Fittings & layout
Plan a bath or shower, toilet, basin, vanity, storage and radiator around the available space.
02 / Bathrooms / London
Bathroom renovation.
A clear plan for your home.
Plan a bathroom that fits your room, your routine and your budget. Explore complete refits, selected updates and shower-room options, with practical guidance on products, preparation, costs and the stages of work.
Request a Free Assessment ↗Refit or targeted updateChoose the scope that suits your room.
Scope-led timescalesSee separate guides for updates, full refits and more involved projects.
Budget explained belowSeparate installation, products and optional work.
What to include
The details behind a better bathroom
Preparation & surfaces
Assess existing walls and floors, waterproofing requirements, tile finishes and the work needed behind them.
Lighting & finishing
Include ceiling finishes, lighting, ventilation, mirrors and final making good in the agreed scope.
Replacing a few fittings or planning a full refit? Describe the outcome you want, and we can discuss the appropriate scope.
A clear way forward
Plan first. Then get to work.
Show the room
Provide photographs, room dimensions and the current positions of the bath, basin and toilet.
Choose the scope
Discuss which fittings will stay, which will move and who will supply materials.
Plan the sequence
Agree preparation, specialist work, tiling and installation stages before the start date.
Bathroom cost guide · London · 2026
Choose the scope. Understand the budget.
Choose the level of work first, then compare the products and installation included. The planning bands below are proposed AVX guide ranges for a room of approximately 4–6 m². Use them for early planning; the price is confirmed after survey, specification and a written quotation.
| Project scope | Proposed planning total | What this budget is intended to cover |
|---|---|---|
| Selected bathroom update | £3,500–£6,000 | Selected replacement fittings and local finish repairs, retaining the main arrangement. Extensive retiling and hidden repairs need separate assessment. |
| Complete family bathroom refit | £8,500–£13,000 | Removal, preparation, standard suite, agreed wall/floor finishes and installation, with services broadly retained. |
| Wet room or enhanced shower room | £14,000–£19,000 | A more involved shower-area build-up, drainage and waterproofing specification, plus agreed fittings and finishes. Feasibility must be checked. |
| Premium bathroom project | £19,000–£24,000+ | A higher product allowance and more detailed finishes, such as commissioned storage or a complex tile layout. Building alterations require a defined additional scope. |
Price basis: these are whole-project planning totals, including the specified products, work and any applicable VAT within the allowance. They are not a supply-only price or a fixed AVX offer. Your quotation will show the actual tax treatment. Major structural work, professional fees and extensive concealed repairs are not automatically included.
These indicative budgets assume a bathroom of approximately 4–6 m², with allowances for labour, materials and VAT. The selected fittings, condition of the room and agreed scope determine the final quotation.
Already buying the suite and tiles yourself? Request an installation quotation and identify your purchases separately. A supply-and-fit total and labour-only price should be compared only after the missing products and services are accounted for. A single replacement fitting can be assessed as a smaller job.
An illustrative allocation
See where a £10,000 budget could go.
Here is an original planning example for a roughly 5 m² bathroom with the existing fixture positions broadly retained. It is a proposed allocation, not a completed AVX job or a package for sale. The bath or shower, WC, basin and other selected items must fit the product allowance.
| Budget item | Illustrative allowance | Scope of allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Removal and disposal | £800 | Old fittings and agreed finishes removed; protection and ordinary waste disposal allowance. |
| Suite and fittings — supply | £2,200 | Purchase allowance for the selected bath or shower arrangement, WC, basin, taps, accessories and heating fitting. |
| Tiles and fixing materials — supply | £850 | Tiles, adhesive, grout and trims for an agreed measured area. |
| Tiling — labour | £1,400 | Tile setting and grouting; preparation and final perimeter seals allocated separately below. |
| Plumbing — labour | £1,200 | Defined fitting and connection work with existing positions broadly retained. |
| Electrical work | £700 | Allowance for an agreed lighting/ventilation scope and its specified checks and documents. |
| Background preparation and waterproofing | £850 | Combined work and materials allowance, dependent on assessed condition and chosen system. |
| Ceiling finish and decoration | £500 | Agreed making good and paint finishes outside the tiled area. |
| Final sealing and finishing | £250 | Defined perimeter seals and finishing tasks excluded from the other labour allowances. |
| Unallocated household reserve | £1,250 | Held by the customer for decisions; not automatically paid to the contractor. |
| Total planning budget | £10,000 | Includes the £1,250 unspent reserve. |
Each allowance represents total customer spending, including any applicable VAT. Replace allowances with actual quotations before committing. The £8,750 allocated to work and products plus the £1,250 reserve equals £10,000; the reserve does not authorise extra work. If a product choice exceeds its allowance, revise the budget before ordering.
This example does not assume a wet-room conversion, major drainage relocation, structural alteration or a building-manager fee. If your room needs any of these, add a separately priced line and revise the total. Existing damage may also change the preparation allowance.
Labour cost guide · London · 2026
Typical daily labour rates.
Use these published reference ranges to understand the labour element of a quotation. They are indicative rates per specialist per day, not fixed AVX booking prices or the total cost of a finished project.
| Specialist | London rate / day | Work to define in your quote |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber | £300–£500 | Agreed pipework and sanitaryware installation. |
| Electrician | £280–£450 | Agreed lighting, ventilation and electrical work. |
| Tiler | £200–£350 | Agreed wall and floor tiling; preparation and waterproofing must be specified. |
| Plasterer / decorator | £200–£350 | Agreed ceiling or wall repairs and decoration. |
These daily rates are indicative planning allowances for individual trades. They are not fixed AVX tariffs or a complete project price. Confirm the scope, number of days, materials and applicable VAT in your written quotation.
VAT and inclusions: the source does not clearly state the VAT basis of its day-rate table. Confirm tax before comparing these figures with a VAT-inclusive quotation. Materials, products, waste, parking, specialist equipment and additional visits need their own stated inclusions. Agree the hours covered by a working day, team size and any minimum attendance charge before booking.
Pay for the agreed scope
A fixed project price can cover several trades and stages. Ask which work is included, which items you supply, and how extra work is approved. An hourly visit, short job or emergency attendance may use a different charging basis from a full planned day.
Avoid counting labour twice
These rates help explain the labour already allowed for in a full quotation. They are not an extra charge added to the project budget. Count each specialist’s actual attendance separately; a three-week programme does not mean every specialist works for three full weeks.
Fixtures and finishes
Specify the complete room.
Bath, shower enclosure or wet room?
Describe how you use the room: bathing children, a quick shower, easier access or keeping a second washing option. List the dimensions and entry arrangement of the selected product. A shower enclosure with a tray and a wet-room floor require different specifications.
Ask for the floor, drainage, waterproofing and surrounding finish to be assessed as one arrangement. Feasibility comes before a final product order. A photograph of a level-access shower does not establish that the same detail will fit your floor.
WC, basin and storage
Compare the complete installation: pan or basin, supporting furniture or frame, taps, waste and access for servicing. Record the projection into the room and how doors and drawers open.
For concealed fittings, agree where access will be retained and how the surrounding finish is formed. A product price should be matched to all its required components so the order can be checked before installation.
Tiles, niches and finishes
Record tile dimensions, pattern, grout colour, trims and where tiling stops. Measure wall and floor areas separately. State the treatment of windows, corners, boxing and any niche.
Ask the quotation to distinguish preparation, waterproofing, tile supply and tile-setting work. Complex cuts or an altered pattern should be priced against the actual layout; a floor-area figure alone cannot describe all the wall work.
Heating, lighting and ventilation
List the towel rail, lighting, mirror power and ventilation you want to include. Give the installer exact model references so the relevant specialist can check suitability and the connection arrangement.
Confirm who supplies controls and accessories and who completes testing and handover documents. Record how the ventilation route will be assessed, rather than selecting a fan by appearance alone.
Allow enough time
The programme starts before removal.
Use these initial AVX planning allowances to discuss disruption. The actual programme depends on the surveyed room, the product system, specialist visits and material readiness. On-site time starts after products and pre-start arrangements are ready.
| Scope | Initial on-site allowance | What needs confirming |
|---|---|---|
| Selected update | 3–7 working days | The number of fittings, local repairs and any drying periods. |
| Complete refit | Around 2–4 weeks | Removal, preparation, coordinated trades, tiling and finishing. |
| Wet room / complex shower room | Around 3–5 weeks | Floor/drainage design, the chosen system and time between stages. |
| Detailed premium project | Around 4–6 weeks or more | Commissioned products, layout complexity and specialist sequencing. |
These are initial scheduling allowances, not guaranteed completion dates. Waiting for deliveries, survey results or third-party permissions is separate. Confirm both the period without facilities and the final completion target.
Products and decisions
Agree the layout, dimensions, supply list and access. Check delivery dates before arranging removal. Decide how the household will manage while the bathroom is unavailable.
Preparation before finishes
Removal and assessment come before service changes, suitable background preparation and the specified waterproofing. Tiling and fitting follow only when the preceding stage is ready.
Finish, check and hand over
Allow time for final connections, checks, sealants and snagging. Confirm when each fitting can first be used and retain product instructions and any relevant electrical documents.
The job is not ready simply because the last tile is fitted. Drying and curing depend on the chosen products and conditions. A layout change, hidden damage or a missing fitting can extend the programme; any effect on the agreed scope should be recorded.
A more useful specification
Make the specification work for daily life.
Decide what stays
Keeping some items may reduce the work, but the condition and compatibility of retained fittings need checking.
- Identify the bath, WC, basin and storage to retain or replace.
- Include shower screens, taps, wastes, mirrors and accessories in the supply list.
- Check clearances for opening doors, drawers and shower access.
Specify the surfaces
An attractive tile choice is only part of the finish. Preparation and the wet-area build-up need their own place in the quotation.
- State the wall and floor areas, tile size and laying pattern.
- Identify niches, boxing, trims and transitions to other flooring.
- List waterproofing, background repairs and waste removal explicitly.
Plan the services
The selected fittings must work with the room and its existing services. Raise these questions while the design is still easy to change.
- Check shower requirements, water supply and drainage with the relevant specialist.
- Identify lighting, mirror power, extraction and heating requirements.
- Confirm who undertakes and documents the electrical work.
Agree the practical arrangements
A short written plan helps everyone prepare for the disruption and understand what the finished job includes.
- Confirm protection, working hours and access through shared areas.
- Agree whether decoration and accessory fitting are included.
- Record product supply responsibilities and any agreed aftercare terms.
Plan for your property
Make the programme work at home.
Existing houses and earlier alterations
Share any information about previous leaks, pipe changes, removed boxing or altered floors. Tell us what can be inspected before removal and which parts are concealed.
A survey should identify known preparation and any unresolved questions. If a hidden condition changes the work, ask for a clear record of the finding, proposed remedy, price and effect on the programme.
Flats and managed buildings
Provide the floor number, lift arrangements and written building-manager instructions. Check requirements relevant to your proposed changes before reserving a start date, and share any conditions with the installer.
Record permitted working hours, delivery routes, protection of common areas and waste arrangements. Any third-party fee should be confirmed for your building; a generic borough percentage cannot replace the actual requirements.
One bathroom in the home
Tell us at the first enquiry if this is your only WC or washing facility. Agree alternative arrangements and exactly when existing facilities are taken out of use.
A partially fitted room may not be ready for use. Confirm the handover point for each facility, including the required product drying or curing periods, before planning the household routine around it.
Small rooms and en-suites
Include the door swing, window position, ceiling height and usable space around each fitting. Show any sloping ceiling or boxed service route in the photographs.
A compact floor plan does not remove the need for preparation and specialist visits. Ask for a scope-based quotation for the room, with the finish and equipment you actually want, rather than scaling down a larger bathroom price by area.
Budget questions
Make additional costs visible.
| Potential extra | Question to resolve | How to record it |
|---|---|---|
| Concealed wall or floor repairs | What can be assessed now, and what remains unknown? | Defined included preparation plus the process for approving discoveries. |
| Layout and drainage changes | Which fittings move, and what specialist assessment is needed? | A drawing and separately described work scope. |
| Product upgrades | Is the complete selected item within the allowance? | Model, components, supplier and revised price before ordering. |
| Delivery, storage and waste | Who receives items and arranges collection? | Named responsibilities, access arrangements and quoted costs. |
| Building requirements | Are there restrictions or third-party reviews for this property? | Written instructions and separately confirmed fees where applicable. |
| Additional visits | Could delayed items or changed choices require a return? | Explain the circumstances and agree the charge before the visit. |
| Temporary arrangements | How will the household manage while facilities are unavailable? | A practical plan and any customer-arranged costs outside the works quote. |
Keep an unspent reserve separate from the contracted sum. Its size should reflect how much has been inspected and how settled the specification is. Do not assume a reserve covers every possible discovery; discuss significant uncertainty before booking.
Choices before commitment
Control spending with a clear brief.
Retain what works
Identify fittings or positions you hope to keep and ask the installer to assess them. Retaining a layout can avoid some alterations, but suitability and the condition behind the existing finish still need checking.
Prioritise the outcome
Choose essentials first: the usable layout, preparation and agreed installation system. Then price optional storage, premium finishes and accessories separately so you can choose which upgrades fit the budget.
Settle the specification before ordering
Keep one dated product list and drawing. Check fittings, wastes, screens and trims as a complete order. If you change a model, confirm the effect on the layout and other purchases before work reaches that stage.
Define a smaller completed project
If the full scope exceeds your budget, discuss a self-contained update. Agree the finished and usable result of that job. Review whether later work would disturb or replace items bought now before splitting the project.
Your project, your scope
What goes into
your quotation?
Bathroom size alone does not determine the price. Moving pipework, changing the layout, repairing the substrate, tile choice and the condition uncovered during removal all affect the scope. Labour, supply items and exclusions should be clear in the quotation.
Quotation to handover
Know what you are agreeing to.
Before booking
Review the written scope, product responsibilities, exclusions, provisional allowances and total price including applicable tax. Agree the payment amounts, recipient and milestones, together with the arrangements for changes to the schedule.
During the work
Keep updates and decisions with the agreed drawing. Where an additional task is proposed, ask for its cost and timing before approving it. Record any product substitution so the final result can be checked against the revised specification.
At handover
Review the agreed fittings and finishes together. Record outstanding items, the person responsible and the proposed resolution date. Collect the relevant installation documents, care instructions and product records.
Aftercare and warranties
Keep the agreed workmanship terms and manufacturer warranties separately. Check the provider, duration, coverage and exclusions in each. Retain receipts and a clear contact route for reporting a concern.
Accessibility and support
Discuss access needs early.
If the project is intended to meet disability-related needs, discuss the required adaptation with the local council before commissioning the work.
Disabled Facilities Grant
In England, eligible adaptations may receive a Disabled Facilities Grant of up to £30,000; some councils may offer more. The council assesses the application, the necessary work and the property. Financial circumstances usually affect the award, with different rules for some applicants.
Applying before work starts matters: starting before approval can mean no grant is awarded. The council may arrange an occupational therapist or trained assessor. AVX cannot confirm eligibility or promise funding.
Check the current official conditions and application route in GOV.UK’s Disabled Facilities Grants guide. This is an adaptation funding route, not a general grant for every bathroom refurbishment.
Before you start
Your questions, answered.
How much should I budget for a complete bathroom?
For early planning, this guide suggests £8,500–£13,000 for a defined standard 4–6 m² refit. It includes a product and installation allowance with any applicable VAT within the total. Your actual quote depends on the room, selected products, condition and scope; it is not a fixed package price.
Can a smaller update cost less?
Yes. A selected fitting replacement is different from stripping and refitting the whole room. Tell us exactly what changes and what remains. The £3,500–£6,000 update band is a planning scope, not the minimum charge for every enquiry.
Does the budget include tiles and bathroom fittings?
The whole-project planning bands include allowances for the specified products and work. The written quotation must identify which items are supplied by AVX and which you purchase. Check the full list of components and finishes, not only the main suite.
Are these confirmed AVX prices?
No. They are indicative guide bands for the scopes described. A survey, settled specification, tax treatment and written quotation are needed before confirming a price and booking.
How long does a full refit take?
The initial planning allowance is around two to four weeks on site. Supplier waiting time and pre-start arrangements are separate. More involved floor work, hidden repairs or delayed products can change the programme; agree the actual dates for your project.
What is different about a wet room?
The floor, drainage, waterproofing and surrounding finishes need a coordinated specification. Ask for feasibility to be checked before buying products. The budget and programme must include the assessed work and required time between stages.
Is a shower always cheaper than a bath?
No. Compare the complete installed arrangement. A shower may involve a tray or floor system, enclosure, valve, drainage changes and different preparation. A final price depends on the actual products and the room.
Can I supply my own fittings?
Yes, send model references and dimensions for assessment. Agree who checks compatibility, receives deliveries, resolves missing parts and handles returns. Keep the supply responsibilities clear in the quotation.
How should tiling be priced?
Provide separate wall and floor measurements, tile size, pattern and details such as niches or boxing. Ask whether preparation, waterproofing, adhesive, grout, trims and finishing are included. A rate per square metre needs a defined scope to be useful.
Can you assess a small bathroom or en-suite?
Send dimensions, door and window positions and photographs of every side. Include any low ceiling or boxed services. The quotation should reflect the actual work and products rather than just the room area.
Can we keep the existing layout?
Mark the fittings you want to retain in position and any proposed changes. Their condition, suitability and connections need checking. Retaining a position does not by itself confirm that all existing preparation can stay.
What if this is my only bathroom?
Tell us before booking. Agree alternative facilities and the periods when the WC or washing facilities cannot be used. Confirm when each part of the room is ready for use, including any product curing requirements.
What happens if damage is found after removal?
Ask for the finding to be recorded with the proposed remedy, cost and programme effect. Additional work should be agreed before proceeding. Keep the change with the original scope so the final account is understandable.
Do I need permission for work in a flat?
Check your lease and ask the freeholder or managing agent about your specific proposal before booking. Supply any written conditions to the installer. Requirements and fees depend on the building and the work; this page does not determine them.
Can I renovate in stages?
Discuss a completed, usable result for each separate job, and check whether later work would disturb new finishes. Include additional visits and repeated preparation in the comparison. An unfinished bathroom should not be assumed usable between stages.
Are day rates added to the full project budget?
No. The day-rate table is a comparison tool for the labour element. Work already included in a full quotation must not be counted again. Materials, specialist visits and any minimum charges need their own stated inclusions.
What paperwork and aftercare should I receive?
Agree the relevant handover documents, product instructions and outstanding-items process before booking. Workmanship terms and manufacturer warranties should name the provider and explain their coverage and conditions.
What should I send with my enquiry?
Send your postcode, approximate dimensions, photographs and a description of the changes. Include product links or plans if available and tell us whether this is your only bathroom. Your full address can be confirmed before a site visit.
Can I upload a video?
Yes. The assessment form accepts up to five files: JPG, PNG, WEBP or PDF up to 10 MB each, and MP4 or MOV up to 100 MB each, with a 200 MB combined limit. Short clips showing the whole room and access are useful.
Can accessible adaptations receive funding?
A Disabled Facilities Grant may be available for eligible adaptations. Contact the council and check the official guide linked above before starting. Funding, the required assessment and the approved work are decisions for the council.
Get in touch
Request a Free Assessment
Select the bathroom service that fits your project, then describe the room and the changes you have in mind. Dimensions, product links and photographs make the first review more useful. Include whether this is your only bathroom.
Tell us about your project ↗You can also email info@avxcontractors.com.