What does a new shower cost in Hertfordshire?
Our guide range in Hertfordshire is £500–£3,700 including VAT. Prices in Hertfordshire run at about 6% above the UK guide, based on East of 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 Hertfordshire including VAT. Your itemised written quote after the free survey is the price that counts.
Which towns do we cover in Hertfordshire?
- Watford
- Hemel Hempstead
- Stevenage
- St Albans
- Welwyn Garden City
- Cheshunt
- Hatfield
- Bishops Stortford
- Borehamwood
- Hitchin
- Hoddesdon
- Letchworth Garden City
- North Watford
- Harpenden
- Bushey
- Hertford
- Rickmansworth
- Potters Bar
- Berkhamsted
- Ware
Most of Hertfordshire has very hard water. If your supply in Watford 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. We test pressure and flow at Watford surveys before recommending a shower, so you know how it will perform before you buy.
What the job includes
- New pipework and isolation valves, plus a pump only where the system is gravity-fed from a cold tank
- For an electric shower, a check of the consumer unit and whether a new dedicated circuit is needed
- Removal of the old shower, a full-flow test and a handover on isolating and descaling it
- Supply and fitting of the shower valve or unit, riser rail, handset or fixed head
- Tiling or re-tiling around the shower, with tanking behind new tiles in the wet area
- Electrical connection by a qualified electrician, tested and certified
Decisions to make first
Head and handset
A handset on a riser rail is versatile and easy for rinsing; a fixed overhead head feels generous but needs strong flow behind it.
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.
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.
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.
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.