Replacing a basin, tap or toilet: what to expect and what it costs

Swapping a basin, tap or WC is a half-day to one-day job for a competent plumber, as long as nothing unpleasant appears behind the old unit.

What the job actually involves

1. Isolate the water. If there are no isolation valves on the supplies, expect the plumber to fit them — a small extra that is always worth having.
2. Remove the old unit and any pedestal or vanity, and cap the waste.
3. Fit the new unit, connect supplies and waste, seal to the wall or worktop.
4. Test for leaks under pressure, then make good the silicone line.

What moves the price

• Fit only versus supply and fit. Buying your own basin and tap is fine, but buy them before the visit and check the tap hole count and the waste type.
• Moving the position. Anything that moves the waste more than a few centimetres becomes a pipework job, not a swap.
• Old pipework. Lead, imperial copper or corroded compression joints add time.
• Tiling and decorating. A new basin rarely covers the same footprint as the old one, so allow for tile repair or a small patch of paint.

Typical ranges

A like-for-like tap change is usually the cheapest visit a plumber makes. A basin and tap swap normally sits in the low hundreds for labour, plus the unit. A WC swap is similar, with more risk of surprises at the soil connection. Get a fixed price for the swap and an hourly rate for anything found behind the old unit.

Regulations and sensible checks

• No building control approval is needed for a like-for-like replacement, but new waste or a new soil connection must be done properly.
• Anything electrical in a bathroom — a shaver socket, a heated mirror, an extract fan — is notifiable work under Part P.
• Ask for the old unit and packaging to be taken away, or agree that you will deal with it.

What to do next

Photograph the existing unit, the pipework underneath and the tap holes, and send those with your brief. It removes most of the guesswork and gets you a firm price rather than a day rate.