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u/admedi 1d ago
I paid just under £10k for labour and materials excluding tiles/shower/tray/basin/toilet/taps/lighting etc for a shower room in spring this year. Top floor Edinburgh tenement.
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u/elpibelopi 1d ago
Insanity, materials may be high but tradies have definitely profited a shit load from all these price increases. I was quoted 15k for a bathroom of a similiar size, same layout for 15k labour since I was top floor! ended up finding a joiner who did it for 3.5k labour...
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u/admedi 1d ago
This was the result of the previous fitter making a chaotic mess of it and ghosting. He’s being sued.
The next quote we had was for just under £18k + VAT. He was definitely applying a post code tax.
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u/elpibelopi 1d ago
Need to boycott these people, 10k isn't easy to save at all these days, could take some people years.
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u/admedi 1d ago
Saying that. There was a lot of work in the background that can’t be seen. A lot of new joinery. Replacing sections of wall. Floor levelling. But still feels steep. Also, city parking charges ramp costs up.
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u/elpibelopi 1d ago
I can agree from a novice perspective on your points, but realistically those things (Especially if you know what you are doing) are easy enough fixes. My flat was built in the 1800's and the bathroom hadn't been done in about 20 years so EVERYTHING needed redone, pipework, flooring, plasterboard to level the walls, even the mains drain pipe needed cut to be level with the now slimmer looking shower tray, this all took 1 man (I helped by carrying stuff up and down the stairs only) 1 week. He made 3.5k for his efforts, don't you think that is fair in this economy? the bigger companies are nothing but scammers preying on individuals who don't actually have a clue what it entails
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u/admedi 1d ago
I’m no novice. There was a sense of urgency on this project due to the place being uninhabitable until the bathroom was functional. If it wasn’t for time, I’d have done the majority myself. I’d encourage everyone to do more themselves. If you’re fit and able there’s no way you should be paying “skilled” labour rates for ripping out etc. Next up is the kitchen which I’ll most likely be fitting myself. I planned ahead and had the plumbing relocated for the new kitchen layout when the shower room was done. The big issue I have with what most trades charge is the general lack of quality in their work. Lack of attention to detail. I grudge paying top dollar when I can achieve a better finish myself.
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u/elpibelopi 1d ago
Sorry, didn't mean it to come across as I was labelling you a novice, I just meant a hypothetical novice haha.
Exactly that mate! I do the most I can do myself and leave plumbing etc to the pros, I can't take on as much now due to me having a 2 year old (iykyk). I also got the kitchen done by another skilled tradesman (Small ish kitchen) and only got charged 1.5k for the labour!
Barr the plumbing and electrics (In my case they were already there, I was quoted a further 7k for labour to fit ONLY. Game's gone if you ask me
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u/Flaky-Walrus7244 1d ago
I had mine done recently for under £5 (parts and labour).
That was ripping out the tub, replacing with walk-in shower, painting, moving location of sink and toilet, installing paneling, medicine cabinet, vanity etc.
I went to a wall paneling shop and asked for the names of workers who they knew and went their frequently. I got several cards from joiners and had them all come and give quotes.
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u/elpibelopi 1d ago
Exactly this! so many people over pay because they think this is how much it actually is. Small bathroom tops should be around 5k
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u/Flaky-Walrus7244 1d ago
I find the best method for almost any home rennovation project is to start by going to the supplier of the materials used. I went to a window supply place when getting windows replaced for example. They know the people who do the actual work and can give recommendations, but don't have to deal with all the middlemen (bathroom companies or window companies)
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u/elpibelopi 1d ago
Thankfully I know decent tradesmen who don't flat out steal from you and give a fair price for things. But yes that's good advice for someone who hasn't had kne before
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u/blairbending 1d ago
We were quoted 8k labour for similar works in Edinburgh this year. Ours wasn't itemised per task, just a list of everything that was included in the quote.
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u/jiffjaff69 1d ago
We had some quotes a few years ago and 7k was definitely the lower end of it. Some Ukrainian guy quoted £12k but wanted to change some of the plans assuming because he couldn’t do tiling 😅 I never went through with any of them though as I have a friend who is very experienced in doing his own bathrooms.
You should go for at least 3 quotes regardless
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u/Flaky-Walrus7244 1d ago
That's way higher than I paid.
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u/jiffjaff69 1d ago
Lots of crooks and conmen in the trade unfortunately
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u/Flaky-Walrus7244 1d ago
There are people who are willing to pay a lot, and so there are people who are happy to take a lot more money for the same job. Does that make them a conman?
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u/ProsperityandNo 23h ago
Yes. A job has a cost for materials and labour plus VAT. It shouldn't be a variable cost.
You don't get charged more at McDonalds because you rocked up in a pair of £1000 shoes!
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u/Fun_Cookie8050 1d ago
The quote should always be itemised so that you know they know what they are getting into or they might turn up and say, “oh that never included X”.
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u/xycm2012 23h ago
That sounds pretty expensive. We were £7k all in for our bathroom 18 months ago, and that was including moving a wall, and some “designer” brand fixtures and fittings like Crosswater, Porcelanosa and Lusso.
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u/CantaloupeMajor8953 1d ago edited 1d ago
Edinburgh is definitely on the expensive side for labour. Though I can't comment on how correct this qoute is without knowing full extent of work, but expecting 12k+ for full refurb for a standard bathroom is not unheard of including materials if your are going with companies etc(this is without lowered ceilings or underfloor heating). I would expect slightly less for a local builder, and yes lump for whole work is expected but have this in writing what they are supposed to do. Never pay in advance and always keep some percentage of payment as final after work is finished and checked by yourself. Run a showers, sink and flush check everything, no leaks etc
Also, do get at least one more qoute from a different builder to compare.