What does a new shower cost in the Lothians?
Our guide range in the Lothians is £450–£3,400 including VAT. Prices in the Lothians run at about 4% below the UK guide, based on Scotland labour rates.
Shower swap
- Test and handover
New shower over bath
- Thermostatic bar shower and riser
New shower with enclosure
- Pipework and waste
Guide prices for The Lothians including VAT. Your itemised written quote after the free survey is the price that counts.
Which towns do we cover in the Lothians?
Most of the Lothians is supplied with soft water. If that holds for your street in Livingston, 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 your Livingston 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
- Tiling or re-tiling around the shower, with tanking behind new tiles in the wet area
- For an electric shower, a check of the consumer unit and whether a new dedicated circuit is needed
- A check of your hot-water system, water pressure and flow rate
- A bath screen, tray or enclosure where the shower is new
- Electrical connection by a qualified electrician, tested and certified
- Removal of the old shower, a full-flow test and a handover on isolating and descaling it
Decisions to make first
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.
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.
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.
Rules that apply in Scotland
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 Scotland there is no Part P, but a new shower circuit must still be designed, installed and certified to BS 7671. Water fittings, including pumps and backflow protection, are covered by the Scottish Water Byelaws 2014.