YOUR BATHROOM QUESTIONS, ANSWERED!

Once you get stuck into your bathroom project, the questions will no doubt come thick and fast. We’re here to help with answers to some questions that crop up time and time again

How can I save money on flush shower trays? Why does it cost more to fit herringbone tiles than regular tiles? And what are the best items to invest in when it comes to fixtures and fittings? Our bathroom experts are on hand with practical advice and costings for your bathroom project queries — including when to seek professional advice before making any decisions

Q WHERE SHOULD I SPEND MY MONEY WHEN IT COMES TO FIXTURES AND FITTINGS?

There are certain items where it pays to invest. One of these is brassware. Anything that has any moving parts (which can easily break) is not an area to skimp on, as cheaper versions are often not built to the same quality and don’t last. Mid- to highend brassware can also ‘lift’ a bathroom and can make cheaper items such as sanitaryware look more expensive.

BARRIE CUTCHIE, design director at BC Designs

Q WHAT WORK IS INVOLVED IF WE OPT FOR A FLUSH SHOWER TRAY? AND HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

Flush to the floor shower trays provide a simple and elegant look to a bathroom. Depending on your flooring and waste connections, this can become very costly so it is worth investigating a few areas and if necessary getting the advice from a professional to help with your decision.

Ideally you want your waste pipe to come into the room under the floor substrate as this will reduce the costs. If the waste is entering the room above floor level, this will need moving and reconnecting into your soil stack (the large waste

pipe connected to your toilet) or to an external drain, which can add £200 - £400 to the work. Concrete floors are difficult to sink a tray into, as it’s very time-consuming and often can add between £1,500 and £3,000 to a standard bathroom cost, depending on the amount of concrete required to be moved and how/where the waste pipe would run.

It is always worth having a qualified professional advise you on this before you make a decision.

Timber floors are perfect for sinking a tray — the only difficulty can be if the waste hits a joist, but there are many trays you can purchase which can be cut down to fit so that the waste can be positioned to suit. The floor covering will need to be removed for the tray to be sunk and additional supports added under the tray to ensure it is well supported.

Adding a sunken tray would add anything from £1,000 to £2,000. It is advisable to always get a qualified installer to advise you on this, as any complications can increase your costs substantially.

LYDIA LUXFORD, in-house plumber at Easy Bathrooms

Q HOW MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE IS LAYING HERRINGBONE TILES THAN RECTANGULAR ONES?

Herringbone patterns can be more expensive, because you’ll likely need a little more product, perhaps 15% extra for wastage and cuts.

But the main cost increase is due to labour. Put simply, there’s more work involved at the planning and doing stage. You’ll need to spend time ensuring the angles are right, because any discrepancies will really stand out.

ABBAS YOUSSEFI, director of Porcelain Superstore