so taps, cisterns and valves can be serviced without draining the system
- Basin, bath and shower wastes sized and laid to a steady fall, with traps that hold their water seal
- The WC connected to the soil stack, or a new branch where the WC is moving
- Shower pumps on gravity systems, and macerators or pumped wastes where gravity drainage cannot reach
- A pressure test of new pipework before walls are closed in and floors go down
How much does bathroom plumbing work cost?
Our UK guide range is £600–£4,000 including VAT. Typical prices by kind of job:
Like-for-like
- New suite in the same positions
- Isolation valves, new tails
- Pressure test
Partial re-route
- Basin or shower moved
- New hot and cold runs
- Waste re-routed
New layout
- WC moved on the soil stack
- Pumped waste or macerator
- Pump or pressure upgrade
National guide prices including VAT, reviewed October 2026. London is typically about 25% higher and the North East, Wales and Northern Ireland around 7–12% lower. Your written quote after the survey is the price that counts.
What do you need to decide?
Copper or plastic
Copper is rigid and suits pipes on show or near the boiler. Plastic is quicker under floors and inside walls, and long runs need fewer joints.
Shower supply
Combi boilers and unvented cylinders give mains pressure. A gravity system with a cold tank may need a pump, but a pump must never be connected to the mains.
Gravity or pumped waste
Gravity drainage is always the first choice. A shower waste pump or macerator solves a run that cannot fall, but adds noise, a power supply and servicing.
Concealed or exposed valves
Concealed shower valves look neater but need an access route for servicing. Exposed bar valves are easier to reach and replace.
Hard water
In hard water areas, a scale reducer or water softener protects valves, shower heads and glass. Keep an unsoftened tap in the kitchen for drinking.
Pipe routes
Drilling through the middle of joists, rather than notching the tops, keeps the floor strong. Routes are planned with the joist direction in mind.
