Words: Francesca Seden

With installers now difficult to find, and good installers often booked up for months, easy-fit solutions for the bathroom are becoming increasingly necessary. Products that have been designed not just with ease of installation in mind but with the idea that the fitter may be short on both time and experience.

Every element of the bathroom now has a hassle-free solution – from sanitaryware to shower enclosures, and even lighting. There’s no question that the drive to make installation easier is, in part, driven by the lack of installers. Recently, BiKBBI CEO Damian Walters, highlighted the problem as he revealed the results of the institute’s 2025 Installer Survey.

“The data suggests that fewer than 20% of installers are actively seeking work through external marketing efforts,” he said. “That means more than 80% have enough work in the pipeline through organic channels and word-of-mouth recommendations. I believe this should be very concerning for any retailer offering installation as part of their proposition.

“Why? Because we know the workforce is ageing – something we’ve been highlighting for many years. This year’s survey shows the problem is getting worse, with installers aged over 65 increasing by 3.6% year-on-year. Of course, as each year passes, that may seem like an obvious statistic. But in many sectors, these figures are balanced by a new wave of next-generation tradespeople. In our case, that’s just not happening. It’s yet another sign that we’re failing to replenish the workforce from the ground up.”

So, with installers becoming increasingly scarce, their feedback about the every-day issues they face, as well as their input as to what solutions would best help them, are vital to research and development of new products. In fact, suppliers are falling over themselves to put the installer closer to the heart of what they do.

Installer focus

Acquabella brand manager, Belén López, says that the brand has specialists “dedicated to listening to the installer community and identifying needs from installers and projects.” Others note how products have been developed as a direct consequence to installer comments and feedback. Roman’s Fast Fix assembly system for some of its enclosures is among these, as is Laufen’s EasyFit 3.0 – a system for wall-hung toilet installation. Wetwall’s Elite collection of bathroom panels, whose post-formed, trim-free edges and tongue and groove joints were a direct response to feedback from installers.

Hib has its own in-house installation team, who it works alongside to develop products, which is complemented by the wider installer community. The brand says it “helps us to identify where improvements can make a real difference.”

In addition to looking for installer feedback, Showerwall carries out “extensive testing with trained installers on any new product development prior to launch,” says Katie Cope, head of Showerwall.

“Easy-fit solutions also helps to make your brand accessible,” Cope adds, “as your product isn’t intimidating and you can reach as many people as possible by removing installation complexity as a barrier.”

Additionally, notes Francisc Pentek, product category manager for Sonas Bathrooms, “the rising cost of labour means that efficiency is more important than ever.”

Speaking of Laufen’s aforementioned EasyFit 3.0 system, brand marketing manager, Natalie Bird, notes how they help speed up installation, reduce the risk of errors, and allow for one-person fitting – saving time and labour costs. “They help future-proof installations by making the process accessible to newer professionals entering the industry. As homeowners place increasing value on clean aesthetics and performance, easy-fit systems ensure those results can be delivered consistently and efficiently.”

Amanda Mills, marketing manager, SFA Saniflo UK, adds that in addition to helping installers complete more jobs in less time, while reducing risk of errors, easy-fit solutions also make bathroom upgrades viable for customers who might otherwise delay due to perceived disruption. Mill’s point is an important one. Bathroom renovations, especially for those families who only have the one bathroom, are incredibly disruptive.

There’s not only a shortage of installers and plumbers to consider. All of the trades are suffering from this problem, so shower panels, like those offered by Showerwall and Multipanel have the obvious benefit of not needing any tiling and grouting skills. Multipanel marketing manager, Lidia Kane, adds that these panels, which replace tiles, are an attractive proposition for retailers who are looking to take on a greater volume of projects and increase sales.

Finally, the installer, according to a Bathroom Association study, holds a lot of sway with the customers they fit for. It found that 95% of bathroom installers said their customers would be ‘very likely’ or ‘quite likely’ to ask for their advice specifically for shower screens or trays.

Flair Showers marketing manager, Gillian Furey, says: “To meet the demands of the consumer and improve efficiency for the installer, products not only have to be high quality and stylish, but also simple and safe to install.”

Shorter installation times ultimately mean shorter, easier jobs, overall reduced costs, and improved profitability for contractors. The Bathroom Association study demonstrates that if the installer doesn’t like it, it might not even have a chance of getting in front of the consumer, particularly for more fiddly products. The easier the fit, the easier the job is all round – brands will sell more and the customer will be left happy at the end of the project.

---

Easy illumination

Lighting is also a key element to any bathroom. Here, Sensio and Sycamore Lighting offer their easy-fit ideas…

Sensio marketing lead, Jenniefer Roberts-Holt, comments: “We don’t just innovate for the sake of it, we innovate to solve real problems. That means creating products that are quicker to install, more reliable, and easier for retailers to specify and sell.

“In today’s market, time is money both for installers and the end user. The demand for easy-fit solutions is growing because they reduce time on site, cut out complex wiring or preparation work, and offer hassle-free upgrades for renovation projects.”

Jane Hensey, sales director at Sycamore Lighting says: “Feedback from customers is our number one consideration. Common challenges that installers and retailers face include the complexity of an installation, time restraints, and the risk of property damage to tiles or walls, which drives the need for simpler and time saving solutions.

“The main reason to offer such products is to ultimately save the installer time and money. Easy-fit products also generally require fewer materials and tools to fit which in turn reduces costs and generates less waste.”