Ask three bathroom fitters in Sketty for a price and you could get three very different figures, even for the same room. That's usually down to what's behind the tiles and what you actually want from the finished room, not someone overcharging. This guide gives honest budget ranges and explains what pushes the price up or down, so you can plan with some confidence.
For a standard family bathroom of around 2m by 2.5m, most homeowners around Sketty, Tycoch and Derwen Fawr end up spending somewhere in these bands. They include supply and fitting, but every job depends on the room, the house and what you choose.
Labour and trades (plumbing, electrics, plastering, tiling) often make up around half the total. So swapping a £600 vanity unit for a £300 one saves less than you might expect.
Much of Sketty's housing is Edwardian and 1930s: bay-fronted semis off Gower Road and Sketty Road, and older terraces towards Uplands and Brynmill. They're lovely homes, but once the old bathroom is out they often turn up problems that a newer property wouldn't.
A good builder will flag these risks at quote stage and include a contingency, rather than surprising you halfway through. As a rule of thumb, keep 10 to 15 percent of your budget aside for the unexpected.
Keeping the toilet, basin and bath or shower where they are is the single biggest saving. Moving the toilet in particular means rerouting the soil pipe, which on a first floor can mean lifting floors or boxing in pipes on the room below.
Tiling is the next big factor. Fully tiled walls in large format porcelain take longer and cost more than half-height tiling or waterproof wall panels, which are a sensible, cheaper option for a busy family bathroom.
Heating and electrics add up too. Electric underfloor heating, a heated towel rail, LED mirrors and new lighting all mean more electrical work, and in a bathroom that work must meet Part P of the Building Regulations and be certified by a qualified electrician.
When you contact local firms, give each one the same brief: room size, which fittings you're keeping or moving, the finish you want and whether you're supplying your own sanitaryware. Ask for an itemised quote covering the strip-out, skip hire, plumbing, electrics, plastering, tiling, fitting and making good, so you can see what's included.
Ask how long the job will take and what happens if joists or pipework need replacing. A straightforward refit usually takes one to two weeks, and a full redesign or wet room can take three. If this is your only bathroom, find out how long you'll be without a working toilet, as a decent fitter will plan the work to keep that short.
It can be, but many fitters won't guarantee items they didn't supply, and delays or damaged parts become your problem. If you do buy your own, check everything is delivered and complete before the work starts.
Replacing a bathroom inside your home rarely needs planning permission, although listed buildings and some conservation area properties may have extra restrictions. The electrics and any new extraction or drainage still need to meet Building Regulations, which your builder or electrician should handle.
Good local firms around Swansea are often booked several weeks or a couple of months ahead, especially in spring. It's worth getting quotes early so you have time to choose fittings and order anything with a long lead time.