More than a third of plumbers and installers say they’ve seen an increased recent demand for full bathroom renovations and installations, according to new research from City Plumbing.
According to the retailer’s new Taking the Temperature Report, which recently polled 500 tradespeople, as many as 35% of plumbers and heating installers said that they had noticed there was currently a rising demand for bathroom renovations.
Additionally, a quarter of those polled in City Plumbing’s new research said requests for home repair work is increasing, and another 34% said they had noticed an even split between customers wanting to renovate and repair.
Participants said the top motivator for new renovations was actually function, instead of style. Four-in-ten installers (42%) said their customers wanted to adapt their bathrooms to better suit changing mobility needs or lifestyle changes.
However, aesthetic style is still an important driver for homeowners, with 30% of installers saying that their customers want “a more modern look”.
“This shift between renovation and repair shows how homeowners are balancing aspirations and long-term planning with budgets and environmental impact,” said Steve Smith, managing director of Bathrooms at City Plumbing. “Installers have a great opportunity to offer solutions that meet these needs – whether that’s a full bathroom upgrade to improve accessibility, or simple repairs to extend the life of existing fixtures.”
This research also backs up findings from B&Q earlier this year, which found that two thirds of UK homeowners (61%) reportedly plan to stay in their current home for five years or more. The national DIY retailer says that this is indicative of how the majority of people are now more focused on creating their dream homes instead of moving.
