When simply replacing existing fittings with new ones in the same position usually requires very little plumbing work. However, if you want to move fittings, or are planning a new bathroom, consider carefully if you are confident with the amount of work for the plumbing involved. The different types of supply and waste pipes and the systems and techniques for routing and joining them requires professional skills and more money.

The simplest option when planning a new bathroom is to position the new fittings in the same place as the old ones. In this way plumbing is kept to a minimum. If each item is already plumbed in with isolating valves and flexible connector pipes, we can easily work on each in turn. If there is no isolating valves, then we need to shut off the water at the nearest gate valve, or drain down the entire system if there is no other option.

When repositioning a toilet, re-routing its waste pipe is complex and in many cases may not be possible. An option is to fit a macerator behind the toilet pan. This can pump waste through small pipes to join the main stack and makes it possible to fit a toilet almost anywhere.

Showers may need to take their water supply directly from a tank or the mains, rather than from a nearby supply pipe. This helps maintain pressure and reduces temperature fluctuations. Repositioning other fittings requires teeing off the water supply pipes and running waste pipes to the new position.

When planning any bathroom you should think about what style you prefer, and what will make best of the space available. We can help you replace the old fittings which involves a lot of work as new layouts or bathrooms will certainly provide more demanding tasks of routing supply and pipework.

Your initial bathroom design should focus on making the best use of the space available. Then consider which services would need re-routing for the new design. Decide whether you are going to tile the walls, change the floor surface, and if you will update heating and ventilation. If you are planning to replace the whole bathroom, we will remove all the old fittings and re-route the plumbing and wiring before fitting the new bathroom.

Types of Bathroom Layout

Most homes have at least one “standard” bathroom fitted with a toiled, basin, and bath. Optional extras to this basic suite include a shower, either in a separate cubicle or above the bath, and possibly a bidet. And extra basin is a popular choice in a bathroom used by lots of people.

1) Fitted bathrooms

Like a standard bathroom, fitted bathrooms have a full suite of fittings. The difference is that they are totally or partially housed in units, and the final design has matching built-in storage and worktops around part of the room. If you are considering this type of bathroom, the manufacturer will help you with the layout, if not, we will help you.

2) En suite bathrooms

Because of the proximity of the bathrooms, noise is an issue. Often these have no windows so an extractor fan with a timer is essential – in-line fans are especially quite. The noise of a toilet cistern refilling can be reduces by fitting a quite, modern inlet valve.

3) Cloakrooms

Space-saving designs can fit into a smaller area than standard fittings. These includes narrow cisterns, known as “slimline” cisterns, and toilets and basins designed to fit into corners. A cloakroom should have a window that opens or an extractor fan.

4) Wet rooms

These are bathrooms that include a shower with no enclosure – the water runs away through a drain in the floor. The whole room has to be fully waterproofed.