Shower Installationin Reading and Nearby Areas
A new shower fitted properly, with the pipework, waste and enclosure all sized and installed to work reliably from day one.
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
Shower Installation
What shower installation covers
Shower installation covers fitting a new shower enclosure, tray and controls, along with the supply and waste pipework needed to run it properly. This can mean replacing a tired shower with a modern one in the same spot, converting a bath into a shower, adding a shower to a room that has never had one, or fitting a shower as part of a wider bathroom project. Each of these needs slightly different pipework and preparation, but all rely on the same core plumbing being done correctly.
This service suits homeowners upgrading an old, leaking or underpowered shower, those wanting to add a shower to an en suite or spare room, and anyone converting a bath into a walk-in shower to make a bathroom more practical, whether for daily convenience or to suit changing mobility needs. It is also a common addition when a loft conversion or extension creates a new bedroom that needs its own shower facility.
A new shower installation, rather than simply replacing worn parts, is generally needed when the existing pipework cannot deliver the pressure or flow the new shower needs, when a bath is being replaced with a shower entirely, when there has never been a shower in that location before, or when persistent leaks point to a failing tray or waste connection rather than a fixable seal. It is also the right route if you are changing from an electric shower to one fed from the hot water system, or the other way round.
Professional installation matters because a shower deals with a concentrated amount of water in a small space, day in day out. Getting the waste fall wrong, using an undersized pipe, or fitting a tray on an uneven base leads to standing water, slow draining or leaks that can go unnoticed until they have caused damage to the floor or ceiling below. Mitchell sizes and fits the pipework and tray correctly from the outset, and brings in a tiler for any tiling work needed around the new enclosure.
Why it matters
What goes wrong with poorly fitted showers
A poorly fitted shower rarely fails immediately. The common issues, a tray that is not quite level, a waste pipe with an inadequate fall, or a seal around the enclosure that has not been applied properly, tend to show up gradually as slow draining, water pooling at one edge of the tray, or damp patches appearing on a ceiling below the bathroom weeks or months later.
Left unaddressed, water finding its way past a failed seal or an undersized waste pipe works its way into the floor structure and the ceiling of the room below. This can mean rotting floor joists under the shower tray, a ceiling below staining or eventually collapsing, and mould developing inside wall cavities, all from what started as a small, fixable installation fault. By the time it is visible, the enclosure and tray usually need to come out again to get at the source of the problem.
The cost difference is significant. Correcting a poorly sloped waste pipe or a badly sealed tray at the time of installation is quick and inexpensive. Once that same fault has caused water damage to a ceiling, flooring or wall cavity, the repair involves replacing plasterboard, flooring and tiling in addition to correcting the original plumbing fault, on top of the disruption of having the bathroom out of action for longer.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Fitting a shower tray on an uneven base without checking it is properly level
- Undersizing the waste pipe or giving it too shallow a fall for reliable drainage
- Sealing an enclosure without waterproofing (tanking) the wall behind it first
- Choosing a high-flow shower without checking the existing pipework can actually supply it
- Ignoring slow-draining water instead of investigating the waste connection early
Our process
How your shower installation 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.
Fitted right, first time
Correct pipe sizing, a properly levelled tray and a tested waste connection mean the shower works reliably from the first use, rather than needing adjustments afterwards.
Electrics kept well away from risk
Where a shower includes electric elements or nearby lighting, wiring is carried out by an experienced electrician brought in for the job, kept clear of water paths and to a safe standard.
Built to handle daily use
Proper waterproofing behind the enclosure and a correctly sloped waste pipe mean the installation stands up to years of daily showering without leaks developing.
Avoids expensive water damage
Getting the tray, seals and waste right at installation avoids the far higher cost of repairing rotten flooring or a damaged ceiling caused by a slow, unnoticed leak.
Consistent water pressure and flow
Pipework is sized to suit the shower you are installing, so pressure and flow are matched to the fitting rather than being a compromise on whatever pipework happened to be there.
Guaranteed workmanship
Every shower installation is covered by a 2-year workmanship guarantee, with £10 million public liability and £10 million employer's liability insurance behind the job.
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 shower installation 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 shower installation is carried out
The right approach depends on whether this is a straightforward swap, a bath conversion, or an installation in a room that has never had a shower. Here is how the main variations are handled.
Assessing pipework and water pressure
Before any new shower goes in, the existing supply pipework and pressure are checked against what the new shower needs. Power showers and larger fixed shower heads need higher flow than older mixer showers, so pipework may need upgrading from the existing run to avoid a disappointing weak shower once it is installed. This check also identifies whether the hot water system itself, such as the cylinder, can keep up with demand if more than one outlet may be used at once.
Bath-to-shower conversions
Converting a bath into a walk-in or low-threshold shower involves removing the bath, adjusting the waste pipework to suit a shower tray's position and flow, and often reworking the tiling and tanking across a larger wall area than the original bath surround. This is a popular option for making a bathroom more practical day to day, and where mobility is a factor, a lower or level-access tray can be fitted, again with the waste pipework adjusted to maintain the correct fall.
Read more
New shower installations
Adding a shower where there has never been one, such as a new en suite off a bedroom, means running new supply and waste pipework from scratch to reach the location. This is more involved than a replacement, since pipe routes have to be planned through walls or floor voids, and a new waste connection is usually needed back to the existing stack. Tiling and, where needed, electrics for lighting or extraction are coordinated alongside the plumbing.
Trays, enclosures and waste connections
The shower tray is set level on a solid, supported base, with the waste pipe connected and tested for flow before the enclosure or screen goes on top. Getting this right prevents the standing water and slow drainage that are among the most common shower complaints. Enclosure and screen choice, from framed to frameless glass, affects how the surrounding tiling and sealant lines are finished, which is planned before tiling begins.
Electric versus mixer showers
Electric showers heat water directly at the point of use and need a dedicated electrical supply, while mixer showers draw hot and cold water from the existing system and rely on that system's pressure. Switching from one type to the other affects both the pipework and the electrics needed, and is planned for at the outset rather than discovered partway through the job.
Tiling and finishing around the enclosure
Once the tray and pipework are tested, tiling and waterproofing are completed around the enclosure by an experienced subcontracted tiler, followed by fitting the screen or doors and applying sealant. A final check on drainage, water flow and temperature control completes the job before it is signed off.
Related services
Shower Installation near you
Good to know
Shower Installation questions, answered.
Can't see your question? Call Mitchell on 07810 646762 or send an enquiry.
How long does a shower installation take?
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A straightforward replacement in an existing location typically takes a day or two. Bath-to-shower conversions or new installations where pipework has to be run from scratch usually take longer, depending on tiling and pipe routing.
Can you convert my bath into a walk-in shower?
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Yes, this is a common job. It involves removing the bath, adjusting the waste pipework and tiling to suit the new tray, and fitting the enclosure, with a level-access option available where that suits your needs better.
How long does a properly installed shower last?
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A shower fitted with correctly sized pipework, a level tray and proper tanking behind the tiling should give many years of reliable daily use, with the fittings themselves eventually needing replacement before the underlying plumbing does.
Do you install showers outside Reading?
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Yes, shower installations are carried out across Reading, High Wycombe, Maidenhead, Marlow, Beaconsfield, Wokingham, Henley-on-Thames, Bracknell and Chalfont St Giles.
Can a shower be installed as part of a wider bathroom project?
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Yes, shower installation is often carried out alongside a full bathroom installation or refit, coordinated with the tiling, electrics and other fittings rather than as a separate job. One customer's shower installation included new pipework fitted at the same time as other bathroom work.
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 shower installation 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 for a new shower?
Get in touch to discuss your shower installation, whether it is a straightforward replacement or a full bath-to-shower conversion.
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