We fit wet rooms in West Derby and the surrounding L12 area. The process is the same whether you are replacing a bath upstairs or adapting a downstairs room: a call, a home visit, a written plan, then a carefully sequenced installation that usually takes around a week, depending on the room.
Before we visit: the phone call
West Derby customers usually call us for one of three reasons: the bath has become hard to get in and out of, someone is coming home from hospital, or the existing shower has leaked. On the call we ask who the room is for, what they need help with, the size of the room, whether it is upstairs or down, and whether an occupational therapist or the council is involved. That lets us turn up prepared.
The home visit
- Measure the room including ceiling height, window position and door width.
- Check the floor to see whether it is timber or concrete, and look for any signs of past leaks.
- Trace the drainage so we know the waste can run to the soil pipe with enough fall.
- Look at the walls for solid fixing points for rails and a fold-down seat.
- Talk through layout including where the shower controls, seat and screen should go for the person using them.
The written plan
After the visit you get a written quote and plan. It sets out what will be removed, how the floor will be formed, what goes on the walls, which fittings we propose and where. If the job is linked to a grant, we can put the plan against the occupational therapist’s recommendations so it is easy for the council to compare.
Installation week
The order of work is broadly:
- Strip out the old suite, tiles and flooring
- Form the floor and fall, fit the drain and run the waste
- Tank the floor and walls so the room is fully waterproofed
- Tile or fit wall panels and lay a slip-resistant floor finish
- Fit the shower, screen, toilet, basin, rails and seat
- Electrics for the shower, fan and any underfloor heating, carried out by a qualified electrician
We finish with a handover, showing you how the shower, drain cover and fan work and how to keep the drain clear.
Does West Derby housing cause any particular issues?
L12 has a broad mix of houses, from older properties around the village to inter-war and post-war semis and some bungalows. Upstairs bathrooms on timber floors are the most common job; a bungalow or a ground-floor extension may have a concrete floor needing a channel for the drain. Neither is unusual, but each needs the right method.
Grants in West Derby
West Derby is within Liverpool City Council’s boundary, so any Disabled Facilities Grant goes through them. See our DFG wet room page for the usual stages. If the room is for someone with significant mobility needs, read about our disabled wet room work, and if you are simply replacing a bath, the bath to shower conversion page may suit better.
We also work in nearby Childwall and Huyton. Find our full overview of walk-in wet rooms in Liverpool on the homepage.
Ready to talk about a West Derby wet room?
Phone 07777 659786 or send your details using the form. We will call you back, ask the questions above and arrange to come and look. Or start with our Liverpool wet room company page.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a wet room take in a West Derby semi?
Usually around a week for a typical upstairs bathroom, but it depends on the floor, how the waste runs and what we find when the old bathroom comes out. We give an expected timescale in the written plan and keep you informed if anything changes.
Can you have the room ready for someone leaving hospital?
We understand that discharge dates can be pressing and we will do what we reasonably can, but we cannot promise a particular date before we have seen the room. Call early, tell us the situation, and we will be straight with you about what is realistic.
What happens if you find a leak under the old bath?
It is fairly common. We show you what we have found, explain whether boards or joists need repairing and how that affects the plan, and agree it with you before carrying on. For leaking existing wet rooms, see our wet room repairs page.
Do I apply to Liverpool or Knowsley council for a grant in West Derby?
West Derby addresses are in Liverpool, so you would apply to Liverpool City Council. Some nearby areas, such as Huyton and Kirkby, are in Knowsley, which runs its own scheme. If you are unsure, check your council tax bill.