12 min read
Most bathroom renovation cost guides are written with a vague national audience in mind — or worse, calibrated to London day-rates. If you live in Newcastle, Gateshead, Northumberland or County Durham, those figures are often 15–25% too high, and the breakdown of what’s actually included is rarely explained clearly enough to be useful. This post is written specifically for the North East, with 2026 trade rates, and it tells you exactly what should appear in a contractor’s quote — line by line.
The short answer
In short: a proper bathroom renovation quote in the North East should be written, itemised, and broken into at least six separate cost areas — labour by trade, materials with quantities, plumbing scope, electrical scope, tiling broken out by m², and waste removal. For a standard mid-range bathroom (around 5–6 m²), expect a realistic total of £5,000–£11,000 supply-and-fit in this region in 2026. A tight like-for-like refurb starts around £3,000–£4,500. A high-spec refit with layout changes and custom finishes runs £12,000–£20,000+. Any quote that’s just a single lump sum with no line-by-line detail is not a quote — it’s a number.
How this topic is usually presented — and where it misleads
National cost guides typically quote a UK average of around £7,000–£8,500 for a mid-range bathroom refit, often with a footnote that costs vary by region. That footnote does a lot of work. What those guides rarely do is explain the structure of a quote — what each cost covers, what’s commonly left out, and how to tell whether a contractor has priced the job properly or just given you a number that sounds reasonable.
The other common failing is treating cost ranges as if all bathrooms are the same. A like-for-like swap of sanitaryware in an undamaged bathroom is a very different job to a full strip-out with new layout, floor levelling, full-height tiling and a custom shower niche. Both might be called a “bathroom renovation.” Only a properly itemised quote shows which job you’re actually buying.
What the three tiers of bathroom renovation actually look like
Before getting into the quote structure, it helps to anchor the numbers to what the three tiers of renovation actually involve.
Basic like-for-like refurb
This is replacing existing sanitaryware — toilet, basin, bath or shower — without changing the layout or doing significant structural work. The walls and floor are broadly sound. Tiling may be partial. This is the most straightforward job. North East cost range: £3,000–£4,500.
Mid-range family bathroom
Full strip-out. New suite, full or substantial tiling, new flooring, upgraded extraction and lighting, possibly a new shower enclosure or wetroom area. May involve some minor layout adjustment. This is the most common type of full renovation. North East cost range: £5,000–£11,000.
High-end or luxury refit
Premium sanitaryware, bespoke joinery, freestanding bath, large-format tiles, underfloor heating, full wetroom, custom shower niches, concealed cistern. Often involves layout changes, which may mean moving soil stacks. North East cost range: £12,000–£20,000+, with some projects going higher still.
| Tier | Typical scope | North East 2026 range |
|---|---|---|
| Basic like-for-like | Suite swap, minimal changes, partial tiling | £3,000–£4,500 |
| Mid-range full renovation | Full strip-out, new suite, full tiling, electrics, waste | £5,000–£11,000 |
| High-end / luxury | Premium spec, layout changes, bespoke features | £12,000–£20,000+ |
What must be in a bathroom renovation quote — line by line
A properly written quote in 2026 should separate supply and fit costs, list quantities, name brands or product ranges for key items, and state clearly what is excluded. Here is what each section should cover.
Labour — broken down by trade
Labour should never appear as a single line. A good quote shows who is doing what, for how long, and at what rate or fixed price. In the North East, typical 2026 day-rates by trade are as follows.
| Trade | North East day-rate (2026) | UK-wide comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom fitter / plumber | £180–£280/day | £200–£400/day |
| Tiler | £150–£220/day or £35–£60/m² | £40–£100/m² |
| Electrician | £200–£300/day | £200–£350/day |
| Plasterer | £180–£260/day | £200–£350/day |
| Decorator | £150–£220/day | £160–£280/day |
A quote might show either day-rates with estimated days, or fixed task prices — for example, ‘Tiling labour: 18 m² at £50/m² = £900.’ Either format is acceptable. What is not acceptable is a single line that reads ‘Labour: £2,500’ with no further explanation.
Plumbing — first-fix and second-fix defined
Plumbing labour and materials should be separated, and the quote should explicitly state what is covered under first-fix (pipe runs, wastes, isolation valves) and second-fix (connecting and commissioning each fixture). It should also make clear whether any layout changes are included, and whether moving the soil stack is in or out of scope. Moving a soil stack is a significant extra cost that catches many homeowners off-guard mid-project.
For a standard North East bathroom, plumbing labour and materials combined typically falls in the range of £1,000–£2,500 depending on complexity. Plumbing materials alone — pipework, fittings, valves, traps — typically account for around £250–£500 of that figure.
Electrics — what’s fitted and whether certification is included
The electrical section of the quote should list specific items, not just say ‘electrics included.’ It should cover extractor fan installation and wiring, lighting (with IP ratings noted for wet zones), shaver socket, any mirror demister, and — if relevant — a new shower circuit and associated consumer unit work. Critically, it should confirm that Part P compliant certification is included. That certificate is not optional; you need it when you sell the property.
Extractor fan supply and wiring typically runs £200–£500 depending on the fan specified and whether new ductwork is needed. The full electrical package for a standard bathroom is usually in the range of £300–£800 within the overall quote.
Tiling — area, rate, and materials listed separately
Tiling is one of the most commonly under-quoted elements. A proper quote should state the number of m² of wall tiling and floor tiling, whether tiles are being supplied by the contractor or the client, the cost of labour per m², and a separate line for adhesive, grout, trims and profiles.
If the contractor is supplying tiles, the quote should show the tile range, cost per m², and an allowance for cuts and breakage (typically 10–15% over the measured area). If you are supplying your own tiles, the quote should state that clearly and note any conditions — most contractors will not take responsibility for tiles you have sourced yourself arriving damaged or in the wrong quantity.
| Tiling cost element | Typical North East figure (2026) |
|---|---|
| Tiling labour (standard ceramic/porcelain) | £35–£60/m² |
| Tile supply (mid-range) | £30–£80/m² |
| Adhesive and grout | £80–£200 total |
| Trims, profiles, expansion joints | Included in sundries |
Substrate preparation and waterproofing
This section is where the difference between a careful contractor and a cheap one shows up. The quote should include backer boards for shower areas, floor levelling compound where needed, priming, and waterproofing membrane (tanking) behind shower tiling and wet areas. Tanking is not optional — it is what prevents water getting behind tiles and rotting the substrate over time. It typically adds £250–£400 to the cost, and any quote that does not mention it is either not including it or is hoping you do not ask.
Materials for substrate preparation typically run £150–£400 depending on the bathroom’s condition and the extent of wet areas.
Sanitaryware and fittings
The quote should name each item being supplied — toilet (including cistern type and seat), basin, bath or shower tray, screen or enclosure, taps, waste sets, bath panel if applicable, towel rail, and any accessories. Brand and model names matter here, because ‘toilet’ on a quote could mean a £90 close-coupled unit or a £600 wall-hung pan. If you are comparing two quotes and one does not specify the product, you have no basis for comparison.
For a mid-range suite and brassware in a North East bathroom, expect the sanitaryware budget to sit around £1,200–£2,200. That figure rises sharply with premium brands or freestanding baths.
Strip-out and waste removal
Strip-out should be priced as a distinct element — it typically represents one to two days of plumbing and fitter labour. In the North East, that means roughly £200–£600 in labour for the strip-out itself. Waste removal should be a separate line showing either a skip hire cost or a trade waste disposal fee. Expect to pay £180–£300 in the North East for a typical bathroom strip-out waste package. The quote should state explicitly that all waste is removed from site — not just bagged and left in the garden.
Finishing — plastering, painting, sealing
This is often the section that falls through the gaps. A complete quote should include making good plasterwork where tiles meet painted surfaces, painting ceilings and any untiled walls, and final silicone sealing around the bath, shower and basin. Silicone is a small cost — typically £50–£150 in materials — but poor application is one of the most common cosmetic complaints after a bathroom renovation. It should be on the quote as a named task, not assumed.
Decorating labour for a small bathroom typically runs £150–£400. Plastering or boarding work — skimming damaged walls, boarding ceilings — adds £200–£600 depending on extent.
What pushes the cost up
Several factors reliably increase the final cost, and a good contractor will flag these at the quoting stage rather than raising them once the job is underway.
- Layout changes: Moving any fixture to a different wall means new pipe runs and possibly new waste routes. Moving the toilet often means moving or extending the soil stack, which is a significant additional cost.
- Condition of the existing substrate: Bathrooms in older properties — particularly those built before the 1970s — often have compromised joists, wet rot, or crumbling plaster behind tiles. This is not always visible until strip-out begins.
- Large-format tiles: Tiles over 600 x 600 mm take longer to lay, require a more level substrate, and command a higher labour rate. They also have higher material waste percentages.
- Underfloor heating: Electric underfloor heating adds £300–£800 to a small bathroom depending on specification. Wet underfloor heating is more complex and more expensive.
- Bespoke joinery: Vanity units built to fit an awkward space, storage niches in tiled walls, or fitted furniture around a freestanding bath all add meaningful cost and time.
Hidden costs that rarely appear in cheaper quotes
This is the section that saves you money. The following items are routinely absent from under-priced quotes — and often reappear as ‘variations’ once the job is underway.
- Tanking / waterproofing membrane: As noted above, this is non-negotiable in any shower or wet area. If it is not on the quote, ask specifically. If the contractor shrugs it off, that tells you something.
- Part P electrical certification: Legally required for notifiable electrical work in a bathroom. It should be on the quote. If it is not, you either will not get it, or you will be asked to pay extra for it.
- Extractor fan upgrade: Many bathrooms have an original fan that is undersized or wired into the light switch rather than humidity-controlled. A proper refit should include an upgraded fan and appropriate controls. This is frequently absent from cheaper quotes.
- Making good in adjacent rooms: If new pipe runs or electrical cables pass through a bedroom or landing wall, making good those surfaces needs to be included somewhere. It rarely is.
- Final sealing and snagging: The job is not finished when the tiles go up. Final silicone beads, grout washing, adjusting door clearances, and minor snagging are worth £100–£200 of labour time. A quote that ends at ‘second fix plumbing complete’ is not a complete quote.
- Contingency: Reputable contractors often include a 10% contingency line in a quote to cover genuinely unforeseen work — not as a slush fund, but as an honest acknowledgement that bathrooms can produce surprises. If there is no contingency and the unexpected happens, you will be asked for a variation order. The contingency just makes that conversation more transparent upfront.
Why the North East is different from national guides
The short version: labour costs less here, and that is not a negative reflection on the quality of trade. Day-rates for bathroom fitters, tilers and electricians in Newcastle, Gateshead, Durham and Northumberland run broadly 10–20% below London and the South East. That is a genuine saving on the total project cost, not a compromise on workmanship.
Waste disposal costs also sit at the lower end of national ranges. A skip or trade waste package for a bathroom strip-out in the North East typically costs £180–£300, compared to £250–£350 or more in major southern cities.
Where the region does not differ meaningfully is in material costs. Sanitaryware, tiles, brassware and plumbing fittings are priced nationally or follow the same trade supply chains regardless of postcode. The saving is in labour, not materials. That means the proportion of the total budget going to the bathroom suite and tiles is slightly higher as a share of total project cost here than it would be in London — which, if anything, is a reason to invest a little more in the fixtures themselves.
One thing worth noting for Northumberland and more rural parts of County Durham: travel time for specialist trades (wetroom installers, tilers with experience of large-format stone work, etc.) can add to the cost if your preferred contractor is coming from Newcastle or further afield. It is worth asking whether travel is included in the quoted day-rate or charged separately.
A worked example: mid-range bathroom in the North East
To make the figures concrete, here is how a typical mid-range bathroom renovation might break down for a 5.5 m² bathroom in the North East in 2026. Full strip-out, new mid-range suite, full-height tiling in the shower area and half-height elsewhere, new floor, upgraded extraction and lighting, Part P certification included.
| Cost element | Detail | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| Strip-out and waste removal | 1.5 days labour + trade waste disposal | £550–£750 |
| Suite and brassware | WC, basin, bath, taps, waste sets, towel rail | £1,400–£1,900 |
| Plumbing labour and materials | First and second fix, new feeds and wastes | £1,200–£1,800 |
| Electrical work | Fan, downlights, shaver socket, Part P cert | £400–£650 |
| Tiling labour | Approx 18 m² at £45–£55/m² | £810–£990 |
| Tiles and tiling materials | 18 m² tiles, adhesive, grout, trims | £900–£1,500 |
| Substrate prep and waterproofing | Backer boards, tanking, levelling compound | £350–£550 |
| Plastering and boarding | Making good, over-boarding ceiling | £250–£400 |
| Decorating and finishing | Ceiling paint, silicone, snagging | £200–£350 |
| Sundries | Fixings, dust sheets, trims, screws | £100–£200 |
| Total | £6,160–£9,090 |
A round working budget of £7,000–£8,500 for this project is realistic and honest. If you are being quoted significantly below £6,000 for this scope of work, it is worth asking exactly what is not included. If you are being quoted above £10,000 without any premium specification, ask for the line-by-line breakdown.
How to compare quotes properly
Getting three quotes is good practice. But three quotes are only comparable if they are quoting the same thing. Here is a practical approach.
Write a simple scope document before you ask for quotes. Note the room dimensions, what you want to keep or remove, the type of shower you want, approximately how much of the walls and floor you want tiled, and any specific features. Hand the same document to every contractor. This ensures you are comparing like with like.
Use a checklist when you receive each quote. Every quote should include: separate labour lines by trade, materials with quantities and — for key fixtures — brand or model names, a defined plumbing scope (first and second fix), electrical items listed individually with certification confirmed, tiling broken out by m² and rate, and waste removal stated explicitly. If any of these are missing, go back and ask for them before you accept or decline.
Be cautious of the lowest quote. The cheapest quote is often the one that has left things out. It is not necessarily the cheapest job — it may just be the one where the missing items will reappear as variations once work has begun. If one quote is 30% below the other two for identical scope, ask exactly what makes it cheaper. The answer will tell you a lot.
Check payment terms carefully. A reasonable structure is a deposit on contract (typically 10–25%), stage payments tied to defined milestones (after strip-out, after first fix, after tiling, on completion), and a retention or final balance on satisfactory completion. Any contractor asking for 50% or more upfront without a clear schedule should be questioned.
We will be publishing a dedicated guide on this shortly — How to Compare Renovation Quotes Without Getting Burned — which goes further into red flags, contract terms, and what to do when quotes come in very differently from each other. Worth a read before you commit to anything.
A word on how Hollinside works
If you are planning a bathroom renovation in Newcastle, Gateshead, Northumberland or County Durham and would like to talk through what a proper quote for your project should look like, we are happy to have that conversation. We take on a small number of projects at a time — that is a deliberate choice, not a constraint — so every job gets the right attention from the right people.
We are not going to push you toward a decision. If the numbers do not work for your budget, we will tell you that honestly, and we will tell you why. When you are ready to talk, you know where we are.
Last updated: June 2025. All figures are guidance based on 2026 UK and North East trade pricing and should not be taken as a formal quotation. Your actual costs will depend on the specific scope, condition of the existing bathroom, and materials specified.
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