Three depths of work, in plain terms
A refit keeps everything where it is. The old bath, basin and toilet come out and new ones go into the same positions, often with fresh tiling on the areas that need it. Pipework is reused wherever it is sound. It is the quickest and least disruptive option and suits rooms whose layout already works.
A refurbishment strips the room back further. Tiles come off the walls and floor, the pipework is checked and replaced where it needs to be, and minor layout changes are possible, such as swapping a bath for a shower or moving a basin a short distance. Most of the bathrooms we fit fall into this middle ground.
A renovation, or remodel, starts from the plan. Walls may be boarded afresh, the toilet or shower drain may move, and features such as a walk-in shower, underfloor heating or a freestanding bath are designed in from the start. It takes longest and costs most, but it is the only way to fix a layout that fights you every morning.
How the published price bands line up
Our bathroom refurbishment cost guide sets out three bands, and they map closely onto the three depths of work. The figures below are the ones already published on this site; your own fixed price comes after the survey.
| Level | Typical scope | Published band |
|---|---|---|
| Refit (swap-for-swap) | Same layout, new suite, targeted tiling | £3,500-£5,500 |
| Refurbishment | Full strip-out, minor layout changes, floor-to-ceiling tiling | £6,000-£10,000 |
| Renovation | Re-planned layout, feature finishes, heating and brassware upgrades | £11,000-£20,000+ |
Signs a refit will not be enough
Soft or bouncing floorboards around the toilet or bath, tiles that sound hollow when tapped, black staining in grout lines that returns after cleaning, and a ceiling stain in the room below all point to water that has been getting where it should not. Those problems sit behind the finish, so a surface refit would simply cover them up.
The other common sign is a layout that does not suit the household. If the door hits the basin, the shower is over a bath nobody uses, or there is nowhere to put anything down, new fittings in the same places will not change how the room feels to use. That is renovation territory.
When a refit is the sensible choice
If the room is dry, the floor is solid and you are happy with where things sit, a refit gives the best return for the money. It is the usual choice for rentals, for homes being prepared for sale, and for owners who plan to renovate properly in a few years but want the room pleasant in the meantime.
Moving the toilet or shower drain is the single change that most often pushes a job from refit to refurbishment. Our published figure for that work is £400-£900 in labour and materials, because floor and wall access is needed to reroute the waste.
How we help you decide
On the free survey we lift an edge where we can, check the floor and the pipework, measure up and talk through how the room is used. You then get a fixed written quote including VAT for the level of work that makes sense, and we will say plainly if a cheaper refit would do the job. The same team handles the strip-out, plumbing, tiling and fitting, with no subcontractors.
Where to read next
Questions we get asked most
Is a bathroom renovation the same as a refurbishment?
Not quite. A refurbishment usually keeps the layout broadly the same with a full strip-out, while a renovation re-plans the room, often moving drains and adding features such as a walk-in shower or underfloor heating.
Can I start with a refit and renovate later?
Yes, as long as the floor and pipework are sound. If the survey finds hidden water damage we will tell you, because a refit on top of it would be money lost.
Which option adds most value when selling?
A clean, well-finished refit in the existing layout is often enough for a sale. Full renovations tend to pay back through daily use rather than resale.
How do I get a firm price?
Book the free survey. We measure, check the room and send a fixed written quote including VAT, with no pressure to go ahead.