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How to Keep Bathroom Renovation Costs Down: 9 Ways to Save
You can have a bathroom that looks and works brilliantly without spending a fortune. Most of the savings come from a few big decisions made early. Here are nine ways to keep the cost of your renovation down, in rough order of how much they save.
1. Keep the existing layout
Moving the toilet, bath or shower means new waste runs, new supply pipes and sometimes lifting the floor. It is the biggest single cost driver in most bathroom jobs. If the room works as it is, keep everything where it is and put the money into better products instead.
2. Buy your products yourself
Sourcing your own suite, taps and accessories is one of the most popular money-saving tips among homeowners who have renovated. You see exactly what you are paying for, can compare prices, and avoid a mark-up on materials. Agree the product list with your fitter before you order so everything suits the job.
3. Choose a complete suite
A bath, toilet, basin and tap set bought together usually costs less than the same items bought separately, and everything is designed to match. Our complete bathroom suites include the bath, toilet, basin and taps in one order.
4. Use wall panels instead of tiles
Shower wall panels cost less to fit than tiles, go up in a fraction of the time and have no grout lines to clean or re-seal. They can also go straight over sound existing tiles in many cases, which saves on strip-out and re-plastering. Read our comparison of wall panels vs tiles.
5. Only tile where you need to
If you prefer tiles, tile the shower and bath areas fully and paint the remaining walls with a good bathroom paint. Half-height tiling elsewhere can look great and halves the tiling labour.
6. Keep the bath if it is in good condition
A sound steel or acrylic bath can stay in place with new taps, a new panel and a fresh screen. It saves the cost of the bath and the labour to swap it.
7. Choose a space-saving toilet and basin
Short projection toilets and compact vanity units cost no more than standard sizes but free up space, which can stop you needing to move things around in a small room.
8. Consider vinyl flooring
Bathroom vinyl is quicker to lay than tiles, warmer underfoot and usually cheaper overall once labour is included.
9. Get like-for-like quotes
Ask at least three fitters to price the same product list and the same scope of work. It is the easiest way to spot a quote that is out of line — and to make sure the cheapest one is not missing anything.
Where not to cut corners
Some things are worth paying for: proper waterproofing around showers, a decent extractor fan, a thermostatic shower valve and a fitter with good references. Getting these wrong costs far more to put right later.
Products in this guide
Kartell Complete Bathroom Suite – 1700mm Bath, Low Level Toilet, Basin & Taps – Chrome
£411.87
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AKW Alveo 600mm PVC Wall Panels – 2500mm High – Pack of 2 – White Gloss, Marble, Concrete & Graphite
£124.95
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Kartell K-VIT Options 550 Short Projection Toilet – Pan Only or Complete WC (POT078OPR)
From £106.20
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Nuie Vault 400mm Wall Hung 1 Door Compact Vanity Unit with Basin
From £113.00
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to redo a bathroom?
Keep the layout, buy a complete suite yourself, use wall panels or limit tiling to wet areas, and keep the bath if it is in good condition. Together these can take thousands off a typical quote.
Are wall panels cheaper than tiles?
Usually, yes. The panels themselves are comparable in price to mid-range tiles, but they take far less time to fit and need no grouting, so the labour cost is much lower.
Should I do any of the work myself?
Stripping out the old suite and decorating at the end are the jobs homeowners most often take on. Leave gas, electrics and waterproofing to qualified trades.