Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Bathroom Fitter
Published 14 May 2026 · Bridgnorth Bathroom Fitters
The quote tells you the price. The questions tell you whether you’re hiring someone who’ll do the job properly.
Below are fifteen specific questions we’d suggest asking any bathroom fitter before you commit. Listen to the answers — confident, specific responses are a good sign. Vague, defensive or dismissive answers are a warning.
Questions about the business
1. How long have you been trading and where are you based?
A genuine local business will answer this immediately and specifically. “Five years, based in Bridgnorth, here’s our address.” Hesitation, vague answers like “we cover the whole Midlands” or a PO Box-style address should raise an eyebrow — particularly if the website implies stronger local roots.
2. Are you VAT registered?
Most established bathroom firms are VAT registered (turnover above £90,000 requires it). VAT registration is not a quality guarantee, but it tells you the business is a real business at a sensible scale. A trader who insists on cash to “save the VAT” is almost certainly off the books — meaning no recourse if anything goes wrong.
3. Can you show me your public liability insurance?
You want £5 million minimum. Ask to see the certificate, not just a statement. Note the underwriter (Aviva, Hiscox and Zurich are common), the policy number and the expiry date.
4. Who actually does the work — you, employees, or subcontractors?
Both employed and subcontract models can work, but you should know which it is. Subcontracted work isn’t bad — many good fitters use trusted subbies — but you want consistency on your job. “It’s me and one apprentice, with a Gas Safe plumber and NICEIC electrician we always use” is a healthier answer than “depends who’s free that week.”
Questions about credentials
5. Who handles your electrical work?
The answer should mention NICEIC or NAPIT registration. Electrical work in a bathroom is Part P notifiable. The certificates matter when you sell the house — and they protect you legally.
6. What about gas, if it’s needed?
If your job touches the boiler flue or gas supply at all, you need a Gas Safe engineer. Anyone working on gas should have a Gas Safe ID card.
7. What guarantee do you offer?
12 months workmanship guarantee should be the absolute minimum. Some fitters offer 5- or 10-year insurance-backed guarantees (these cost extra to set up but provide cover if the original fitter ceases trading). Either is fine — but a verbal “yes we guarantee our work” with nothing in writing is worthless.
Questions about the quote
8. Will the quote be itemised and in writing?
The answer should be an unqualified yes. Ask for: strip-out, suite cost (with brand/model), brassware cost (with brand/model), tile cost and labour separately, plumbing labour, electrical labour, plastering, decoration, waste removal. If a fitter resists itemising, they’re either not used to working this way or have something to hide.
9. What’s specifically excluded from the quote?
Common exclusions to ask about: decoration in adjoining rooms, replacement of damaged floor structure, asbestos removal (rare but expensive if found), upgrades to the consumer unit if it’s old or non-RCD protected, work to repair pre-existing damp.
A good fitter is upfront about these. A bad one lets them become surprise extras.
10. What happens if you uncover something unexpected?
The answer you want: “We stop, photograph it, explain the options and costs, and only proceed once you’ve agreed.” The answer you don’t want: “Don’t worry, we’ll handle it” (meaning: a sudden invoice at the end).
Questions about the work itself
11. What’s the timeline, day by day?
A confident fitter can sketch out the week: strip-out and first-fix days 1–2, plastering day 3, tile prep day 4, tiling days 5–7, second fix days 8–9, snagging day 10. Real schedules don’t run perfectly, but a fitter who can map it out shows they’ve planned it.
12. Who will be on site each day, and what hours?
You’re letting people into your home. Knowing who they are, what time they arrive, what time they leave, and whether they’ll be there on Saturdays matters. Listen for “the same two of us throughout” — that’s the gold standard.
13. How do you protect the rest of the house?
Floor coverings on every route from front door to bathroom, dust sheets, doors closed, a daily sweep — these should all be standard. Ask. The answer reveals how the fitter treats homes.
14. Can I speak to a recent customer in the area?
Genuine local fitters will happily provide a reference. A real conversation with a recent customer reveals more than any written review. Ask the reference: did the job finish on time? Was the final price the quoted price? Would they use them again?
15. What’s the payment schedule?
Typical structure: 10–25% deposit on order, 25% at start of work, 25% at first-fix complete, balance on completion and sign-off. Be cautious of:
- Large deposits (over 30%)
- Full payment requested before completion
- Cash-only payment terms
- “Pay me directly” pressure to bypass the company structure
A few bonus questions for Bridgnorth properties
16. Have you worked on properties like mine before?
If you have a Victorian terrace, a Georgian townhouse in High Town, or an older village home, ask specifically about that property type. Cast iron pipework, lath and plaster walls, suspended timber floors and conservation considerations all benefit from a fitter who’s encountered them before.
17. How do you handle access in tricky areas like High Town?
Anyone who’s worked the older parts of Bridgnorth will have a sensible answer. They’ll mention parking, the time of day they typically deliver materials, the size of van they bring, and whether they need to use a smaller vehicle for the final approach.
What the answers tell you
You’re listening for specificity and confidence, not memorised sales scripts. A fitter who can answer fifteen pointed questions clearly is one who’s thought about how to run a job properly.
You’re also listening for honesty. “We don’t do gas work — we use a Gas Safe partner” is a better answer than vague claims. “Our quotes are sometimes inaccurate when we find unexpected issues” with a clear process for handling it is better than “we always quote the exact price.”
FAQ
Should I ask all fifteen? Pick the ones that matter most for your job. Insurance, certifications, written quote and references are non-negotiable. The rest are useful but conversational.
What if they get defensive? Walk away. A reputable fitter expects these questions. A fitter who finds them insulting is one you don’t want.
Should the questions be in writing or in person? Verbal at the site visit is usually best — you hear the tone. But you can also send a list ahead by email. Most good fitters appreciate prepared customers — it makes their job easier too.
Ready to interview a fitter?
If you’d like to put us through these questions, get in touch. We’ll book a free site visit and you can ask anything you like. No commitment.