The first question most people ask me when they ring is, quite reasonably, "How much will it cost?" I always wish I could give a single, tidy answer. The truth is that every bathroom I design is priced individually, because no two rooms, homes or wish lists are the same. What I can do is explain what actually drives the cost, so you can plan sensibly and know what to expect before we meet.
I'm Alex, and I run Alexander James Projects from Newton Abbot. I've spent over 20 years working on bathrooms and high-end interiors, and I personally oversee the design, product sourcing and installation on every bathroom. Here's what shapes where the money goes.
Why there's no "standard" bathroom price
You'll find all sorts of figures online, but they rarely match what happens in a real home. A small downstairs cloakroom in a modern house is a completely different job to a full family bathroom in a Victorian terrace in Torquay. The size of the room, the condition of what's behind the walls and floor, the products you choose and the finish you're after all change the picture.
That's why I prepare a quotation only after a home consultation and an assessment of the work involved. It means the figure you get reflects your bathroom, not a guess.
The main things that affect the cost
1. The scope of the work
Are you refreshing a room and keeping the layout, or starting again from scratch? Keeping the bath, basin and toilet roughly where they are usually involves less disruption. Moving things around can mean new pipe runs, changes to waste routes and sometimes alterations to the floor or walls. None of that is unusual, but it all takes time and care.
2. The type of room
Different rooms bring different challenges:
- Full bathrooms often include a bath and a separate shower, so there's more plumbing, more tiling and more products.
- Wet rooms with level-access showering need careful floor preparation and thorough waterproofing across the whole area.
- Walk-in showers are designed around the space you have, and the glass, floor and fittings you choose all play a part.
- En-suites and shower rooms are smaller, but making a tight space work well often takes more thought, not less.
- Downstairs cloakrooms can be a lovely place to be bold with panelling, colour and characterful fittings, and they're usually a smaller project overall.
3. The products you choose
This is often the biggest variable. Baths, basins, taps, showers, furniture and mirrors range enormously in price. I'm not tied to a single manufacturer, so you can choose from my curated brochure or ask me to source products from other brands you've fallen for. Part of the design work is helping you choose fixtures and finishes with an eye on both how they look and how practical they are, which naturally includes weighing up where your money is best spent.
4. Tiles and finishes
As a general rule, large-format tiles, natural stone, patterned floors and intricate laying patterns take longer to fit and need more preparation than a simple tile laid in a straight grid. The amount of tiling matters too: a fully tiled room typically costs more than one that mixes tiles with panelling or painted walls.
5. What's hidden behind the walls
Older homes across South Devon, particularly period properties, can hold surprises once an old suite comes out: uneven floors, tired pipework or walls that need re-boarding before tiling. It's worth knowing that some things simply can't be seen until a room is opened up, and it's sensible to keep a little breathing space in your budget for that possibility, whoever does the work.
6. Preparation and waterproofing
This is the part you never see once the bathroom is finished, and it matters enormously. Proper boarding, levelling and waterproofing protect your new bathroom and support its long-term performance. Preparation and waterproofing are built into my bathroom and wet room installations, and differences in this area are one of the reasons quotes can vary between companies.
What a fully managed renovation includes
When you compare quotes, it helps to know what's actually covered. My renovations are fully managed from the first consultation to the completed installation, which includes:
- Personal design help with layout, fixtures, fittings and finishes
- Product sourcing tailored to your bathroom
- Plumbing for baths, basins, showers and toilets
- Carpentry and plastering
- Waterproofing and preparation
- Wall and floor tiling
- Finishing
I coordinate a small team of trusted tradespeople, and I'm your one consistent point of contact throughout, so you're not juggling separate trades yourself.
How to get the most from your budget
- Be open about your budget. It isn't about spending as much as possible. Knowing your comfortable figure helps shape a design that works within it.
- Decide on your priorities. Perhaps the walk-in shower matters most and the basin can be simpler. Spending where you'll notice it every day makes a real difference.
- Keep the layout where it makes sense. If the current arrangement works, keeping it can free up budget for nicer finishes.
- Mix materials thoughtfully. Panelling or paint on some walls with feature tiling in the shower can look stunning.
- Don't skimp on what's hidden. Good preparation and waterproofing are what keep a bathroom looking good for the long term.
Comparing quotes fairly
If you're getting more than one quote, check that each one covers the same stages of work. Does it include all the preparation, waterproofing, plumbing, tiling and finishing? Are products included, or is there an allowance? A lower figure sometimes simply means less is included. Asking each company exactly what's covered is the easiest way to compare like with like.
What happens at a consultation
I'll come to your home and we'll go through what you need from the room, take measurements, and talk through layouts, finishes and budget. Afterwards I'll prepare a quotation based on your requirements, your chosen products and the standard of finish you're after.
I'm based in Newton Abbot and work mainly across Teignbridge, Torbay, Exeter and the surrounding communities. You can read more about my work in Newton Abbot, Torbay, Exeter, Teignmouth and Totnes.
If you're thinking about a new bathroom and would like a clear idea of what it might involve, I'd be glad to come and have a chat.