Bathroom installation: how to find a bathroom fitter

Bathroom installation is a skilled job usually best left to professionals. So how do you find the right person for the task? Read on to find out how much it costs to have a bathroom installed, whether you need a plumber, or if it's worth fitting it yourself.

When we surveyed 6,833 people who've had bathrooms installed in the past five years, almost a third said they'd found a professional bathroom fitter themselves, rather than using the retailer's own service or a company recommended by them.

Many said it was because they preferred to choose their own traders, while others had bought their bathroom from a retailer that doesn't offer an installation service.

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How to find a bathroom fitter

1. Look for recommendations and reviews

Word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family are a good place to start if you need someone to carry out skilled work in your home.

If you don't know anyone who's had their bathroom refurbished recently, you can look at online reviews. If the installer is a Which? Trusted Trader, check its reviews on our website – we moderate every review to check authenticity.

2. Look at pictures of their work

Check the fitter's website, social media channels and, if applicable, their Which? Trusted Traders profile to see examples of their work.

Have they undertaken work similar to yours? Do they have particular expertise you're looking for, such as bathroom design, wet rooms or accessible bathrooms and showers? Are they able to lay complicated tile patterns, like herringbone or basket weave, or mosaics?

If you're about take the plunge, find out the best and worst bathroom brands as rated by thousands of customers.

3. Check their accreditation

Find out whether the installer has been accredited or endorsed by an organisation you can trust. This can include professional trade associations such as the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI) or the Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association (KBSA).

Which? Trusted Traders endorses bathroom fitters who pass a thorough assessment process, including background checks and an inspection by Trading Standards professionals.

Trade associations and endorsement bodies usually set standards that their members should follow and give customers access to independent complaint resolution services if anything goes wrong.

If a company says it's a member of any associations or schemes, check it's listed on the relevant organisation's website.

4. Get several quotes

Get at least three quotes from bathroom installers to get a clearer idea of the going rate for your particular project.

Alongside materials and labour, you should check that extras such as waste disposal are included – these additional costs can soon mount up.

Check whether the trader has a minimum charge, as this might mean it's more cost effective to get several jobs done at once.

Our bathroom suites guide delves deeper into how much it costs to have a bathroom installed.

5. Check if the installer will use subcontractors or specialists

Fitting a bathroom requires a wide range of skills, so ask your trader which parts of the job they cover themselves, and whether they use any subcontractors.

If any parts of the job will be subcontracted, find out who the contractors are so you can check that they're qualified, experienced and properly insured.

Ask who will take responsibility for each part of the installation. If there’s a problem with any of the work, you don't want to be caught in the middle while one trader blames the other.

If the fitter doesn't use subcontractors, you may need or want to hire specialists for some parts of the job. For example, a specialist tiler might complete the job more quickly and to a higher standard, particularly if you're using non-standard materials such as mosaic tiles.

Certain jobs should only be carried out by someone with the right specialist skills. Gas work must be done by a Gas Safe-registered engineer and electrical work should be completed by a qualified electrician.

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Hiring a bathroom fitter

When you've found the right person for the job, make sure you've got all the paperwork in place before you start.

As well as your written quote, ask about your trader's insurance policy. All traders should have public liability insurance and additional insurance to cover any employees.

Any major work should come with a contract to be signed at the outset, which should include:

• the total cost
• the payment schedule
• the start and completion dates.

Make sure you also understand the terms of any insurance and guarantees offered by the trader.

Use our Which? Trusted Traders service to find bathroom fitters near you.

Bathroom installation costs

Buying and installing a new bathroom can cost thousands of pounds, so you'll need to budget for your needs. 

Whatever you're having done, your fitter might ask you to pay an instalment upfront to cover the cost of ordering goods.

Large jobs should include payment terms in the contract, setting out when you have to pay any deposits or instalments.

If the trader asks for full payment, or most of it upfront, question this. Make sure that a significant amount of the payment will only be due when the project is completed, as this will put you in a stronger position if the work isn't completed to your satisfaction.

Get a written record of the payment terms you've agreed, even if just in an email, to avoid any misunderstandings later.

Our bathroom suites guide delves deeper into how much it costs to have a bathroom installed, as well as ways you can save, as suggested by homeowners who have been through the process.

If you're simply updating and replacing or repairing a few items, visit our guide to updating a bathroom on a budget.

Following these steps should head off most problems you might face, but if you're not happy with any aspect of an installation, our consumer rights section has advice on how to complain about a trader's work.