Walk-in showers and wet rooms, what's different
A walk-in shower needs careful floor falls (gradient) toward the drain to work without a shower tray — this is more technically demanding than fitting a standard shower tray and enclosure, and a poorly built one is a common source of water pooling or leaks. A full wet room takes this further, tanking the whole floor.
Bathroom plumbing work and WaterSafe
Moving or adding plumbing (a new shower, relocated toilet) should follow Water Fittings Regulations, the same rules a WaterSafe-registered plumber works to. If your bathroom fitter isn't a registered plumber themselves, ask who does the plumbing side and whether they're WaterSafe registered.
KBSA and TrustMark, what they actually mean
The KBSA (Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association) is the main UK trade body for the sector, though membership is limited to a few hundred companies nationally, so it's not something every bathroom fitter will have. TrustMark is a broader government-endorsed scheme covering many trades — worth asking which, if either, your fitter holds, rather than assuming either is universal.
Three steps to hiring the right bathroom fitter
First, ask to see photos of similar completed jobs, ideally local ones. Second, clarify exactly who does the electrical and plumbing work — the fitter directly, or a subcontracted registered tradesperson. Third, get a written quote that separates labour, fixtures and tiling.
First fix and second fix in a bathroom refit
"First fix" is pipework and electrical cabling before tiling; "second fix" is fitting the suite, taps and electrics once tiling is done. Getting this sequence right matters — pipework needs to be pressure-tested and electrics first-fixed before the room is tiled over.
Bathroom regulations, FAQ
Do I need building control sign-off for a bathroom refit? Usually not for a like-for-like refit, but new electrical circuits or moving significant plumbing may need it, handled via the relevant registered tradesperson. Can I do my own tiling? Yes, tiling itself isn't regulated — it's the electrics and plumbing behind it that are.
Understanding the labour vs materials split
Tiles, the suite, and fittings are often a smaller share of the total cost than labour, particularly for a full refit involving tanking and tiling. A cheap quote is worth checking against the same fixture brands and tile spec as competing quotes, not just a lower labour rate.
Red flags in a cheap bathroom quote
A quote well below others is worth questioning — check it includes tanking/waterproofing explicitly (not just tiling), specifies who handles the electrical and plumbing work, and covers making good if hidden pipework issues are found.