What does a new shower cost in Cumbria?
Our guide range in Cumbria is £400–£3,300 including VAT. Prices in Cumbria run at about 6% below the UK guide, based on North West England labour rates.
Shower swap
- Existing supply and position
New shower over bath
- Tiling the bath surround
New shower with enclosure
- Tray, enclosure and valve
Guide prices for Cumbria including VAT. Your itemised written quote after the free survey is the price that counts.
Which towns do we cover in Cumbria?
Water across much of Cumbria is soft. If that holds for your street in Carlisle, limescale on shower glass and heads builds up slowly and a squeegee after use is usually enough. Hardness varies street by street, so check the figure for your postcode with your water supplier. If the shower in your Carlisle home swings between hot and cold, a thermostatic valve is usually the fix.
What the job includes
- A check of your hot-water system, water pressure and flow rate
- For an electric shower, a check of the consumer unit and whether a new dedicated circuit is needed
- Tiling or re-tiling around the shower, with tanking behind new tiles in the wet area
- Supply and fitting of the shower valve or unit, riser rail, handset or fixed head
- New pipework and isolation valves, plus a pump only where the system is gravity-fed from a cold tank
- Removal of the old shower, a full-flow test and a handover on isolating and descaling it
Decisions to make first
Electric shower
Heats cold mains water as it flows, so it works without stored hot water. Higher kW units give more flow; 8.5 to 10.5 kW models need a dedicated circuit, often 40 to 45 amps.
Power shower
A mixer with a built-in pump, for tank-fed systems only. It lifts a weak gravity shower but must never be connected to the mains.
Digital shower
A wall panel sets the exact temperature and flow, while the mixing valve sits out of sight. It needs a power supply and suits a clean, concealed look.
Exposed or concealed
An exposed bar valve fixes onto the tiles and is easy to service. A concealed valve sits in the wall for a cleaner look but needs careful setting-out and a plan for access.
Rules that apply in England
The water fittings regulations in each nation do not allow a pump to be connected directly to the mains supply; shower pumps are for gravity systems with a cold tank only. The shower must also be protected against water flowing back into the supply. Electrics must meet BS 7671, with 30 mA RCD protection and at least IPX4 fittings in zone 1, or IPX5 where water jets are used.
In England, an electric shower usually needs its own dedicated circuit, often 40 to 45 amps for an 8.5 to 10.5 kW unit, and a new circuit is notifiable under Part P. The Part G limit of 48 °C applies to a new bath in a new dwelling or one created by change of use, not to a shower, but a thermostatic valve gives similar protection. An unvented cylinder fitted to improve the shower must be installed by a G3-qualified installer.