Planning a Small Bathroom Refit Budget

Plumbing moves, electrical, extraction, and waterproofing are the expensive surprises. Tile and paint are visible but often not the whole story.

Get trade input on services before you fall in love with a tile that needs a perfectly flat wall you do not have yet.

Floor area for flooring or tile, wall board if you are reboarding, and paint for ceilings and any painted walls. Use the Flooring, Drywall, and Paint calculators for those lines.

Roll them into the Cost Estimator with labour allowances and a contingency of 15–20% for wet rooms in older houses.

Demolish and expose problems early. Sign off waterproofing before tiling. Order long-lead fixtures only after dimensions are confirmed.

Changing a shower tray size after tiling starts is how small bathrooms become expensive bathrooms.

They will not size soil pipes, confirm tanking systems, or guarantee mould-free ventilation. Those need qualified trades and product-system instructions.

They also will not price permit fees, skip hire, or temporary accommodation if the bathroom is the only one in the house — add those as separate budget lines when relevant.

Keep a dated photo set of the room before demolition. It helps trades quote accurately and helps you explain changes if scope expands.