Bathroom plumbing services we offer
Tap repair & replacement
Dripping tap, low pressure, mixer not regulating temperature, handle broken. Most tap repairs take 30-60 minutes. Replacements typically £40-80 labour + the tap. Bedford's hard water shortens tap life — limescale builds up inside the cartridge and seals fail. Quality brands (Bristan, Hansgrohe, Grohe, Vado) last much longer than budget options.
Shower installation & repair
New shower install (electric, mixer, or power shower), replacing old units, fixing weak flow, repairing leaks at the shower head or wall connection. Mixer showers in Bedford homes need decent water pressure — if yours is poor, we'll recommend a pump or pressure-balancing shower.
- Electric shower install: from £180 fitted (excluding the unit)
- Mixer shower install: from £220 fitted (excluding the unit)
- Power shower install: from £380 fitted (with pump)
- Shower repair (most issues): £80-180 + parts
Bath installation & repair
New bath install, taps and waste replacement, fixing leaks under the bath, replacing seals where bath meets the wall. Standard acrylic or fibreglass bath install: £180-280 labour. Cast iron or freestanding baths take longer due to weight and access.
Toilet installation
Replacing old toilet with new modern dual-flush, fixing wobbling toilets, repairing leaking cisterns, replacing flush mechanisms. For blockages, see our toilet unblocking page →
- Toilet replacement (same location): £180-280 labour + the toilet
- Cistern repair (flush issues): £80-150 + parts
- Wax seal replacement (wobbly toilet): £80-130
Sink, basin & pedestal install
New basin install, replacing pedestals, fixing wobbling pedestal sinks, fixing leaking traps under the sink. Modern wall-hung basins increasingly common in new Bedford bathroom designs — require strong wall fixings, not just push-fit brackets.
Heated towel rails
Standard plumbed (runs off central heating), electric only, or dual fuel. Chrome, anthracite, white, or designer finishes. Sizes from 600×400mm to 1800×600mm. See radiator installation page for details →
Full bathroom installations
The big one. Strip out old bathroom, replace floor and walls if needed (we recommend trusted Bedford tilers), install new bath/shower/toilet/basin/towel rail/lighting. Coordination of multiple trades.
Typical timeline: 1-2 weeks for a standard bathroom refit. Plumbing-only portion: 3-5 days. Tiling and decorating add separate time.
Common bathroom problems in Bedford homes
Worn cartridge or seal — limescale damage from hard water. Cartridge replacement is typical fix.
Mixer cartridge issue, or boiler/cylinder running out of hot water. Could also be cross-flow from cold pressure.
Hair buildup in trap. Sometimes solvable with simple unblocking — sometimes the trap itself needs replacing.
Old steel pipework corroding inside. Common in Bedford homes built 1950s-1970s. Usually only affects bathroom, not whole house.
Failed flush valve or fill valve in cistern. Wastes huge amounts of water if ignored. Fix is usually £40-80 in parts.
Wax ring seal between toilet and floor has failed. Needs lifting toilet, replacing seal, refixing.
Often discovered when downstairs ceiling shows damp. Bath waste seal or pipe joint failure.
Trap dried out (rare, usually unused bathroom) or waste pipe blockage causing siphoning.
How a full bathroom installation works
Visit your bathroom, measure, discuss what you want to achieve. We can suggest layouts that work for your space.
Itemised: plumbing labour, fixtures (if we supply), recommended trades for tiling/electrics. Fixed price for plumbing portion.
Old bath, basin, toilet, shower removed. Old tiles removed if needed (we coordinate with tiler if you want). Pipework checked for any necessary replacement.
New pipework, drainage, electrics (we coordinate with electrician), waste runs. All hidden behind walls/floors before tiling starts.
Floor and walls tiled. We pause and return after tiling complete.
Bath, basin, toilet, shower, taps, towel rail all installed. Pressure tested. Sealed with quality silicone (not the cheap stuff).
Full system test — every fixture used, leaks checked, drainage verified. Customer walkthrough.
Bathroom brands we recommend
Sanitaryware (toilets, basins, baths)
- Mid-range (best value): Roca, Vitra, Twyford
- Premium: Duravit, Villeroy & Boch, Laufen
- Budget but acceptable: Better Bathrooms, Victoria Plum, Wickes own-brand
Taps & mixers
- Reliable mid-range: Bristan, Hansgrohe Logis, Vado
- Premium: Hansgrohe, Grohe, Quooker (boiling water taps)
- AVOID: very cheap eBay/Amazon taps — fail within 2-3 years on Bedford's hard water
Showers
- Electric: Mira Sport / Advance, Triton T80, Aqualisa Quartz Electric
- Mixer: Mira Cabana, Hansgrohe Croma, Aqualisa Visage
- Power: Aqualisa Quartz Touch, Mira Vision
Approximate prices for Bedford bathrooms
- Single tap replacement: £40-80 labour + tap
- Toilet replacement (same location): £180-280 labour + toilet
- New bath fitted: £200-320 labour + bath
- Electric shower install: £180-260 + shower unit
- Mixer shower install (with new pipework): £280-450
- Heated towel rail (replace radiator): £200-320 + rail
- Small bathroom refit (plumbing only): £1,200-2,500
- Standard bathroom refit (plumbing only): £2,500-4,500
- Premium/large bathroom refit (plumbing only): £4,500-8,000+
Tiling, decorating, and electrics are separate (we recommend trusted Bedford trades). Free survey for any install over £500.
Bathroom plumbing across Bedfordshire
Bedford · Kempston · Biggleswade · Sandy · Flitwick · Ampthill · Bromham · Sharnbrook · Milton Keynes · St Neots