En-suites in East Sussex

What does an en-suite cost in East Sussex?

Our guide range in East Sussex is £5,000–£10,000 including VAT. Prices in East Sussex run at about 12% above the UK guide, based on South East England labour rates.

Guide prices for East Sussex including VAT. Your itemised written quote after the free survey is the price that counts.

Which towns do we cover in East Sussex?

• Brighton
• Eastbourne
• Hastings
• Hove
• Bexhill-on-Sea
• Hailsham
• Seaford
• Rottingdean
• Crowborough
• Portslade
• Peacehaven
• Uckfield
• Lewes

Most of East Sussex has hard water. If your supply in Brighton is the same, limescale on shower glass and heads is a real issue: easy-clean glass, rub-clean nozzles and a squeegee make a big difference. Hardness varies street by street, so check the figure for your postcode with your water supplier. For an en-suite in Brighton, the first question at the survey is always where the waste can reach the soil stack.

What the job includes

• A pumped waste or macerator where gravity drainage is not possible, and only where the house already has a WC on gravity drainage
• A short-projection or wall-hung WC and a compact basin chosen to keep the floor clear
• A door that suits a tight space: inward, outward, sliding or a pocket door
• IP-rated lighting, a shaver socket and the electrics done by a qualified electrician, tested and certified
• Stud walls with acoustic insulation and moisture-resistant board for a new en-suite
• A survey that traces the route from the en-suite to the soil stack and checks the fall the waste pipes would need

Decisions to make first

Shower size

A 900 mm square tray is a comfortable minimum for an enclosure. In a long, narrow room, a 1200 by 800 mm walk-in tray with one glass panel feels far more generous.

Refit or new en-suite

A refit keeps the existing drainage and walls. A new en-suite costs more because the walls, waste route, fan duct and electrics all start from nothing.

Noise

Acoustic insulation in the stud walls and a quiet fan make a real difference when one of you showers early while the other is still asleep.

Exposed or concealed valve

An exposed bar valve is quicker to fit and easy to service. A concealed valve looks cleaner but sits inside the wall, so plan how it will be reached for repairs.

Rules that apply in England

Forming an en-suite inside an existing bedroom does not normally need planning permission, but it is usually building-regulations work because it adds drainage, ventilation and electrics. All wiring must meet BS 7671, with 30 mA RCD protection on every circuit in the room. A macerator or pumped WC is acceptable only where the home also has a WC on gravity drainage. In a listed building, a new soil or vent pipe through a wall needs listed building consent.

In England, a new en-suite brings in Part H for the new connection to the soil stack, Approved Document F for ventilation, at 15 litres per second intermittent or 8 litres per second continuous extract, and Part P for the new circuits. The electrician should be registered with a competent person scheme, or the work notified to building control. On a refit, avoid replacing the fan with a less effective one.