Quick answer
Yes. A reputable bathroom fitter gives you a written workmanship guarantee covering the labour and installation, and you also get manufacturer warranties on the products themselves — the suite, brassware and shower. The two work together: one stands behind how it was fitted, the other behind the kit that was fitted.
Two different guarantees on one bathroom
This is where a lot of confusion creeps in, so it’s worth being clear from the start. A new bathroom is protected by two separate things, and they cover different problems. Knowing which is which means you’ll always know who to ring if something isn’t right.
1 · Workmanship guarantee
This comes from the fitter and covers the labour — the plumbing, tiling, tanking and installation. If a joint weeps, a tile lifts or a seal fails because of how it was fitted, that’s a workmanship issue and your fitter puts it right at no cost to you. This is the part that depends entirely on the person who did the work still being around to honour it.
2 · Manufacturer warranties
These come with the products and cover faults in the goods themselves — a cracked ceramic, a failed shower valve, a dripping tap that’s faulty rather than worn. The bath, basin, toilet, brassware and shower each carry their own warranty from the brand that made them, and durations vary from product to product.
So if your tap is leaking, the question is simply: is it leaking because of how it was plumbed in (workmanship), or because the cartridge inside it has failed (manufacturer)? A good fitter helps you work that out and points you to the right cover — they don’t leave you to fight it alone. See what’s included in a full bathroom installation.
What a guarantee should look like
The single most important thing is that it’s in writing. A handshake and a friendly “don’t worry, I’ll sort it” is worth nothing the day there’s a problem and the number rings out. A proper guarantee is part of your handover pack, and it should spell out the basics clearly.
What it should state
- Who is giving the guarantee, and how to contact them
- What it covers — the workmanship and installation
- How long it runs for, from the date of completion
- What’s excluded, in plain English
- How to make a claim if you need to
Manufacturer warranties typically run several years and vary by product and brand, so durations are best confirmed against the paperwork that comes with each item rather than a number anyone quotes off the cuff. We hand over all of it together so it’s in one place.
Your handover pack brings the written workmanship guarantee and every product warranty together in one place — so there’s no digging for paperwork if you ever need it.
What’s covered — and what isn’t
No guarantee covers everything forever, and any fitter who claims otherwise isn’t being straight with you. The honest picture is that a guarantee covers defects — not the normal life of a bathroom or things that go wrong through use. Here’s the line, drawn clearly.
Typically covered
- Leaks from joints, waste runs or connections we made
- Tiles that lift or grout that fails through poor fixing
- Tanking or seals that let go where they shouldn’t
- Fittings that work loose because of installation
- Faulty products, via the manufacturer’s warranty
Not covered
- Fair wear and tear over the years
- Damage from misuse or accidental knocks
- Sealant maintenance — silicone is a wear item you top up
- Limescale, blocked traps and general upkeep
- Work or alterations done by someone else afterwards
That sealant point catches people out, so it’s worth saying plainly: silicone around a bath or shower is a maintenance item, like the grout in a kitchen. It’s normal for it to need refreshing over time, and keeping on top of it is part of looking after the room. Our guide to looking after a new bathroom walks through the few small habits that keep everything in guarantee-worthy shape.
How to claim if something goes wrong
A guarantee is only as useful as the process behind it. Ours is deliberately simple — one phone call, no forms to wrestle with, no being passed around.
Call us first
Ring the same number you’ve always used and tell us what’s happening. We’ll work out together whether it’s a workmanship issue or a product fault.
We come and look
If it’s our workmanship, we come back and put it right at no cost to you, within the guarantee period. No quibbling, no invoice.
Products go to the maker
If it’s a faulty product, we help you raise it under the manufacturer’s warranty and handle the fiddly part, so you’re not on hold to a brand on your own.
If you’re ever unsure where a problem sits, start with our what-if-something-goes-wrong guide — it talks you through the first steps before you even pick up the phone.
Why a guarantee is only as good as the fitter
Here’s the uncomfortable truth nobody likes to say out loud. A workmanship guarantee is a promise from a person, not a magic certificate. If the fitter who wrote it has wound up the business, changed their number or moved on, that promise is worth exactly nothing — and you’d be amazed how often that’s the case with the cheapest quote on the street.
So when you’re comparing fitters, look past the length of the guarantee and ask the harder question: is this a business that’ll still be trading, and still answering the phone, in a few years’ time? An established local name with a real address, proper cover and a track record in Plymouth is a far safer bet than a longer guarantee from someone you can’t be sure you’ll be able to find. That’s also why a guarantee and the right insurance cover go hand in hand — they protect you in different ways.
For the wider picture on budgeting a project — including the value of buying once and buying well — see our guide to bathroom costs in Plymouth, or browse the common questions on our FAQs page.
Common questions about bathroom guarantees
Is the guarantee in writing?
It should be, and ours is. A written workmanship guarantee forms part of your handover pack and sets out who’s giving it, what it covers, how long it runs and how to claim. A verbal promise is impossible to rely on the day you actually need it, so always ask for it on paper before work starts.
Does the guarantee cover the products as well as the fitting?
The workmanship guarantee covers the fitting — the labour and installation. The products themselves are covered by separate manufacturer warranties that come with the suite, brassware and shower. We hand over both together so everything’s in one place, and we help you claim under the right one if there’s ever a problem.
What isn’t covered by a bathroom guarantee?
Fair wear and tear, accidental damage and misuse aren’t covered, and neither is routine upkeep like refreshing silicone sealant, which is a normal maintenance item rather than a fault. Work later carried out by someone else can also affect cover. A good guarantee covers genuine defects in workmanship or products, not the everyday life of the room.
How do I make a claim on my guarantee?
Just call us on the same number you’ve always used and explain what’s happening. If it’s a workmanship issue within the guarantee period we come back and fix it at no cost to you. If it’s a faulty product, we help you raise it under the manufacturer’s warranty so you’re not dealing with the brand on your own.
Peace of mind, in writing
A bathroom backed by people who’ll still be here
Ask us anything about our workmanship guarantee and the warranties on your products — we’ll explain it all in plain English before you commit to a thing.