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Our latest guides, news and tips from our 20 years in bathrooms and wet rooms.
Freestanding baths have made a serious comeback in recent years. Once considered a luxury found only in period homes an boutique hotels, they’re now found in bathrooms of all shapes and sizes. We have found that a retro roll top really suit some of the period properties around Yorkshire when combined with a sympathetic renovation. But are they a practical choice, or just a passing trend? The visual impact of a freestanding bath can’t be beat. There is something magical about the look of a smart bath with space around it. For customers looking to create a spa-like feel at home, it’s often high on the wishlist. There’s a wide variety of designs on the market, from classic roll tops with claw feet to modern, minimalist tubs with sleek lines and matte finishes. As a bathroom fitter, it’s always rewarding to install something that transforms a space so dramatically. Space needs to be a consideration. Freestanding baths usually require more room around them compared to built-in alternatives. You need clearance on all sides, not just for aesthetics, but for cleaning and maintenance too. In smaller UK homes, this can be a challenge. A bath squeezed up against a wall or radiator doesn’t just look wrong – it can be a nightmare for the homeowner when it comes to cleaning behind it or dealing with plumbing access. We would advise against this typically. Installation is another point that needs careful planning. With a standard built-in bath, pipework is typically hidden behind panels or within walls. With a freestanding model, everything’s on show or needs to be concealed beneath the floor or on show with designer pipework. This adds time and complexity to the job, and that adds cost! Floor reinforcement may also be necessary, especially for heavier cast iron baths or loft installations. Many suppliers now offer more lightweight acrylic models that are easier to install and maintain. Some even come with integrated waste and overflow systems, which can make the plumbing side a bit more straightforward. For a showpiece in a guest bathroom, a freestanding bath is a brilliant choice. For a busy family bathroom? It might not be the most practical. Another point worth noting is the taps. Wall-mounted or floor-mounted taps are common with freestanding baths but both require careful positioning. A floor mounted option in particular can add to the overall cost and complexity, especially in homes with solid floors. In the end, whether a freestanding bath is a good idea comes down to balancing style with lifestyle. As a bathroom fitter, it’s about helping homeowners make informed choices – ensuring the bath not only looks fantastic but functions well for their needs. And when done right, there’s no doubt a freestanding bath can take a bathroom from ordinary to outstanding.
Is CORGI Register Still Valid? If you’ve been a home owner for a while, you might remember the days when the CORGI Register was the standard for gas safety in the UK. The little orange logo used to be everywhere, on vans, ID cards and invoices. But now, no, CORGI is no longer the official gas safety register in the UK. But there's a bit more to this! If you're hiring a tradesperson for work involving gas, be that a boiler replacement, a new gas hob, A gas fire or even relocating a gas pipe, it’s really importantn to know who’s qualified and what to look out for. What Was CORGI? CORGI stands for the Council for Registered Gas Installers. It was set up back in 1970 in response to a number of serious gas related incidents across the country. Its purpose was to register gas engineers and make sure they were competent, safe, and working to national standards. For nearly four decades, CORGI was the body responsible for making sure anyone working with gas appliances in homes and businesses was trained and certified. What Happened to CORGI? In April 2009, the responsibility for gas safety in the UK shifted from CORGI to a new body: the Gas Safe Register. This change was made by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the government authority responsible for regulating workplace health and safety. The move wasn’t due to any major failings by CORGI but was part of a wider government review into how the industry could be regulated more effectively. The Gas Safe Register took over the official role of regulating gas engineers and has been the recognised standard ever since. If a plumber or heating engineer tells you today that they’re “CORGI registered,” they’re either behind the times or possibly trying to trade off the old brand recognition. While some engineers may still have CORGI ID cards from years ago, these are no longer valid for carrying out gas work legally in the UK. So Who Should You Be Hiring Now? When you need any work done involving gas—installing a boiler, moving a gas pipe, servicing a fire—you must use an engineer who is Gas Safe registered. This is the legal requirement, and it’s there for good reason. Gas Safe engineers carry a yellow ID card that shows their registration number, their photo, and a list of the types of work they’re qualified to do. It’s a good habit to ask to see this card before any work starts. Don’t worry about offending anyone, any legitimate professional will expect it. What About Plumbers and Bathroom Fitters? Here’s where things can get a little confusing. Many plumbing jobs have nothing to do with gas at all. Installing a new shower, fitting a toilet, or replacing radiators. As these don't touch gas a Gas Safe registered person is not needed. Just to ass a little more confusion, even within the Gas Safe Register, engineers are only qualified for certain types of work. Some specialise in domestic boilers, others in commercial systems or LPG appliances. Their ID card will tell you exactly what they’re allowed to do! Why Does the Confusion Persist? Even though CORGI hasn’t been the official body for over 15 years, the name still pops up from time to time. That’s largely because it was around for so long and built up a lot of trust with the public. Some engineers still mention it on websites or business cards. And some homeowners who haven’t had major work done in a while may not have heard about the change. But times have moved on, and the Gas Safe Register is now the only body that matters when it comes to gas safety. It’s the name to look for, and it’s backed by the HSE. For extra peace of mind, you can even check an engineer’s registration online at the Gas Safe Register website, just by typing in their ID number. Here at GW Plumbing, with the exception of apprenteices (who are supervised at all time), we are all gas safe registered so any job is fully covered.
If you’re planning a bathroom make over, it’s natural to wonder where most of your budget will go. Whether you’re giving a tired bathroom a fresh look or going for a full redesign, understanding and planning for the costs involved can help you amake the best choices. Of course We here at GW Plumbing will be here to help along the way too! While every job is different, depending on the size of the room, the complexity of the work, and the quality of the materials chosen, there’s usually one part of the process that takes up the largest chunk of the budget: the labour! Labour: The Hidden Heavyweight Many assume the most expensive part of a bathroom renovation will be the bath, tiles, or high-end taps. But in most cases, it’s the labour that makes up the biggest portion of the overall cost – sometimes as much as 50% or more. But thats for a very good reason, fitting a bathroom isn’t just a one-person job. It involves a range of skilled tradespeople: plumbers, electricians, tilers, plasterers, decorators, and some times a joiner too. Each has their own specialist role, and coordinating them takes time and planning. They are all very tricky jobs and to get the best bathroom you need the best people. If you’re moving things around – like relocating the toilet or converting a standard bath to a walk-in shower – the costs add up. Moving pipework can be complex and time-consuming, particularly in older homes where existing plumbing may need upgrading to meet current standards. Electrical work is another key factor. Bathrooms are considered ‘special locations’ under UK wiring regulations, meaning any electrical work needs to comply with Part P of the Building Regulations. Whether it’s installing an extractor fan, LED spotlights, underfloor heating or a new shaver socket, this work needs to be done safely and signed off properly. Hiring an experienced bathroom fitting company such as GW Plumbing, you can make things more efficient due to the skills available in the team. The benefit, though, is peace of mind – knowing the work is done to a professional standard, complies with all regulations, and won’t cause problems later. Tiling and Flooring: Time-Consuming and Labour-Intensive The cost of tiles varies widely, with premium porcelain or natural stone options costing significantly more than ceramic, but the real cost often lies in the time it takes to install them properly and cutting corners here can result in a poorly finished bathroom. Precision matters in tiling – especially around tricky areas like corners, niches, and pipework. The more intricate the layout, the more time it takes. Large-format tiles need careful handling and cutting, while smaller tiles or mosaics demand precision and patience. Flooring, especially if you’re choosing underfloor heating or laying tiles on uneven surfaces, can add further labour and material costs. Proper subfloor preparation is essential to avoid future problems like cracked tiles or water ingress. Your Suite: Quality Makes a Difference While labour is usually the biggest single cost, the bathroom suite itself – your bath, shower, toilet, basin and fittings – can also take up a fair chunk of the budget, particularly if you’re drawn to luxury brands or bespoke designs. We can offer help and advice on high quality items at good value prices. Freestanding baths, waterfall showers, sensor taps and wall-hung units all add style, but they also come with higher price tags. Not just in terms of the items themselves, but also the installation. Wall-hung toilets and basins, for example, need concealed cisterns and reinforced walls, which means more work behind the scenes. That said, it’s often worth investing in better-quality fixtures. Cheaper fittings may save money upfront, but they’re less likely to stand the test of time, meaning you could end up paying more in repairs or replacements a few years down the line - or just not have as high quality bathroom! Unexpected Extras One area that can tip a bathroom install over budget is the unexpected. Once tiles are pulled off or floors are lifted, hidden issues like damp, rotten joists, or outdated wiring sometimes emerge – especially in older properties. That’s why it’s wise to keep a contingency fund of around 10–15% of your total budget. We can check for a lot of things but even best laid plans sometimes throw up unexpected issues. There are also finishing touches that are easy to overlook in the initial planning stages but can add up fast. Things like towel warmers, mirrors with built-in lighting, storage units for example can be the finishing touches to make a room. Utilise an experianced and reputable company such as GW Plumbing and Heating to ensure your new bathroom is the best bathroom!