A lot of homeowners assume that every bathroom installer is basically the same. Someone turns up with tools, rips out the old suite, fits the new one, and that’s job done. But if you’ve ever had a renovation go wrong, you’ll know there’s a massive difference between hiring a lone tradesperson and bringing in a fully established bathroom company. 

This isn’t about knocking sole traders. There are some brilliant ones out there. But there are things a one-person operation simply can’t offer, no matter how skilled they are, and it’s worth knowing the difference before you spend thousands on a room you use every day. 

Bathroom installation resources: One person vs. a Full team 

As the title suggests, a single fitter handles everything themselves, from ripping out the old suite to installing plumbing, electrics, tiling, flooring, and all the finishing details. Many are highly skilled, but there’s only so much one person can do in a day, and only so quickly they can react when the unexpected happens. 

A bathroom company works very differently. They usually have: 

• Multiple fitters, meaning quicker turnaround times 

• The ability to keep things moving if someone is off sick or delayed 

• Project support, so jobs don’t pause while decisions are made 

• Specialists who can step in when specific skills are needed 

This extra capacity often means your bathroom is finished faster and with fewer disruptions. If something goes wrong under the floor or behind a wall, which is especially common in older bathrooms, a team can keep things on track instead of halting the entire job. 

Accountability and guarantees 

The real test of any installer isn’t the day they finish, it’s three months later when you spot a tiny drip under the sink or a piece of silicone that needs redoing. With a one-man band, aftercare usually depends on how busy they are, whether they pick up the phone, and how far down their list you are. If they’re on a big job or away, you might be waiting a while. 

Bathroom companies tend to have proper aftercare in place: 

• Actual warranty paperwork 

• Someone in the office who logs issues 

• People who can come out even if your original fitter is tied up 

That difference can be the line between a five-minute fix and a three-week headache. 

Insurance and compliance 

Bathrooms involve two things that can cause big problems if something goes wrong: water and electrics. If a pipe bursts or an electrical connection isn’t compliant, insurance and certification become very important, very quickly. 

An established company will have: 

• Proper public liability insurance 

• Employer’s liability insurance (because they have staff) 

• Certified electricians 

• People who know building regs and follow them 

Plenty of sole traders do things properly too but you need to check. Some don’t carry enough insurance to cover a worst-case scenario, and that risk falls directly onto you as the homeowner. 

Skill breadth 

Bathrooms aren’t a single trade. They’re plumbing, electrics, carpentry, plastering, tiling, flooring, and sometimes even structural work. A one-man band might be solid at several of those things, but almost no one is equally strong at all of them. 

Companies usually build their team intentionally; the tiler tiles, the plumber plumbs, the electrician wires. The result tends to be neater finishes and fewer on-the-spot improvisations. 

A good example: 

If a fitter pulls up your old bath and finds rot in the floor, a company can send a carpenter in the next morning. A single installer either has to try and handle it themselves (which may or may not be their strong point) or pause the job while they find someone else. Those little delays add up, and the quality difference shows in the end result. 

A few things you should always ask before hiring anyone 

No matter who you’re considering, whether that’s a solo fitter or a full team, these questions will tell you everything you need to know: 

• What insurance do you have, and how much are you covered for? 

• Do you offer a written warranty? For how long? 

• Who handles aftercare if something goes wrong? 

• If you hit an electrical or plumbing issue, who deals with it? 

• How do you handle snags or unexpected discoveries? 

• How long has your business been running? 

You might feel a bit awkward asking so many questions but keep in mind that any good installer will be happy to answer them and confident in their answers. 

So… which should you choose? 

Both options can work. A skilled sole trader can be a great fit for a simple job or a small refresh. But when you’re investing thousands into a full bathroom renovation, with plumbing changes, electrics, tiling, and waterproofing, a company with a proper team behind it brings security that one person simply can’t match.  

Thinking about a new bathroom? Our team would love to chat. With more than 35 years’ experience, you’re in safe hands from start to finish.