bathroom help

stoker63 · Jan 26, 2013

have started new bathroom, had quote for 7k very expensive, so have decided to buy everything i need myself and just pay for fitting, now i really need some good advice on what to buy so much stuff on line and varied in price so hoping someone out there can help,
i need a good make for countertop sinks-ceramic i would presume, i need two so looking for middle of range and what should i be looking for because i just thought a sink is a sink

toilet as well needs to go against wall closed couple i presume

was going to buy a novellini olympus black shower tray (methacrylate) but have been told that the methcrylate stay away so what should i be looking for in a shower tray and good make
(1400x800)

need good shower screen am looking at walk in as why need 1400 shower tray

thinking at mira shower

vanity units seem very expensive especially when am only having a couple of sinks sitting on them,need to fill a gap of 1650 its more of a price issue with the vanity units

looking at hudson reed taps or very similar

need advice on radiater looking at tall designer rad approx size 1800x400 seems to be lots out there so whats the most resonable

would appreciate any help on these matters and would just like to thank people in advance for any help

Subby · Jan 26, 2013

Go to a plumbers merchant that has a showroom, so you can see for yourself, and have the advice of the staff face to face.
Don't buy the cheapest because it will break and be a nightmare to fit.

Ray Stafford · Jan 26, 2013

Hi Stoker63.

I think you may have fallen victim to a classic modern day internet catch 22.

You got a quote for supply and fit, and thought it was expensive. The beauty of supply and fit is that the installer is responsible for everything, so if anything goes wrong, something doesn't work properly, or is damaged etc, he has got to deal with that within his price.

He will also (if he is experienced and values his reputation) have priced for good quality materials from reliable suppliers.

In an (understandable) effort to save money, you have now taken on the supply job. Unfortunately, you don't have his expertise to help you now, and if anything goes wrong its you that will have to sort out the problems. There are an awful lot of rubbish products available, particularly on the internet. There are also a lot of suppliers that have no real substance - its just a website run from someones back-bedrooom. Good luck enforcing a warranty there!

If poor choices of material or supplier causes delays on the job, or means that he has to come more days than has been allowed for, you should expect him to charge you more for labour. If an item fails, you might get lucky and be able to get a replacement, but you will have to pay the labour to refit it.

The road you have taken can, if you are lucky, save you a few quid. If you are unlucky it could cost you a fortune, even to the point of spoiling the whole project.

I would recommend calling your plumber back in, explaining that the quote was a bit more that you had budgetted for, and discussing how project costs could be reduced. Maybe there is something on your wish list that is disproportionately expensive, and you would compromise on?

SilentMike · Jan 26, 2013

how many quotes you had? always a good idea to get a few quotes

SimonG · Jan 26, 2013

Firstly get another couple of estimates, but if you are going down this route then :-

Find your bathroom fitter before you buy anything.

Prevents him turning up and finding that half the stuff you have purchased won't do the job you want.

1967skyblue · Jan 26, 2013

i tend to find some of the internet bath showrooms seem to have their units slashed half price all year round, crap instalation instructions for the novice and when a appliance is playing up ( faulty tap ) their after care is useless, its better to go to local merchant and seek advice, and at the same time get a few quotes