Bath installation on its own usually means removing the old bath, fitting the new one with its panel, taps and waste, then sealing and making good the tiles around it. As a standalone job that typically runs £550 to £1,100 plus the bath, depending on tiling and access. Freestanding baths, heavy materials and changes of size all push that up, and the reasons are below.
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What happens on the day
A straightforward swap follows a set order. Water off and the old taps disconnected. The bath panel comes away, then the sealant and the fixings, and the old bath is lifted out. That is the moment the hidden parts appear: the floor under the feet, the waste trap and the state of the tile edge along the rim.
The new bath is set on its legs or cradle, levelled so it drains properly, and fixed to the wall. Taps and waste are connected and tested for leaks before anything is closed in. The panel goes on, and the join between bath and tiles is sealed. Sealing is done with the bath filled with water so the silicone cures with the bath at its heaviest and does not crack the first time someone gets in.
What makes a bath swap bigger than expected
- A different size. Baths are not all the same length, width or rim height. A mismatch leaves bare plaster or broken tiles along the edge.
- A soft floor. Years of small leaks at the waste or seal can rot the boards under a bath. They need replacing before a new bath sits on them.
- Old tiles coming away. Removing the old sealant sometimes lifts tiles or plaster with it.
- Moving the taps. Going from deck taps to wall mounted, or from end taps to a central filler, means new pipe runs.
- Access. Narrow stairs and tight landings, common in older terraces, make it hard to get a long or heavy bath in and the old one out.
Choosing a bath that suits the job
Acrylic is light, warm and easy to carry upstairs, which keeps installation simple. Steel is harder wearing but heavier and colder to the touch. Cast iron and stone resin feel solid and hold heat well, but their weight when full means the joists are checked first on an upper floor. Our bath types guide compares them in detail, and stone and resin baths covers the heavier options.
If the bath is mainly used for showering, a shower bath with a wider end and a fixed screen can make more sense than a plain bath. If nobody in the house uses the bath at all, it may be worth reading shower over bath versus a separate shower before replacing like for like.
Freestanding baths
A freestanding bath is the biggest step up. The waste usually has to come up through the floor in the right spot, taps are often floor standing with their own pipe runs, and the floor finish has to look good all the way round because there is no panel to hide it. It is a real change to the room rather than a swap, and it is often done as part of a wider refit.
Hot water and filling time
A larger or deeper bath holds a lot of water. A combi boiler fills it steadily but slowly, and a small hot water cylinder may run out before the bath is full. We look at how your hot water is supplied before suggesting a size, so the new bath is one you can actually fill.
When a bath swap becomes a refit
If the tiles around the bath are dated, the toilet and basin are the same age, or you want to change the layout, it is often better value to do everything once. Our guide to a full refit versus a refresh helps decide.
Getting a price
After a free survey you get a fixed written quote within 24 hours. Plumbing, tiling and making good are done by our own team, and the work carries our written workmanship guarantee. See our bathroom fitters in Stoke-on-Trent, send us the details of your bath or call 01782 901390.
Common questions
How much does it cost to have a bath fitted?
As a standalone job, taking out an old bath and fitting a new one with panel, taps, waste and making good typically runs £550 to £1,100 plus the bath itself, depending on tiling and access. Freestanding baths with floor mounted taps cost more.
Can you replace a bath without retiling the whole room?
Often, yes, if the new bath matches the old footprint closely. A different length, width or height usually leaves a strip of damaged or missing tiles along the rim, so we check sizes at survey before you order.
Does a heavy bath need the floor strengthening?
Cast iron and stone resin baths are far heavier than acrylic once filled. On an upstairs floor we check the joists first, and reinforcement is sometimes needed before the bath goes in.
How soon can I use a new bath?
The bath can be used once the silicone seal has fully cured, which we normally ask you to leave for 24 hours.
Will my hot water fill a bigger bath?
It depends on your boiler or cylinder. A large or deep bath can exceed what a small cylinder holds, so we look at your hot water before recommending a size.