Bathroom Renovation in Brighton & Hove
Bathroom renovation needs careful waterproofing, ventilation, plumbing, tiling and finishing. In Brighton and Hove flats and older houses, the main risks are leaks, poor extraction, hidden rot, uneven walls, weak floors and previous bad repairs. A bathroom should be built to manage water properly, not just look good when first completed.
When This Service Is Needed
- The bathroom is dated, leaking or difficult to clean.
- Tiles are cracked, grout is failing or silicone keeps going mouldy.
- Ventilation is poor and condensation is damaging the room.
- You want a walk-in shower, wet room or improved layout.
- The bathroom is part of a wider renovation.
- A rental bathroom needs durable upgrading.
Brighton & Hove Property Context
Bathrooms in older Brighton properties often sit in rooms that were adapted later, not originally designed as bathrooms. Floors may need checking, walls may be uneven, pipe routes may be awkward and ventilation may be weak. In flats, leaks can affect neighbours below, so waterproofing and proper installation matter even more.
Waterproofing & Materials
| Area | Recommended Approach |
|---|---|
| Shower walls | Proper waterproof backing or tanking system |
| Floors | Stable, level and suitable substrate |
| Ventilation | Correct extractor fan and airflow route |
| Silicone and seals | High-quality sanitary sealant |
| Tiling | Correct adhesive and grout for the substrate |
How We Approach the Work
- 01Inspect the existing bathroom and look for leak damage.
- 02Check ventilation, plumbing routes, floor condition and wall condition.
- 03Strip out old sanitaryware, tiles and failed finishes.
- 04Repair walls, floors and hidden damage before refitting.
- 05Install plumbing, electrics and ventilation as required.
- 06Waterproof wet areas properly before tiling.
- 07Fit bath, shower, basin, WC, storage, lighting and heating.
- 08Tile, grout, seal and complete final testing.
Common Mistakes
The biggest mistake is relying on tiles to waterproof a bathroom. Tiles and grout are finishes, not the whole waterproofing system. Wet areas need proper preparation behind the visible surface.
Another mistake is ignoring extraction. A beautiful bathroom with poor ventilation will soon have mould, swollen joinery and failed silicone.
Building Regulations
Bathroom work may involve Building Regulations considerations around ventilation, electrical safety, drainage, hot water safety and structural support if floors or walls are altered. Electrical work in bathrooms needs particular care because water and electrics are a high-risk combination.
Cost Factors
- Bathroom size.
- Strip-out complexity.
- Plumbing changes.
- Electrical and ventilation work.
- Tile choice and tile area.
- Wet room versus standard bathroom.
- Hidden damage after strip-out.
- Quality of sanitaryware and fittings.
Bathrooms We've Built Across Brighton & Hove
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Bathrooms & KitchensBrighton
Luxury Bathroom — Handmade Green Metro Tiles & Walk-In Shower
The brief: The existing bathroom in this Brighton Victorian terrace had mould behind the tiles, a poorly fitted shower tray leaking into the floor structure, and a cracked ceramic WC. The client had tried sealing the grout twice — it kept coming back.
What we did: Full strip-out first. The floor had rotted through in one corner from the ongoing tray leak — treated and rebuilt properly before anything was fitted. Tanking system applied to the shower walls, then handmade green metro tiles set with tight white grout. Frameless glass walk-in shower, wooden floating vanity, lit mirror, and chrome heated towel rail. The extractor was undersized and hadn't been vented to outside — that was replaced too.
"The mould was never a tile problem — it was a ventilation and waterproofing problem. Fixing the surface without fixing the cause is just buying yourself another problem in two years."
Bathrooms & KitchensBrighton
Full Bathroom Fit-Out — Large Format Tiles & Recessed Lighting
The brief: Ground-floor flat with an original avocado suite and single-strip fluorescent light. The owner needed it modernised for a sale. Budget was moderate but they wanted it to look as good as possible.
What we did: Complete strip-out, floor and walls levelled and prepared, then large-format porcelain tiles laid floor-to-ceiling in the shower zone and continuing as a feature wall behind the bath. New bath positioned and boxed in with matching tile panel, recessed LED downlights throughout, and a frosted sash window fitted for privacy while keeping natural light. The whole job took four working days — no corners cut.
"Large format tiles are less forgiving than small ones — the substrate has to be absolutely flat or they'll hollow out and crack. That preparation work doesn't show, but it's what makes the difference."
Mould keeps coming back? Tiles lifting? Shower tray leaking?
Send photos of the room and the problem area. We'll assess whether it's a surface issue or something underneath.
Frequently Asked Questions
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We cover Brighton, Hove, Worthing, Lewes, Shoreham-by-Sea and the wider Sussex area. Call us or fill in the contact form.