Bathroom Companies
Peaches asks:
Does anyone know of a good local bathroom design company? We've had a few astronomical quotes and are looking for something a bit more reasonable…..
The Phantom replies:
I have often found that the real money goes on the 'design' and 'project management' parts of the process in pretty much every area of redecoration. If you're prepared to get out a piece of paper and a pencil, do a few calculations, a little bit of research and take on talking and organising individual tradespeople, you can do it for a fraction of the cost of a company that takes on the entire 'project.'
It's what I generally do - it's just a case of making lists, getting recommendations for individual specialists - plasterers, plumbers, tilers etc and making careful arrangements. The only drawback I've found is that it tends to take a little longer (a lot longer if you're very unlucky) as you have to book workmen in advance and if one lets you down, the whole chain collapses (that is what you pay a project manager for - to be a rottweiler on your behalf.) But if you can afford the time, the upside is that the money you save on administrators you can plough into the chinaware, so the whole thing looks better.
One place that I found good for discount bathroom-ware is JEM, in the Angerstein trading park, on the peninsula. (squeezed in between See Woo and what used to be the quad-bike shop under the flyover. The rest of it seems to be catering supplies and bucket shops.) Don't expect obsequious servitude - it's a showroom - you wander round and ask questions and that's it. But the prices are good and the range not bad at all. There always used to be an ad in the local paper saying if you asked for various blokes (I can't remember, but try John, Dave, Bill - something generic like that) you'd get a further discount.
Water-loo by Hither Green Station isn't bad either. I ended up buying my bathroom-ware at Raymac in Welling; sadly if you really want to get something cheap, leg-work is a necessary part of the gig. There are about three discount tile-sheds in close proximity along the road that goes to ASDA in Charlton, and, first left off that road, going from towards Charlton from the Peninsula, there is a glass company that cuts all kinds of glass and mirrors to size. There's also a posh bathroom fittings shop, H2O in Charlton Road.
I'm afraid I can't help you with all-in companies. There are dozens of them around - just look in the free magazines - maybe someone can recommend somewhere...
Does anyone know of a good local bathroom design company? We've had a few astronomical quotes and are looking for something a bit more reasonable…..
The Phantom replies:
I have often found that the real money goes on the 'design' and 'project management' parts of the process in pretty much every area of redecoration. If you're prepared to get out a piece of paper and a pencil, do a few calculations, a little bit of research and take on talking and organising individual tradespeople, you can do it for a fraction of the cost of a company that takes on the entire 'project.'
It's what I generally do - it's just a case of making lists, getting recommendations for individual specialists - plasterers, plumbers, tilers etc and making careful arrangements. The only drawback I've found is that it tends to take a little longer (a lot longer if you're very unlucky) as you have to book workmen in advance and if one lets you down, the whole chain collapses (that is what you pay a project manager for - to be a rottweiler on your behalf.) But if you can afford the time, the upside is that the money you save on administrators you can plough into the chinaware, so the whole thing looks better.
One place that I found good for discount bathroom-ware is JEM, in the Angerstein trading park, on the peninsula. (squeezed in between See Woo and what used to be the quad-bike shop under the flyover. The rest of it seems to be catering supplies and bucket shops.) Don't expect obsequious servitude - it's a showroom - you wander round and ask questions and that's it. But the prices are good and the range not bad at all. There always used to be an ad in the local paper saying if you asked for various blokes (I can't remember, but try John, Dave, Bill - something generic like that) you'd get a further discount.
Water-loo by Hither Green Station isn't bad either. I ended up buying my bathroom-ware at Raymac in Welling; sadly if you really want to get something cheap, leg-work is a necessary part of the gig. There are about three discount tile-sheds in close proximity along the road that goes to ASDA in Charlton, and, first left off that road, going from towards Charlton from the Peninsula, there is a glass company that cuts all kinds of glass and mirrors to size. There's also a posh bathroom fittings shop, H2O in Charlton Road.
I'm afraid I can't help you with all-in companies. There are dozens of them around - just look in the free magazines - maybe someone can recommend somewhere...
Labels: Ask The Phantom, Services
posted by The Greenwich Phantom at
09:15
5 Comments:
I'll second the recommendation for JEM Bathroom Discount near Sainsbury's, and add a mention of HE Olby in Ladywell, the other bathroom place in Charlton (Bathroom Designs?), and the bathroom shop in Blackheath, on the left as you go up the hill from the station towards Lee.
In terms of tiles, the three TGP refers to are Topps Tiles, Tile Warehouse (?) and Tile Style - I found Tile Style to be the one that suited my views on range and service, and to have pretty reasonable prices.
Depending on how much legwork you want to do, it may be worth looking online for sanitary ware and (especially) taps etc - a lot of Ebay sellers are businesses using that as a shop window, so if you have a clear idea of what you want it can be worth finding keen prices on Ebay for related stuff then asking the sellers for a quote on what you really want.
In terms of making a cheap(ish) bathroom look special, cheap ceramics, expensive taps, and well laid tiles is the way to do it.
(Can also recommend a decent tiler if you want - not cheap though.)
We designed and just about fitted our bathroom ourself but bought all our fittings from Waterloo - with the exception of a large glass shower screen which was best value on the internet. Charlie at Waterloo was exceptionally helpful - let are happy to let you take lots of brochures and will spend time with you if you want to ponder! In terms of recommending design and fitting, friends of ours have just had two bathrooms redesigned and fitted by a builder who is apparently the brother of the owner of Waterloo. Apparently they started the company together years ago but the brother has now moved down towards Dartford and mainly does fitting. Our friends' bathrooms look SPECTACULAR! I'm sure Waterloo could let you know his details.
Thanks ever so for your comments everyone, very helpful.
John, if you could pass on the name of your tiler it would be appreciated.
And if anyone knows of a design company that are not too pricey that would also be appreciated as our bathroom requires a fairly complex solution and I'm not too sure that we're skilled enough to do it ourselves.
Thought I should warn people - just had an absolutely terrible experience with Bathroom Designs in Charlton and all I wanted was an electric shower! I'd recommend avoiding them like the plague. Took months just to get a start date, they then turned up and did a couple of pipes and then left for another couple of months, came back at their leisure and then left it half finished. All of this time I kept calling to find out what was going on, no-one ever called me back. Have now had to find someone else to finish the job.
Yep we've had a similar problem with Bathroom Designs in Charlton. The chap spent two hours with us - we wanted two new bathrooms and new kithchen. We had to chase and chase for the quotes - always coming tomorrow....
Anyway.. after three months we gave up - he gave us one quote for one bathroom and we still yet to see the other quotes. Exceptionally expensive - we can only think that they really didn't want the work!!
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