Bathroom guides
Plain-English advice on costs, layouts, rules and products, written to help you plan before you spend.
How much does a new bathroom cost in the UK?
A typical new bathroom in the UK costs £6,500–£12,000 supplied and fitted, including VAT, for a mid-range room on the same layout. A simple refit...
7 min read
Fitted or freestanding bathroom furniture?
Fitted bathroom furniture is a continuous run of units built wall to wall, with the basin, WC cistern and pipework hidden inside; freestanding...
6 min read
Wet room or walk-in shower: which is right for you?
A wet room is a fully waterproofed room with a level, tiled floor that falls to a drain, so the shower is part of the floor; a walk-in shower is a...
7 min read
Should you keep the bath or switch to a shower?
Keep the bath if it is the only one in a family home or someone uses it regularly; switch to a shower if nobody bathes, the room is tight, or...
7 min read
How to plan a small bathroom that works
A small bathroom works when every fitting has clear floor space in front of it, the door does not fight the fittings, and each piece is chosen for...
7 min read
Bathroom zones, IP ratings and electrics explained
BS 7671, the UK wiring regulations, splits a bathroom into zones by how close you are to water: zone 0 is inside the bath or shower tray, zone 1...
8 min read
Bathroom extractor fans: rules, sizes and placement
In England, Approved Document F asks for a bathroom extractor fan that removes at least 15 litres per second when it runs intermittently, or 8...
7 min read
Porcelain, ceramic or stone: choosing bathroom tiles
Porcelain is the safest all-round bathroom tile: it is dense, absorbs almost no water and works on walls and floors. Ceramic is lighter and...
7 min read
Underfloor heating in a bathroom: electric or wet?
For most bathrooms electric underfloor heating is the better choice: it is quicker to fit, adds only a few millimetres to the floor and typically...
7 min read
How long does it take to fit a bathroom? A day-by-day plan
A typical bathroom takes 6–10 working days to fit, an en-suite 4–8 days, a cloakroom 2–4 days and a wet room 5–10 days. The time goes on...
7 min read
Hard water and your bathroom
Hard water carries dissolved calcium and magnesium that leave limescale on shower glass, taps, shower heads and inside valves. Much of the South...
6 min read
Accessible bathrooms: grants and VAT relief
A Disabled Facilities Grant can help pay for an accessible bathroom: up to £30,000 in England, up to £36,000 in Wales and up to £25,000 in...
8 min read
Adding an en-suite: space, drainage and the rules
You can add an en-suite to most bedrooms if there is room for a shower, basin and WC with clear space in front of each, and a workable route for...
7 min read
Electric, mixer, power or digital: choosing a shower
The right shower depends on your hot water system. With a combi boiler or unvented cylinder, a thermostatic mixer shower runs at mains pressure...
8 min read