Bathroom Renovation in Balham
Full design-and-build bathrooms for Edwardian family houses and period flats across SW12 — design, plumbing, tiling and electrics handled by one team, one point of contact.
AXE Construction designs and installs complete bathrooms across Balham — from large Edwardian family houses around the Heaver Estate and Hyde Farm to bright period flats off Bedford Hill and Balham High Road. We handle the full job under one roof: strip-out, plumbing, electrics, tiling, joinery and finishing, with a single point of contact from first measure-up to handover. Most Balham bathroom renovations run three to five weeks on site, and because many homes here were built between 1895 and 1915, most involve some replanning rather than a like-for-like swap.
Why Balham homeowners pick AXE Construction
We've worked extensively across South London and understand how Balham's housing stock behaves. Edwardian terraces here often have deep floorboards over generous joist spans — a gift for recessed shower trays and underfloor heating without raising threshold heights.
The catch is that many of the same houses were split into flats in the 1980s with quick-fix bathrooms stacked above original kitchens — and those installations are usually the first to fail. We see them often, so when we quote a Balham bathroom the price reflects what we genuinely expect to find behind the tiles, not a best-case figure that creeps up later.
What a Balham bathroom renovation includes
We work on full bathroom renovations from concept to completion, but the scope flexes around what your property and budget actually need. A typical SW12 project covers:
How much does a bathroom renovation in Balham cost?
Most full bathroom renovations in Balham land between £10,000 and £20,000 for family bathrooms and ensuites with mid-range fittings. Period properties often need joist remediation, soil stack relocation or floor build-up — typically adding £1,500 to £3,500. Larger master bathrooms with walk-in showers, double vanities, freestanding baths and bespoke joinery run from £20,000 to £35,000. Every quote is line-item and the initial visit is free.
| Bathroom type | Typical cost | Time on site |
|---|---|---|
| Small ensuite — no layout change | from £10,000 | 2.5–3 weeks |
| Standard family bathroom / ensuite | £10,000 – £20,000 | 3–5 weeks |
| Master bathroom — walk-in shower, double vanity, bespoke joinery | £20,000 – £35,000 | 4–6 weeks |
| Period remediation — joists, soil stack, floor build-up | + £1,500 – £3,500 | adds to programme |
What comes up often in Balham bathrooms
Balham homes fall into a few clear patterns, and each carries its own renovation considerations — which is why a same-spec bathroom can cost very differently across two SW12 properties.
Heaver Estate & Hyde Farm
Soil stacks were originally external on the rear elevation and often boxed in or rerouted when kitchens were extended — so the waste path inside the bathroom isn't always where the wall finishes suggest. We survey the real route before quoting layout changes.
Balham High Road
Lease-restricted working hours, no soil-stack core penetrations into the commercial unit below, and limited wet-area storage that often pushes us towards floor-to-ceiling vanity walls.
Split period houses
Quick-fix bathrooms stacked above original kitchens are usually the first installations to fail — we expect to find and correct them when we open up.
Our process, step by step
Site visit & measure-up
We visit, measure and discuss layout options on site — no charge for the visit or design conversation.
Fixed written quote
You receive a line-item, fixed-price quote within seven days, with honest feedback on what's possible inside your budget.
Design & ordering
Once approved, we agree a start date and order long-lead items immediately — vanities and stone tiling lead the programme.
Strip-out & protection
Full protection of hallway floors, stair carpets and adjacent rooms. Strip-out is usually done in two days.
First-fix & walkthrough
Plumbing and electrics first-fix take about a week; we walk you through niche dimensions, vanity heights and tap positions before they're permanent.
Tiling & second-fix
Tiling and second-fix sit mid-programme; vanities, sanitaryware and brassware go in towards the end.
Snagging built in
Snagging is scheduled into the final week, not bolted on at the end.
Handover & guarantee
Deep clean, certificates, manufacturer warranties and a 15-year guarantee on materials and workmanship.
Specifications we recommend for Balham homes
We match the finish to the property — period-appropriate for Edwardian terraces, contemporary for modern flats — and fit underfloor heating in roughly nine out of ten Balham bathrooms we deliver.
A skilled team, start to finish
You get directly-employed and regular subcontract trades handling your Balham bathroom from first measure-up to final snag — all delivered to current Building Regulations.
The bathroom projects we do most in SW12
Balham splits into two jobs. The large Edwardian houses of the Heaver Estate and the streets around Hyde Farm have the space for full-specification master bathrooms and multiple en-suites — walk-in showers, freestanding baths, bespoke vanities. The narrower SW12 terraces are more about reconfiguring a tight back-addition bathroom or adding a loft en-suite.
Across both, the period fabric drives the method: suspended timber floors need reinforcing before large-format tiles, and Victorian soil stacks are rerouted rather than worked around. In Balham’s converted flats we handle the managing-agent side — lease compliance, acoustic flooring and agreed working hours — as part of the contract.
Bathrooms we’ve built
A few finished bathrooms from our projects across South London — the standard of waterproofing, tiling and finish we build every bathroom to.
See more completed projects in our portfolio gallery.
What Balham clients say on Google
Verified reviews from homeowners across South London.
Rated 5 on Google
What homeowners say about us
5 out of 5 · based on 98 Google reviews
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Questions homeowners ask us
A standard bathroom renovation in Balham costs between £10,000 and £20,000 for a family bathroom or ensuite with mid-range fittings. Master bathrooms with bespoke joinery, walk-in showers and premium materials typically range from £20,000 to £35,000. Period remediation such as joist work or soil stack relocation can add £1,500 to £3,500.
Most family bathrooms in Edwardian Balham terraces take four to five weeks on site. The extra time compared to a modern flat covers joist remediation, period-appropriate joinery and adjustments around original soil pipe routing.
Internal bathroom renovations in the Heaver Estate conservation area do not normally need planning permission. Consent is only required for external alterations or for works to a listed building. We confirm the planning status of your property before quoting.
Yes. We work in flats above retail along Balham High Road regularly. We comply with lease working hours, install acoustic flooring that meets the lease specification, and route any new waste runs without penetrating the unit below.
In most Balham bathrooms underfloor heating is worth fitting. Floor tiles in period properties feel cold for most of the year, and electric mat systems add roughly £600 to £1,200 to the project while giving genuine warmth and faster floor drying after showers.
We include layout design and basic specification within our quote. If you've already worked with an interior designer we follow their drawings precisely. Most Balham clients use our in-house design and add tile and sanitaryware selections from suppliers we recommend.
Workmanship and materials are covered by a 15-year guarantee. All sanitaryware, brassware, showers and electrical components carry their manufacturer warranties, which we transfer to you at handover with a folder of certificates and product information.
Bathroom renovation across Balham & SW12
We work right across the Balham postcode and the neighbourhoods that border it.
Renovating just outside Balham? See our nearby location pages:
Clapham (SW4) Wandsworth (SW18) Streatham (SW16) Battersea (SW11) All South London areas →Renovating more than the bathroom in Balham? We also do loft conversions, house extensions and full home renovations — or hand the whole project to one Balham builder.