Bathrooms & Wet Rooms
Tap replacement
TL;DR
A single tap swap is £85–£145 fitted (labour only, or plus £30–£300 for the tap itself). It's a 45-minute job on a modern basin with isolators fitted, or a 2-hour job on an old kitchen where we have to drain down. We always fit isolator valves under the tap so the next repair is a 5-minute job, not a 2-hour one.
Tap replacement sounds simple, but three things make it awkward: seized old fittings, no isolator valves under the sink, and mismatched tap-hole spacing between old and new. On a well-fitted modern kitchen it's an hour and done. On a 1970s bathroom with corroded compression joints, it's a completely different job.
This page covers what a proper tap swap looks like, honest prices, what to ask, and — critically — the mismatched fittings that catch DIY buyers out.
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What a proper tap replacement includes
We turn off at the isolators if fitted, or drain down at the stopcock if not. We remove the old tap with proper basin wrench (not mole-grips, which score the finish), clean off old sealant and limescale from the tap deck, fit new flexi-tails with correct washers, fit isolator valves under the sink if not already there, and test for weeping under pressure.
- Isolator valves fitted below every tap where missing
- Correct spanner / basin wrench — no scored porcelain or scratched brass
- New WRAS-approved flexi-tails and fibre washers on every joint
- Old sealant removed, deck cleaned, fresh sealant bead
- Pressure tested top and bottom of the tap before we leave
- Old taps taken away for recycling
Mismatched tap holes — the number one DIY problem
UK basins are usually 32mm single-hole, or drilled 3-hole at 180mm/200mm centres. Older basins can be at completely different spacings. Kitchen sinks are usually 32mm or 35mm. Before you buy a tap, measure the hole (or holes) and the spacing centre-to-centre. Buying online without measuring is the number one reason we get called out for 'this tap doesn't fit'.
Low pressure vs high pressure taps
If your hot water comes from a gravity-fed cylinder in the loft (older houses, no combi boiler), you need low-pressure taps. Most modern taps sold on Amazon and screwed to a big-box store shelf are high-pressure only, and will trickle if fitted to a gravity system. Check the tap's minimum bar rating before you buy — 0.1–0.5 bar for gravity, 1.0 bar+ for combi.
When to replace vs when to service
A dripping tap is usually a £10 cartridge or a 10p washer — cheaper to service than replace. But if the chrome is pitting, the cartridge is a discontinued size, or you just want a new look, replacement makes more sense. We'll always tell you honestly which is cheaper for your situation.
Before you commit — questions to ask any plumber
Tap swaps are low-value, high-frequency work and cowboys use them as loss leaders to get a foot in the door then find bigger problems. Ask these before you agree.
- Is the price fixed, or hourly + parts? (Fixed is normal for tap swaps.)
- Will you fit isolator valves as part of the job?
- What happens if the existing pipework is seized — is that extra?
- Do you supply the tap or do I? (Both are fine — just be clear.)
- Is the price VAT-inclusive?
- Are you insured, and can I have that in writing?
Typical prices
Real-world ranges from recent Northwest jobs. Your final price is confirmed in writing before any work starts.
| Item | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom basin tap — swap only | 85 – 125 | Isolators already fitted, 45–60 mins |
| Bathroom basin tap — swap with new isolators | 125 – 165 | Full drain-down avoided |
| Bath mixer tap — swap | 125 – 195 | 60–90 mins |
| Kitchen monobloc — swap | 125 – 195 | Awkward access under sink, 60–90 mins |
| Kitchen swan-neck / pull-out spray | 145 – 225 | More flexi-tail work |
| Boiling water tap install (Quooker etc.) | 285 – 425 | Plus tap unit — usually customer supplied |
| Full drain-down (no isolators, old system) | +45 – 85 | Added to any tap swap if needed |
| Tap unit — mid-range brand | 60 – 220 | Supplied at cost, no markup |
Kit & brands we use
For long-life bathroom taps we recommend Bristan, Roca, Ideal Standard or Grohe Eurosmart at the mid range, and Hansgrohe Talis or Vola if you want premium. For kitchens we like Franke, Grohe Blue and Quooker (if you want a boiling tap done properly).
Tap-swap red flags
- 'Free callout' then £200+ once they're at your door
- Trying to sell you a full pipe-run 'because the old one is furry'
- Refusing to fit isolator valves as part of the swap
- Cash only, no receipt
- Pressure-selling a bathroom refit off the back of a £95 tap job
Our promise on this job
Flat £50 diagnostic — deducted in full from any work booked. Fair, transparent quote before we start. If we can't fix the fault we diagnosed, we refund the diagnostic. All gas work is signed off by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Talk to KJ about tap replacement
Real triage in seconds. £50 diagnostic visit — refunded if we don't fix it.