Complete Bathroom Renovation Leven, Fife

It's one job with one team, rather than you trying to line up a plumber, a tiler, a joiner and an electrician and hoping they turn up in the right order.

The best time to change a layout is during a full renovation, because everything's coming out anyway. A few questions shape what's possible:

Where can the toilet go? The toilet needs a large waste pipe at a fall to the soil stack, so it usually stays close to where it is now. Moving it further can be done, but it's the most limiting part of any layout.

Bath, shower or both? In a small bathroom, swapping the bath for a large walk-in shower can make the room feel much bigger. In a family home with only one bathroom, keeping a bath is often worth it.

What does the water system allow? A combi boiler, a hot water cylinder and an electric shower all give different options. The shower has to suit the system, not the other way round.

Storage. Vanity units, recessed shelves and a cabinet above the basin take clutter off the surfaces and make a small room work harder.

Tiles or wall panels?

Both work well. Tiles give the widest choice of looks and are the traditional option. Waterproof wall panels have no grout lines to clean, go up faster and are a good choice around showers. Many renovations use a mix: panels in the shower, tiles elsewhere. Our guide to wall panels or tiles goes into the pros and cons, and our page on bathroom and shower wall panels covers fitting.

A bathroom floor needs to be flat, solid and properly prepared before anything goes down, because movement in the floor cracks tiles and lifts vinyl. On timber floors, that often means new boarding over the joists before tiling. See our page on bathroom flooring installation.

1. Survey and measure. We look at the room, the pipework, the floor and the water system, and talk through what you want.
2. Quote. You get a clear price for the agreed work before anything is ordered.
3. Choose and order. Suite, walls, flooring and fittings are agreed and ordered so they're on site when needed.
4. Strip-out. The old bathroom comes out and the room is checked for any hidden problems.
5. First fix. Pipework and wastes go in for the new layout.
6. Walls and floor. Surfaces are prepared, then tiled or panelled.
7. Second fix. Suite, taps, shower, lights and accessories are fitted and connected.
8. Finish and clear up. Everything is sealed, tested and cleaned.

Stripping out an old bathroom sometimes shows things that couldn't be seen before: rotten floorboards under an old bath, a slow leak behind a panel, or pipework that's seen better days. If we find something like that, we'll stop, show you and agree what to do before going further.

Fife has a lot of older, stone-built housing, from the fishing villages of the East Neuk to the older streets of Kirkcaldy, Cupar and Dunfermline. Thick stone walls, uneven floors and old pipe runs all need more thought in a renovation. Our guide to a bathroom in an older stone or listed home covers what to expect.

A like-for-like bathroom refit doesn't usually need a building warrant, but some changes can, such as alterations to the structure or drainage. Our guide on whether you need a building warrant for a bathroom explains the rules in Scotland, and Fife Council explains how to apply for a building warrant if one is needed. Plumbing in Scotland also has to meet Scottish Water's water byelaws, which cover the fittings and materials used.

If the renovation needs to make the bathroom easier to use, see our page on accessible bathrooms and wet rooms. If you're a landlord, our guide to bathrooms in rented and HMO properties covers what to think about.

What does a complete bathroom renovation include?

Everything from stripping out the old bathroom to fitting the new one: plumbing, walls, flooring, suite, lighting and finishing.

Can you change the layout of my bathroom?

Usually, yes. The toilet's position is the most limited, because of its waste pipe. Baths, showers and basins are easier to move.

Do I need a building warrant?

Not usually for a like-for-like refit. Changes to the structure or drainage can need one.

Should I keep a bath?

In a family home with only one bathroom, many people do. In a smaller bathroom, a large walk-in shower can work better.

What happens if you find a problem during the strip-out?

We'll stop, show you what we've found and agree what to do before going any further.

Do you give free quotes?

Yes. Call 07453 243277 or send an enquiry, and we'll arrange to see the bathroom and give you a free quote.