Stockton-on-Tees Bathroom Installation and Refurbishment with Structural Floor Rebuild

Project Overview

Completed in January 2026, this technically demanding bathroom installation was delivered by our experienced bathroom fitters in Portrack, Stockton-on-Tees, as a complete bathroom refurbishment. The occupied terraced house required substantial structural floor reconstruction before the new bath, rainfall shower, wall-hung vanity, feature tiling and modern lighting could be installed.

The customers had lived with the existing bathroom for several years after purchasing the property. Its most unusual feature was a large whirlpool bath recessed through the bathroom floor and extending approximately 400–500 mm into a cupboard below.

Although the previous installation had been substantially supported, the sunken bath was uncomfortable and impractical for everyday use. The customers wanted it replaced with a conventional bath and proper overhead shower, together with a cleaner layout, improved lighting and easier-to-maintain fittings.

Removing the recessed bath revealed significant alterations to the original floor structure, making this considerably more complex than a standard bathroom replacement.

The completed project combined substantial structural reconstruction with carefully concealed plumbing, distinctive patterned flooring, vertical wood-effect tiling and coordinated matt-black fittings.

Work was completed on schedule over ten working days, from Monday to Friday across two consecutive weeks, with no weekend working.

The Original Bathroom

The original room contained:

• a large recessed whirlpool bath;
• a corner basin positioned beside the bath;
• a heated towel rail between the bath and basin;
• a WC in approximately its present position;
• old wall and floor tiling;
• an unusual boxed shower arrangement;
• existing ceiling lights and extractor fan.

The whirlpool bath projected well below the normal bathroom floor level. Its pumps, motors and electrical supply occupied the space beneath it, while the floor structure had been altered significantly to accommodate the installation.

Although visually unusual, the recessed bath made everyday bathing awkward and left the customers without the practical overhead shower they wanted.

Removing the Sunken Whirlpool Bath

A qualified electrician attended at the beginning of the project to disconnect the whirlpool bath safely from its electrical supply.

The motors and associated equipment were removed from underneath the bath, allowing the main bath body to be lifted back into the bathroom and removed from the property in one piece.

The remaining strip-out included:

• the old sanitaryware;
• the heated towel rail;
• all wall tiles;
• all floor tiles;
• the existing lighting;
• the extractor fan;
• redundant boxing and fittings.

All waste was transferred to an 8-yard skip positioned outside the property.

Once the bath had been removed, the full extent of the floor opening and previous structural alterations became visible.

Technically Demanding Floor Reconstruction

The original timber floor joists had been cut back completely to create the opening for the recessed bath.

Restoring a full, level and properly supported bathroom floor required substantial structural reconstruction before the new bathroom installation could begin.

New 8 × 2 structural timbers were used to extend the remaining joists. Each extension overlapped the existing timber by approximately 600 mm and was secured using substantial through-bolted fixings, washers and locking washers.

A new supporting timber was installed against the masonry wall. It was wrapped in a protective polythene membrane to separate the timber from direct contact with the masonry.

The supporting timber was secured into the brickwork using metal fixings and chemical resin anchoring. The extended floor joists were then connected to it using joist hangers.

Additional noggins were installed throughout the reconstructed area to strengthen the floor and reduce movement.

Once the new structure had been completed and levelled with the remaining joists, the full bathroom floor was covered with green moisture-resistant chipboard flooring.

This careful reconstruction converted the large opening left by the former whirlpool bath into a complete, level and securely supported bathroom floor.

Floor Preparation and Statement Tiling

The reconstructed chipboard floor was prepared for bathroom tiling using flexible tile adhesive.

HardieBacker cement boards were bedded into the adhesive and mechanically secured through to the chipboard, creating a rigid and stable tiling background over the reconstructed timber floor.

The finished floor features distinctive decorative tiles with a botanical leaf and woodland-inspired pattern.

Installed in a straight layout, the patterned tiles form a statement feature and provide a striking contrast against the vertical wood-effect wall tiling.

No underfloor heating formed part of this project.

New Layout and Concealed Plumbing

The new 1700 × 800 mm bath was installed in approximately the same part of the room as the original whirlpool bath, but at a practical conventional floor level.

The WC remained in its established position.

The basin was moved closer towards the bath, while the heated towel rail was relocated to the wall beside the bathroom door.

Most of the original bathroom plumbing was removed and rerouted. New hot and cold supplies were installed for the bath, shower and basin, while the heating pipes were redirected to the towel rail’s new position.

The bath waste route also required alteration because the former whirlpool-bath waste had been positioned considerably lower than the new conventional bath connection.

Pipework was concealed beneath the floor and within the walls wherever possible, supporting the cleaner and more refined appearance of the finished bathroom.

Carefully Supported Bath Installation

A 1700 × 800 mm acrylic bath was installed using our established bathroom fitting method.

Timber battens were fixed along the supporting walls beneath the bath edges. These provide continuous support and help minimise movement around the sealed bath perimeter.

The adjustable bath legs were positioned over 4 × 2 timber supports rather than standing directly on the floor.

The legs were secured to the supporting timbers to prevent movement and distribute the bath’s weight across a larger area. This reduces the risk of individual bath feet pressing into the floor over time.

A separate timber framework was constructed along the exposed side of the bath to support the customer-supplied flexible bath panel.

Before the panel was fitted, the complete area beneath the bath was thoroughly vacuumed and cleaned rather than being left with construction dust and debris.

A new bath filler, waste and trap were installed.

The customers chose not to fit a glass shower screen because they intended to use a shower curtain.

Matt-Black Rainfall Shower

A new exposed matt-black dual shower was installed above the bath, including a large rainfall shower head.

This provided the practical showering arrangement the customers had previously been missing.

A new boxed service section was formed beside the bath to accommodate the shower pipework and create a clean, accurately aligned surface for the full-height tiling.

The matt-black shower, bath fittings, tile trims, heated towel rail and accessories were carefully coordinated to create a consistent contemporary finish throughout the room.

Wall Preparation and Plastering

Following the strip-out, damaged sections of plasterboard were removed and replaced where required.

Other wall areas were repaired using bonding and patching materials. A high-quality deep-penetrating primer was then applied to seal and prepare the relevant surfaces.

The sections receiving tiles were prepared as suitable tiling backgrounds rather than being unnecessarily covered with finishing plaster.

The upper wall areas above the tiling, together with the ceiling, were plastered to create smooth surfaces ready for decoration.

Painting was not included because the customers planned to arrange their own decorator after the bathroom installation was completed.

Vertical Wood-Effect Wall Tiling

The bathroom walls were finished with 900 × 300 mm vertical wood-effect tiles.

The bath and shower area, including the newly constructed shower boxing, was tiled fully to the ceiling.

The vertical layout emphasises the height of the room and introduces warmth and natural texture against the patterned floor and matt-black fittings.

The wall behind the basin was tiled to approximately 1200 mm high after the customers decided during the project that they wanted additional protection around the washbasin.

They supplied the additional tiles, and the extra tiling was completed without any further labour charge.

Matt-black 10 mm tile trims were installed to complement the shower, bath fittings, heated towel rail and other coordinated details.

Wall-Hung Vanity and WC

A wall-hung vanity unit with a white basin was installed beside the bath.

The suspended design keeps the patterned floor visible beneath the furniture, helping the room feel more open while making the surrounding area easier to clean.

The hot, cold and waste connections were concealed within the wall to avoid exposed pipework beneath the vanity.

A modern close-coupled open-back WC was installed in approximately the same position as the previous toilet.

The simple sanitaryware arrangement allows the patterned floor, vertical wall tiles and black fittings to remain the main visual features.

Matt-Black Heated Towel Rail

A matt-black heated towel rail measuring approximately 1000 × 500 mm was installed on the wall beside the bathroom door.

The heating pipes were concealed beneath the floor and brought through the wall behind the radiator.

Matt-black corner valves were used so that no visible pipework obstructs the finished floor.

This creates a cleaner appearance, makes the surrounding area easier to maintain and reduces the possibility of exposed pipes being struck during routine cleaning.

Lighting, Mirror and Electrical Work

The electrician who disconnected the old whirlpool installation also completed the new bathroom electrical work.

New recessed ceiling spotlights were installed, together with two separate wall lights positioned on either side of an arched mirror.

The mirror itself was not illuminated. Instead, the matching wall lights provide balanced lighting around the vanity and create a strong finished feature above the basin.

Separate switching was provided for:

• the recessed ceiling spotlights;
• the two mirror lights;
• the extractor fan.

A fan isolator was also installed above the bathroom door.

The existing electrical installation had previously been altered, so additional time was required to trace and understand the circuits before the new first-fix and second-fix work could be completed correctly.

Humidity-Controlled Extractor Fan

The original extractor fan was replaced in the same position with a new axial fan incorporating timer and humidity-sensing functions.

The humidity sensor allows the fan to continue operating while elevated moisture remains within the room, even after the normal timed period has ended.

This provides more effective ventilation after bathing or showering and supports the long-term condition of the newly completed bathroom.

Improved Bedroom-Side Service Access

The previous whirlpool installation had been accessed through a large removable plywood section in the adjoining bedroom wall.

This section had previously been removed during emergency plumbing work and had been left looking unfinished.

The necessary service access was retained, the plywood section was refitted and a proper push-to-open PVC access hatch was installed.

The new hatch provides a considerably neater way to reach the bath plumbing without requiring a large section of the bedroom wall to be removed again.

This additional improvement was completed without an extra labour charge.

Protecting the Occupied Property

Because the customers remained in the house throughout the refurbishment, the complete access route was protected every working day.

Protection began at the entrance, including the internal doormat where required, and continued through the stairs and landing to the bathroom.

At the end of each working day, the protective sheets were lifted and the route was thoroughly vacuumed and cleaned.

This allowed the customers to continue using their occupied home safely and comfortably throughout the two-week programme.

Programme

The project was completed on schedule over ten working days.

Work took place:

• Monday to Friday during the first week;
• Monday to Friday during the second week;
• with no weekend working.

The programme included:

• complete strip-out;
• electrical disconnection and removal of the recessed whirlpool bath;
• substantial structural floor reconstruction;
• new chipboard flooring;
• plumbing and heating alterations;
• cement-board floor preparation;
• wall repairs and plastering;
• wall and floor tiling;
• bath, shower, vanity and WC installation;
• lighting and ventilation work;
• final fitting and finishing.

Completed High-Quality Bathroom

The completed bathroom replaced an awkward recessed whirlpool installation with a practical conventional bath, proper rainfall shower and securely reconstructed floor.

The finished room now includes:

• a structurally reconstructed and level floor;
• new 8 × 2 timber joist extensions and additional noggins;
• a standard-height 1700 × 800 mm acrylic bath;
• a carefully constructed bath-support system;
• a matt-black dual shower with rainfall head;
• vertical 900 × 300 mm wood-effect wall tiling;
• statement botanical-pattern floor tiles;
• a wall-hung vanity unit;
• concealed basin plumbing;
• a modern close-coupled WC;
• a relocated matt-black heated towel rail;
• recessed ceiling spotlights;
• separate feature lighting around the arched mirror;
• improved humidity-controlled ventilation;
• concealed plumbing and heating pipework;
• neater service access from the adjoining bedroom.

The combination of warm wood-effect wall tiles, distinctive patterned flooring and coordinated matt-black fittings gives the bathroom a refined contemporary appearance with considerable character.

More importantly, the visible finish is supported by extensive preparation beneath the surface, including substantial joist reconstruction, floor strengthening, carefully rerouted services and stable tiling backgrounds.

The customers were pleased with the completed result and later confirmed through their Google review that they remained very happy with how the bathroom had turned out.

See More of Our Work

Browse our other completed bathroom projects to see further high-quality installations, refurbishments and renovations completed across Teesside.

Homeowners planning a similar project can request a free bathroom survey to discuss the existing room, practical options and the required scope of work.