Before work starts
Choose and confirm the suite, tiles, brassware and floor before day one. Changing the tile after the adhesive is bought is the most common overspend we see.
Get the fixed price in writing with VAT stated, and check every stage is a priced line.
Agree the layout properly. Moving the toilet by half a metre after first fix means undoing work already paid for.
Ask what happens if something is found behind the wall, and get the answer in writing.
During the job
Keep changes to the daily conversation, not to the end. A change discussed on day two costs far less than the same change on day six.
Ask for any variation to be priced in writing before it happens.
Keep one decision maker. Split decisions cause delays, and delays cost.
The overruns worth accepting
Rotten floorboards or a failed waste under an old bath must be fixed properly, not tiled over.
Old electrics that cannot be certified need putting right before the room is finished.
In both cases the honest fitter shows you the problem, prices the fix and lets you decide.
Frequently asked questions
Do your quotes change?
Only if you change the specification, or if something genuinely hidden is uncovered. In that case we show you, price it and get your agreement in writing first.
How much contingency should I hold?
Around 10 per cent is sensible on an older property, less on a newer one where the pipework and floors are predictable.
Can I stage the work to spread the cost?
Sometimes, though doing a bathroom in stages usually costs more overall because the team returns more than once. We will talk it through honestly at survey.
What is the most common cause of a bathroom going over budget?
Changes made after work has started, such as moving a toilet or choosing a different tile once the walls are prepared. Deciding the layout and finishes before the start date avoids most of it.