What does a new shower cost in Dorset?
Our guide range in Dorset is £450–£3,600 including VAT.
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 Dorset including VAT. Your itemised written quote after the free survey is the price that counts.
Which towns do we cover in Dorset?
Supplies across most of Dorset are hard. If your supply in Bournemouth 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. If your Bournemouth bath has no shower over it, a thermostatic bar shower, screen and tiling can usually be added in a day or two.
What the job includes
- Supply and fitting of the shower valve or unit, riser rail, handset or fixed head
- Electrical connection by a qualified electrician, tested and certified
- Tiling or re-tiling around the shower, with tanking behind new tiles in the wet area
- A bath screen, tray or enclosure where the shower is new
- New pipework and isolation valves, plus a pump only where the system is gravity-fed from a cold tank
- A check of your hot-water system, water pressure and flow rate
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.
Thermostatic mixer
Blends hot and cold from your system and holds the temperature steady when someone runs a tap. The usual choice with a combi or an unvented cylinder.
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.