Every installer knows the margins in bathroom projects are tight. One wrong choice, whether it’s on spec, materials, or install method, and you’re not just eating into profit, you’re adding hours of unpaid call-backs. Over time, those mistakes add up to lost income and frustrated clients.
Here are the five most common mistakes that drain time and profit on bathroom fit-outs, and how to avoid them with the right products and planning.
1. Cutting Corners on Bath Materials
The mistake: Choosing lightweight acrylic baths for high-use installs because they’re cheap and easy to carry. The result? Flexing, cracked sealant, and callbacks within months.
The fix: For family homes, rentals, or multi-user projects, go reinforced. Carronite baths, for example, are up to 3x stronger than standard acrylic, hold heat better, and bed down solid first time. That’s fewer leaks and less chance of being called back to refit.
Recommended: Carron Profile Single Ended Carronite Bath 1700 x 750mm
2. Misjudging Dimensions on Site
The mistake: Relying on “standard UK bath sizes” from spec sheets instead of site-specific measuring. Even 10mm off can mean wasted time trimming panels, chasing pipe runs, or re-ordering.
The fix: Always measure finished wall-to-wall and account for tolerances (2–3mm for acrylic flex, 5–10mm for wall unevenness). Products like 1700 x 700 straight baths remain the benchmark, but knowing when to spec compact 1500mm or a 1700 x 700 freestanding option will save time and avoid expensive rework.
3. Overlooking Shower Valve Choice
The mistake: Fitting manual valves in family or rental installs to save money. Manual systems are notorious for scald risks when pressure fluctuates — meaning unhappy customers and call-backs.
The fix: Thermostatic showers regulate water temperature automatically, preventing dangerous spikes. They’re especially critical in multi-user homes, hotels, or care environments. Anti-scald shut-off and preset temperature locks save you liability headaches.
4. Skipping the Small Fittings That Make the Job Last
The mistake: Going with generic fittings because “a coupler is a coupler.” When a cheap connector leaks six months later, the customer doesn’t blame the part, they blame you.
The fix: Stick with high-quality trade fittings. A 28mm compression coupler or 32mm blanking plug might look minor, but the right choice means no hidden leaks, no returns, and no late-night calls from frustrated clients.
5. Forgetting the End User’s Experience
The mistake: Delivering a bathroom that looks great on handover but quickly frustrates users, cold steel baths, awkward shower screens, or fiddly taps. That frustration comes back to you as negative reviews, or worse, lost repeat business.
The fix: Think long-term usability. Steel baths may look tough, but reinforced acrylic or Carronite offer better heat retention and comfort. For showers, consider folding or sliding screens for compact rooms instead of fixed bulky glass.
Final Word
Time is money on site. Cheap baths, undersized fittings, and corner-cutting installs might save you an hour upfront, but they’ll cost you double in rework, callbacks, and lost referrals.
By speccing durable materials like Carronite, thermostatic shower valves for safety, and trade-quality fittings that don’t fail, you protect your time, profit, and reputation.
Browse the full Allbits range and fit it once, fit it right.