What are the hidden costs to look for in a bathroom renovation quote?

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You’re staring at a few quotes for your new bathroom, and that knot in your stomach is telling you something. One of them is a lot cheaper than the others, and the initial relief is quickly being replaced by suspicion. 

It just feels too good to be true, doesn't it?

You’re starting to question what’s been left out (hidden costs) and, more importantly, dreading the moment you get hit with a mountain of ‘extras’ halfway through the job.

That feeling is completely valid, and it’s the biggest fear for anyone investing in their home. To help you navigate this, I’m going to share what I’ve learned from over 15 years in this trade.

Here’s what you need to know to compare quotes like an expert and choose a team with total confidence.

• Look Beyond the Price: A cheap quote almost always means critical, non-negotiable work has been omitted.

• The Unseen Essentials: Full waterproofing (tanking), proper substrate preparation, and legal waste disposal are the most common costs left out. Getting these wrong leads to expensive repairs.

• The "Extras" Trap: Vague quotes often exclude plastering, decorating, and electrical work, which are then added to the final bill.

• Demand Transparency: A professional firm will have a formal Change Order process, ensuring any unforeseen work is quoted and approved by you before it begins.

• Ask the Right Questions: A simple checklist of five questions can reveal everything you need to know about the quality and completeness of a quote.

To be honest, that anxiety you're feeling is exactly why I’m writing this. Having said that, not every cheap quote has a cowboy builder behind it, but we need to educate ourselves so we have context when viewing the quoted price.

The "cowboy builder" who wins a job with an artificially cheap quote is a real problem in our industry. It's a common tactic that almost always leads to stress and, believe it or not, higher costs down the line.

After doing this for over 15 years here in Staffordshire, you get a feel for a quote that's been cut to the bone. This article isn't about selling you our service; it's about sharing what I know so you feel empowered and in control of your project, no matter who you choose.

Why Are Some Bathroom Quotes So Cheap? (And what are the common hidden costs)

Let's be upfront. 

When a quote seems too low, it's not because of a special deal. It's because critical parts of the job—the parts that guarantee quality and longevity—have been quietly left out. For me, this is what I find most frustrating.

Here are the usual suspects.

The 'Invisible' Work That Guarantees Quality

Proper Waste Disposal

It sounds basic, but you'd be amazed how often this is missed. A professional quote will always include the legal disposal of your old bathroom. This means hiring a skip, which in Staffordshire can cost anywhere from £120 to £275, plus potential council permit fees. When this is left out, you get an unexpected bill and a logistical headache.

The Right Foundations (Substrate Preparation)

This is where cheap jobs turn into expensive nightmares. It personally frustrates me when I see tiling done directly onto standard plasterboard in a wet area. It’s simply not built for it.

As professionals, we follow British Standard BS 5385-1, which guides us to use proper waterproof cement backer boards. They cost a bit more, but they provide a stable foundation that prevents cracked tiles and leaks for years to come.

Full Waterproofing (Tanking)

If there’s one thing you must check, it's this. Grout is not waterproof. Let me repeat that: grout is not waterproof.

Over time, water will get through. That’s why a process called ‘tanking’ is essential. We apply a waterproof membrane to the walls and floor of the shower area first. It’s now considered industry best practice, and even the NHBC mandates it for new homes.

Failing to do this can lead to devastating repair bills, sometimes over £10,000 if water damages the rooms below.

The 'Making Good' and Finishing Touches

Plastering & Decorating

A common trap is assuming the price includes putting everything back to perfect. Often, the cost to re-plaster damaged walls or for the final painting is billed as an 'extra'. This alone can add £500-£750 to your bill.

Electrical Work

Any new lighting, fans, or sockets must be fitted by a qualified electrician and are rarely included in a basic installation quote.

The Quality of the Kit

Vague terms like ‘standard sanitaryware’ can hide cheap plastic components instead of the durable brass or copper fittings we use. It’s a classic case of 'buy cheap, buy twice'.

So you know what's often missing, but what does that look like in the real world when it goes wrong? Let me tell you a story.

A Real-World Lesson: The Burton Transformation Story

I want to tell you about Ian and Jenny, a wonderful couple from Burton we worked with. They lived in a beautiful, modern home, but their bathroom was a constant source of stress. They’d had a wet room installed by the original house builders, and from day one, it was a problem. The floor was leaking, water was seeping into the walls, and the skirting boards were warped and ruined. They were living with the daily anxiety of a job done poorly.

When they called us, they were understandably nervous about trusting anyone to do it again. Their experience had been soured by corner-cutting, and it’s a story I hear all too often. We sat down and designed a space that wasn't just about fixing the problems, but about giving them the "wow factor" they had wanted in the first place. But for me, the most important part of the project was fixing the mistakes you couldn't see. When we stripped everything back, we found the previous installers had simply put floating floorboards down without securing them or using the correct waterproof backer boards and tanking system. It was a ticking time bomb.

The initial ‘saving’ the original builder made by skipping these steps ended up costing Ian and Jenny far more in the long run, both in money and in the sheer stress of it all. It’s a perfect, real-world example of why the cheapest quote is rarely the best value.

What a Professional, All-Inclusive Quote Should Cover

You might be thinking, ‘Okay Craig, so what makes a professional quote different?’ The simple answer is that we price for the job to be done right, the first time, with no nasty surprises.

Our quotes are comprehensive and already include all those essentials we talked about—the proper waterproofing, the correct backer boards, the skip hire. The price you see is the price for a complete, high-quality job.

Now, what if we find something completely unforeseen, like rotten floor joists? To be honest, this is where trust is truly tested. We have a formal Change Order process. I will stop, show you the problem, explain the solution and the exact cost, and you sign off on it before any extra work begins.

This process gives you complete control and ensures there are absolutely no surprise charges on the final invoice. It’s how we deliver on the "Honest" part of our 6-Point Guarantee.

That said, our approach isn't for everyone. 

If your main priority is the absolute rock-bottom price for a quick fix, we're probably not the right fit. We're here for homeowners who value the peace of mind that comes from a job that's expertly crafted and built to last.

Your 'Apples-to-Apples' Checklist: How to Compare Quotes Like an Expert

The key thing to remember is this: the bottom-line price is only a small part of the story. To truly understand what you're paying for, you need to compare what's included in the work.

Here are the five essential questions you should ask every single installer before you agree to anything. Their answers will tell you everything you need to know.

• "Does your quote include a skip for all waste and its legal disposal?"

• "For the shower area, what specific type of backer board will you be using?"

• "Does your price include a full waterproofing (tanking) system that meets British Standard BS 5385?"

• "What is your exact process for handling unforeseen issues? Do you use a formal change order document?"

• "Is the cost of all 'making good'—including re-plastering and final painting—itemised in this quote?"

Ready to move forward with confidence?

If you'd prefer a conversation with a team that lays everything out transparently from the start, we'd be happy to help. 

We can put together a comprehensive, no-obligation quote for your project so you can see exactly what a quality-focused job looks like.

You can call us on 01785 596002 or visit our Start Your Project page to arrange a consultation.

My hope is that you now feel much more confident looking at those quotes. You have the right questions to ask to see beyond the price tag and find a team you can genuinely trust.

A bathroom renovation is a big decision, but it shouldn't be a gamble.

Ultimately, you need to ask yourself: am I looking for the cheapest price today, or the best value for the next 10-15 years?