A proper bathroom installation quote lists every stage of the job in writing: strip out and waste removal, first fix plumbing and electrics, wall and floor preparation, waterproofing, tiling, the products and who supplies them, second fix, making good, certificates, the timescale, the guarantee and a total that includes VAT. If a stage is missing, assume it is either not being done or will be charged as an extra later, and ask before you sign.

Why the detail matters

Two bathroom quotes for the same room can be far apart, and usually that is not because one company is greedy. It is because they have assumed different things. One has allowed for re-boarding the walls and tanking the shower area, the other plans to tile over what is there. One includes a new extractor fan and the electrical certificate, the other has left electrics out entirely. A detailed quote shows you those assumptions so you can see what you are actually buying.

It also protects you later. If the quote says what is included, there is no argument halfway through about whether the ceiling was meant to be painted. If you are still choosing who to use, our guide on how to choose a bathroom installer covers the questions to ask before you get to this stage, and our bathroom renovation page shows how we run a project from survey to handover.

The line items a complete quote covers

Survey and design

The quote should follow a visit where the room was measured and the existing pipework, soil pipe position, floor and walls were looked at. A price given over the phone from a photo is a guess. If a layout drawing or design is part of the service, the quote should say so.

Strip out and waste removal

Taking out the old suite, tiles and sometimes plaster or flooring is real work, and it produces a lot of waste. The quote should say that strip out and disposal are included. Under gov.uk guidance, if you let a private business take your waste away, you must check it is on the register of waste carriers, and you can be fined if your waste is dumped by someone who was not entitled to carry it. Ask for the installer’s waste carrier registration.

First fix plumbing

First fix is everything that happens before the walls are closed up: new supply pipes to each fitting, waste pipes, and any change to the soil pipe connection for the toilet. Moving a toilet or shower to a new position is where costs grow, so the quote should say exactly which fittings stay where they are and which move.

Electrics and ventilation

Lighting, the extractor fan, a shaver socket, an electric shower or a heated towel rail all involve electrical work in a room with a bath or shower. Gov.uk lists changing electrics near a bath or shower as work that needs building regulations approval, unless it is done by someone registered with a competent person scheme who can self-certify it. The quote should say who does the electrical work and that you will receive the certificate. An extractor fan sized for the room should be included, not assumed.

Walls, floors and waterproofing

Tiles need a sound, flat, dry surface. The quote should say whether walls are being re-plastered, boarded with tile backer board, or tiled onto what is there, and how the floor will be prepared. Around the shower and bath, it should mention waterproofing or tanking. A shower that leaks through the tiles is almost always a preparation failure, not a tiling one.

Tiling

Look for the area to be tiled on walls and floor, who supplies the tiles, adhesive, grout and trims, and the tile size and layout. Large format tiles, herringbone or other patterns take longer to lay than a standard tile, so a quote that ignores your tile choice may change later. Our bathroom tiling page explains what goes into a tiled finish that lasts.

Products and sanitaryware

Every item should be listed: toilet, basin and vanity unit, bath or shower tray, enclosure or screen, shower valve, taps, towel rail. For each one the quote should say whether the installer is supplying it or only fitting what you have bought. It matters because if a supplied product is faulty, the installer deals with it. If you supplied it, you deal with the retailer.

Second fix, sealing and making good

Second fix is connecting and commissioning the fittings once the tiling is done. Then come silicone sealing, boxing in, fitting accessories, and making good. Check whether decorating the ceiling and walls, fitting skirting, and replacing the door frame architrave are included, because these are often left off.

Certificates, guarantee and timescale

The quote should name the certificates you will get, the guarantee on the workmanship, how long the job will take, and which days the room will be out of use.

Quick comparison table

Line on the quote	What a good quote says	Warning sign
Strip out	Included, with waste taken away by a registered carrier	“Skip extra” or no mention of waste
First fix plumbing	Which fittings stay and which move	“Plumbing as required”
Electrics	Who does it and the certificate you will receive	No electrics listed in a room with new lighting or a fan
Walls and floor	Boarding, plastering, levelling and waterproofing described	Tiling straight onto old tiles or bare plasterboard in the shower
Tiling	Area in square metres, tile size, who supplies materials	A tiling figure with no area
Products	Each item listed as supplied or fit only	“Suite” with no model or brand
Finishing	Sealing, making good and decorating stated	Nothing after the tiling
Unexpected work	How extras are priced and agreed before they start	No mention at all
Total	Includes VAT, with payment stages set out	VAT “to be added” without a figure

What can change once work starts

Some problems cannot be seen until the old bathroom is out. The most common are rotten floorboards or joists under the toilet and bath, old pipework that is not worth reconnecting to, walls that come away when tiles are removed, and a soil pipe in a different place from where it appeared. In older homes, textured ceiling coatings may need testing for asbestos before they are disturbed.

None of these should come as a surprise on the invoice. A good installer tells you in writing how extra work will be priced and gets your agreement before doing it. Ask each company directly: “If you find a problem under the floor, what happens next?”

How to compare bathroom quotes fairly

1. Put the quotes side by side and go through them line by line using the table above.
2. Mark anything one quote includes and another leaves out, then ask the cheaper company to price the missing items.
3. Check who supplies what. A quote that looks cheaper but is fit only may be the dearer option once you have bought the products.
4. Compare totals including VAT.
5. Look at the payment stages. A deposit to order materials is normal, and later payments should follow completed stages of the work.
6. Check the guarantee and who you call if something goes wrong.

If you agree the contract at home rather than at the company’s premises, consumer law usually gives you a 14 day cancellation period, so you have time to check the detail after signing.

How we price it

Installations are quoted as a fixed price after a free survey, so the price you agree is the price you pay. We measure the room, look at the pipework, walls and floor, and set out every stage in writing, including who supplies each product and how any hidden problems would be handled. Our bathroom work carries a 2 year guarantee. For typical figures, our bathroom renovation cost guide explains what drives the price, and current rates are on our prices page.

Frequently asked questions

Why are my bathroom quotes so different?

Usually because each company has assumed a different amount of work. Boarding and waterproofing, moving the toilet, electrics and decorating are the items that vary most. Ask each company to itemise its quote and the difference becomes clear.

Should a bathroom quote include tiles?

It should always include the labour to tile, the area and the adhesive and grout. The tiles themselves may or may not be included, depending on whether you are choosing and buying them. The quote should say which.

Is it normal to pay a deposit for a bathroom?

Yes, a deposit to order materials is normal. Make sure the amount and what it covers are in writing, and that later payments are linked to finished stages of the work rather than dates.

Do I need a certificate for bathroom electrics?

Yes. Changing electrics near a bath or shower needs building regulations approval, which is normally handled by a registered electrician who self-certifies the work. Keep the certificate, because you will need it when you sell the house.

How long should a bathroom installation take?

It depends on the size of the room and how much is changing, so the quote should give an estimate for your job. Ask which days you will be without a working toilet or shower, so you can plan around it.

Bathroom installation in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire

If you would like a quote you can check line by line, we survey free of charge and set out every stage in writing before any work starts. See our bathroom renovation service or call us on 01462 506374.