A bathroom installation replaces your old suite with new sanitaryware, a bath or shower, tiling and fittings, including the plumbing, electrics, ventilation and waterproofing needed for a complete, watertight room.
For a homeowner in Exeter, planning a new bathroom tends to begin with two questions: what will it cost, and how disruptive will it be? Our guide range is £5,100–£12,000 including VAT, and a typical job runs to 1–2 weeks per bathroom. Both numbers firm up once we have seen the property, measured up and agreed exactly what is included.
- Guide price
- £5,100–£12,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–2 weeks per bathroom
- Postcodes
- EX1, EX2, EX3 and EX4
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Devon
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
What should you budget for a new bathroom in Exeter?
No two jobs cost exactly the same, but the ranges below give a fair picture of a new bathroom in Exeter. Pricing for the South West runs about 2% above the national guide, and the overall guide is £5,100–£12,000 with VAT included. We'll confirm your figure after surveying the property for free.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Exeter |
|---|---|---|
| Shower room or en-suite | A compact room with a shower, basin and toilet, keeping the existing layout. | £4,100–£8,200 |
| Family bathroom | A full suite with bath and shower, new tiling, lighting and an extractor fan. | £5,100–£12,000 |
| Premium bathroom or wet room | Standalone bath, wet room or walk-in shower, underfloor heating and large-format tiles. | £12,000–£20,500 |
What moves the price up or down:
- Room size and the amount of tiling
- Moving the toilet, bath or shower to a new position
- Wet room waterproofing and underfloor heating
- Condition of the floor, walls and existing pipework
Scope of the work
- Measured survey and layout planning for your room
- Removal and disposal of the old suite and tiles
- New supply and waste pipework, including concealed fittings
- Electrics, lighting and extractor fan by qualified trades, with certificates
- Wall and floor tiling to your chosen design
- Bath or shower, basin, toilet and taps fitted and tested
Building in Exeter
Devon is known for cob and thatch cottages, especially in mid and east Devon, alongside granite on Dartmoor and red sandstone around Exeter. Exeter and Plymouth have Georgian and Victorian terraces, Plymouth's centre was largely rebuilt after the war, and seaside towns such as Torquay and Exmouth have rendered villas and newer estates.
Mild but wet, with strong coastal winds; exposed elevations need render and pointing specified for driving rain, and cob walls must be kept dry at the base.
Whatever era your Exeter home dates from, we plan a new bathroom around how it is actually built rather than a one-size-fits-all specification.
Permissions for a new bathroom in Exeter
Because Exeter falls under England's rules, the guidance below is the version relevant to you. Before sending a price, we check your property's position with the council.
Internal work such as a new kitchen, bathroom, flooring, plastering or decorating does not need planning permission in England, unless the house is listed, when listed building consent may be needed even for internal changes.
Some internal work is covered by Building Regulations: new electrical circuits and work in bathrooms (Part P), new drainage, structural changes, extractor ventilation and any new window. Notifiable work is certified by a registered installer or by building control.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
From survey to handover
We look at the job
A free survey comes first. It gives us what we need to price a new bathroom properly, including dimensions, existing materials and access for deliveries, and gives you the chance to ask anything you like.
Price and scope agreed
You get the price in writing, itemised so you can see where the money goes. As long as the specification stays the same, that is the price you pay for a new bathroom.
Booking the work
Preparation matters as much as the build. We agree access, parking and working hours with you, order materials in good time, and confirm any permissions so the job isn't held up once it starts.
On site to finish
Our trades complete a new bathroom while your point of contact keeps you updated. When everything is finished, we clear the site, take away waste and go through the result with you before handover.
How we work
Frequently asked questions
Which postcodes in Exeter do you cover?
We cover EX1, EX2, EX3 and EX4, along with the rest of Devon. If your postcode is not listed, get in touch anyway: our coverage is UK-wide, and we can usually arrange a survey wherever you live. Enter your postcode in the guide-price tool or contact form and we will confirm.
How long will a new bathroom take?
On a typical home, allow 1–2 weeks per bathroom. Larger projects, older buildings and extra work found once things are opened up can extend that, while simpler jobs may be shorter. Your quote includes an estimate of time on site, and your point of contact keeps you updated on the programme as the work progresses.
How long does it take to fit a bathroom?
Fitting a typical bathroom takes one to two weeks on site. Strip-out and first-fix plumbing and electrics come first, followed by any plastering or boarding, waterproofing, tiling and then the suite, taps and fittings. Wet rooms and rooms with underfloor heating take longer because screeds and waterproofing need time to cure. We give you a day-by-day plan before work starts.
Do I need a new boiler for a new shower?
You do not always need a new boiler for a new shower, but your hot water system decides what kind of shower will work well. Combi boilers suit mixer showers directly from the mains. Tank-fed systems may need a pump for good pressure, and electric showers heat their own water. We check your boiler, cylinder and water pressure during the survey and recommend a shower to match.
Which tiles are easiest to keep clean?
Large-format porcelain tiles are usually easiest to keep clean, because there are fewer grout lines to collect dirt and porcelain absorbs very little water. Glossy tiles show water marks more than matt ones, while textured floor tiles give better grip. Grout colour matters too: mid-grey hides staining better than white. We can suggest anti-slip ratings and grout options that suit how you use the room.
Near Exeter
Live in Exeter? Our coverage takes in the EX1, EX2, EX3 and EX4 postcode areas and reaches out to Heavitree, Exmouth and Tiverton, so homes on the outskirts and in the next town along are included.