Bathroom Refits andRenovations in Reading
Refresh a tired bathroom with new fittings, tiling and finishes, working within the existing layout to keep the job quicker and less disruptive.
320+ reviews from Checkatrade · 2-year guarantee
28 years' experience
Residential, commercial and industrial
320+ reviews
from Checkatrade
2-year guarantee
On all our workmanship
£10 million insured
Public and employer's liability
24/7 emergency call-outs
Same-day service guaranteed
Bathroom Refits & Renovations
What a bathroom refit or renovation involves
A bathroom refit means replacing the suite and finishes within the existing layout, rather than moving pipework or changing the room's structure. That typically covers a new bath, shower, basin and WC, new tiling, new flooring, and updated lighting or extraction, all going roughly where the old ones were. It is a faster, less disruptive way to modernise a bathroom than a full installation, while still giving you a genuinely new-looking room.
This service suits anyone with a bathroom that is dated, worn, or simply no longer to taste, but where the existing layout works fine and does not need to change. It is also a good fit for landlords refreshing a rental bathroom between tenancies, or homeowners preparing a property for sale who want the bathroom to look current without the cost and disruption of a full rebuild.
A refit is usually the right call when the pipework, waste runs and room layout are sound and simply need updating, rather than replacing. Signs it is time include chipped or cracked tiles, grout that no longer cleans up, an outdated suite colour or style, failing sealant around the bath or shower, or fittings that are simply worn out after years of daily use. If the layout itself is wrong for how you use the room, that points towards a full installation instead.
Even a like-for-like refit benefits from professional handling because removing an old suite can reveal issues behind it, such as ageing pipework, damp subfloors or old sealant that has let water through unnoticed. Mitchell carries out the plumbing and coordinates the tiling, electrics, plastering and carpentry needed, so any issues found during strip-out are dealt with properly rather than tiled straight over.
Why it matters
What happens when a refit is left too long, or done badly
Delaying a needed refit tends to make the eventual job bigger. Failing sealant around a bath or shower lets water track behind tiles and into the wall or floor below, and grout that has broken down does the same thing on a smaller scale across the whole room. What starts as a cosmetic issue becomes a moisture problem that needs drying out and repairing before any new tiling can even go in.
Left unaddressed, this kind of water ingress causes real structural damage: rotting floor joists under a bathroom, staining or a sagging ceiling in the room below, and mould developing in wall cavities that are not visible until the tiling comes off. None of this shows up on the surface until the refit is actually underway, which is why what looked like a simple retile can turn into a bigger repair job once work starts.
The cost pattern is consistent: resealing a bath or regrouting tiles costs very little compared with replacing rotten flooring, treating mould, or repairing a ceiling that has come down because of a long-term leak above it. A refit tackled promptly, while the suite is simply dated rather than actively failing, is a controlled, predictable job. Leave it years past that point and the same refit can involve unplanned repairs discovered only once the old suite is out.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Re-tiling or resealing over damp or damaged boards instead of replacing them
- Reusing old waste pipework that is undersized or already showing signs of wear
- Choosing new tiles or a new suite before checking the existing layout still works well
- Skipping proper waterproofing (tanking) behind a new shower or bath because it is 'only a refit'
- Not checking extractor fan performance when planning a refit, leaving the room prone to condensation afterwards
Our process
How your bathroom refits & renovations job runs.
- Step 1
Call or enquire
Ring Mitchell on 07810 646762 or send an enquiry. Tell him what's happening and he'll tell you straight away whether it's an emergency or a planned job.
- Step 2
Visit and diagnosis
Mitchell comes out, finds the cause and explains it in plain English. Call-outs are £85 inc VAT, plus £85 inc VAT for the first hour of work.
- Step 3
Clear quote
You're told what needs doing and what it costs before work starts. Larger jobs are booked in with a 5% deposit.
- Step 4
The work
Mitchell and his apprentice Bradley carry out the work, bringing in trusted tilers, plasterers and electricians where a job needs them. Larger jobs are paid daily as they progress.
- Step 5
Test and guarantee
Everything is tested for leaks and correct operation before we leave, the area is cleaned up, and the work is backed by our 2-year guarantee.
What you get
The difference it makes.
Quicker turnaround than a full rebuild
Working within the existing pipework and layout means less strip-out and fewer trades needed in sequence, so a refit is completed noticeably faster than a full installation.
Issues found and fixed safely
Removing the old suite gives a clear look at pipework and subfloor condition behind it, so ageing pipework or hidden damp is identified and corrected before new fittings go in.
Finishes that hold up day to day
New tiling, sealant and tanking done properly during a refit last far longer than a quick surface refresh, reducing the chance of the same problems returning within a year or two.
Better value than starting from scratch
Keeping the existing layout avoids the cost of moving pipework or structural changes, so you get a genuinely updated bathroom without paying for a full installation.
Consistent, coordinated work
With 2 to 3 refits carried out every month, the process for sequencing plumbing, tiling and finishing work is well established and runs smoothly from strip-out to completion.
Backed by a solid guarantee
Workmanship on every refit is covered by a 2-year guarantee, supported by £10 million public liability and £10 million employer's liability insurance.
Why CBS
Who'll be doing the work.
CBS Plumbing and Heating is run by Mitchell Antrobus, who has 28 years in the plumbing and heating industry across residential, commercial and industrial installation, servicing and repairs. That background is why your bathroom refits & renovations job gets diagnosed properly the first time rather than patched and left.
Day to day you'll deal with Mitchell and his apprentice Bradley. On bathroom jobs, Mitchell brings in experienced tilers, plasterers and electricians he works with regularly, so you have one point of contact from the first call to the finished room.
CBS has 320+ reviews from Checkatrade, carries £10 million public liability and £10 million employer's liability insurance, and guarantees its work for 2 years. We cover Reading, High Wycombe, Maidenhead, Marlow, Beaconsfield, Wokingham, Henley-on-Thames, Bracknell and Chalfont St Giles.
About CBSIn detail
How a bathroom refit is carried out
A refit follows a tighter version of the same sequence as a full installation, since the pipework stays largely where it is. Here is what is typically involved and where refits vary from property to property.
Strip-out and inspection
The old suite, tiling and flooring are removed down to the base structure, which is the point where the real condition of the room becomes clear. Any signs of past leaks, damp subfloors, or pipework that is corroded or undersized are identified here, before anything new goes in. This stage is where the difference between a straightforward refit and one needing extra repair work is decided, so it is worth allowing time for a proper look rather than rushing straight to the new suite.
Pipework checks and minor alterations
Existing supply and waste pipework is checked, pressure tested and reused where it is in good condition, with isolation valves added or replaced if they are missing or seized. Minor adjustments are common even in a refit, such as repositioning a tap connection for a new basin design or swapping a bath waste for a shower waste if the fittings are changing shape, even though the overall layout stays the same.
Read more
Waterproofing and tiling
New tanking is applied around the shower and bath area before retiling, even on a refit, since reusing old waterproofing behind new tiles risks the same failures recurring. Tiling is then carried out to the new design, whether that is a straightforward like-for-like replacement or an updated look with larger format tiles, different grout colours or a feature wall.
Electrics and ventilation
Lighting and extraction are checked and updated as needed, particularly in older bathrooms where the extractor fan may be underpowered for the room or wired in a way that no longer meets good practice. Updating ventilation during a refit helps prevent the condensation and mould issues that often come with tired, poorly ventilated bathrooms.
Finishing and snagging
The new suite, taps and fittings are installed, sealant applied, and the room decorated where needed. A final check covers every joint, the shower and bath drainage, and extraction performance, with any snagging resolved before the job is signed off.
Renovations beyond a straight refit
Some renovations sit between a refit and a full installation, for example replacing a bath with a shower enclosure in the same footprint, or upgrading a small cloakroom into a more usable shower room without moving the WC or basin. These jobs keep the layout largely intact but involve more than a like-for-like swap, and benefit from the same coordinated approach to plumbing, tiling and finishing as a larger project.
Related services
Bathroom Refits & Renovations near you
Good to know
Bathroom Refits & Renovations questions, answered.
Can't see your question? Call Mitchell on 07810 646762 or send an enquiry.
How long does a typical bathroom refit take?
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Most refits take around a week, sometimes a little longer if the strip-out reveals issues that need addressing before retiling can begin. Because the layout is not changing, refits are generally quicker than a full installation.
Can I keep my existing bathroom layout during a refit?
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Yes, that is the point of a refit rather than a full installation. Pipework and waste runs stay largely where they are, with new fittings, tiling and finishes going in around the existing layout.
How long should a refitted bathroom last before needing work again?
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A well-executed refit with proper tanking, tiling and fittings should give many years of reliable use before another refresh is needed, though this depends on daily use, ventilation and how well the room is maintained.
Do you carry out refits outside Reading?
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Yes, refits and renovations are carried out across Reading, High Wycombe, Maidenhead, Marlow, Beaconsfield, Wokingham, Henley-on-Thames, Bracknell and Chalfont St Giles.
What if the strip-out finds a problem with the pipework?
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Any issues found once the old suite is removed, such as ageing pipework or damp affecting the subfloor, are raised and dealt with as part of the job. Customers have had refits delivered on time even where unforeseen extra work came up during the process.
What do you charge to come out?
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Our call-out is £85 including VAT, plus £85 including VAT for the first hour of work. You'll know the price of anything beyond that before we start.
How do payments work on bigger jobs?
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Larger jobs such as a bathroom refits & renovations project are booked in with a 5% deposit, then paid daily as the work progresses, so you're never paying far ahead of what's been done.
Is the work guaranteed?
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Yes. Our workmanship is guaranteed for 2 years.
Are you insured?
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Yes. We hold £10 million public liability and £10 million employer's liability insurance.
Can you come out in an emergency?
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Yes. Emergency call-outs run 24/7 and we guarantee same-day service. Call 07810 646762. Standard working hours are 8am to 5pm.
Ready to refresh your bathroom?
Get in touch to arrange a look at your existing bathroom and discuss what a refit would involve.
Next step
Get it fixed properly,
without the wait.
Tell us what you need and Mitchell will get back to you quickly. Same-day service guaranteed, clear prices before we start, and a 2-year guarantee on our work.
Prefer to talk? Call Mitchell07810 646762Emergency call-outs 24/7 · Standard hours 8am–5pm