Masters Group
Bathroom Renovations Built
to Last a Lifetime
in Brighton & East Sussex
A properly built bathroom adds daily comfort, property value, and decades of reliable service. Masters Group delivers complete bathroom renovations — from plumbing and waterproofing to premium tiling and fixtures — with zero shortcuts.
30+ years experience · Expert waterproofing · Fully insured · Fixed-price contracts
30+ Years
Bathroom specialists
Tanking Experts
Proper waterproofing
All Trades Covered
Plumbing, tiling, electrics
Fixed Pricing
Complete transparency
What Does a Bathroom Renovation Include?
A bathroom renovation encompasses the complete strip-out and rebuild of your bathroom space. This includes removal of existing sanitaryware and finishes, plumbing modifications or full re-plumbing, electrical work (lighting, extractor fans, underfloor heating), waterproofing (tanking), wall and floor tiling, sanitaryware installation, and final decoration.
This service is for homeowners with dated, leaking, or poorly functioning bathrooms. It is for families adding an en-suite to a master bedroom, converting a box room into a shower room, or building a wet room for accessibility. It is also for landlords upgrading rental properties and developers finishing new builds to a high standard.
Bathrooms are the most technically demanding rooms to renovate. Water is present in every element — supply pipes, waste pipes, shower enclosures, bath seals, and condensation from steam. A single failure in waterproofing can cause damage to floors, ceilings, and structural timbers that costs thousands to repair.
Masters Group treats every bathroom as a waterproofing project first and a decoration project second. Our partner I.M. Dunkerton Plumbing & Heating installs all pipework. Fullers Plastering prepares all surfaces. Tanking, tiling, and sanitaryware installation are completed by experienced bathroom specialists.
Why Cheap Bathroom Work Always Costs More
Bathroom renovation is the area where cutting costs produces the most expensive consequences. The core issue is water management — a bathroom generates significant volumes of water vapour, splashing, and potential overflow. Every surface, junction, and penetration must be designed to manage this.
The most common failure is inadequate waterproofing behind tiles. Tiles are not waterproof — they are water-resistant. The waterproof layer is the tanking membrane applied to the substrate behind the tiles. Without proper tanking, water migrates through grout joints, behind tiles, and into the wall structure. In timber-framed properties (common in Brighton's older buildings), this causes rot in structural timbers.
Incorrect waste pipe installation causes slow drainage and blockages. Waste pipes must maintain a minimum fall of 18mm per metre (for 32mm pipes) or 9mm per metre (for 40mm pipes). When pipes are installed without sufficient fall — often because the route was not planned before the floor was tiled — water pools in the pipe, soap residue accumulates, and blockages become a recurring problem.
Electrical safety in bathrooms is governed by strict zone regulations (BS 7671 Section 701). Installing a light switch, socket, or heated towel rail in the wrong zone relative to the bath or shower creates a serious electrical hazard. All bathroom electrical work is Part P notifiable and must be completed by a qualified electrician.
Our Process
How We Deliver Every Project
Design & Survey
We survey the existing bathroom, discuss your requirements, advise on layout options, and identify any structural or plumbing constraints.
Fixed-Price Quotation
A detailed quote covering every element — strip-out, plumbing, electrics, tanking, tiling, sanitaryware, and decoration.
Strip-Out
Existing bathroom removed carefully, including tiles, sanitaryware, and any damaged substrates. Plumbing and electrical positions assessed.
Plumbing & Electrics
All pipework relocated or replaced. Electrical circuits installed for lighting, extraction, and underfloor heating. Systems tested before walls are closed.
Tanking, Tiling & Fit-Out
Waterproof membrane applied to all wet areas. Wall and floor tiles laid. Sanitaryware, shower enclosure, and accessories installed.
Final Inspection & Handover
Every joint, seal, and connection checked. Building control notification for electrical work. Handover with care instructions.
Why This Matters for Your Project
Waterproof for Decades
Proper tanking membrane behind every tile ensures your bathroom remains watertight for 20+ years — protecting the structure of your home.
Increased Property Value
A modern, well-finished bathroom is consistently ranked as the second most important room (after kitchens) by property buyers in Brighton.
Reduced Running Costs
Modern dual-flush toilets, thermostatic showers, and LED lighting reduce water and electricity consumption by 20–40% compared to older installations.
Accessibility Options
Walk-in showers, level-access wet rooms, grab rails, and wider doorways can be incorporated to future-proof your bathroom for all ages and abilities.
No Hidden Damp Problems
By stripping back to substrate and waterproofing properly, we eliminate existing damp issues and prevent new ones from developing.
Certified Electrical Safety
All bathroom electrics are installed by qualified electricians and certified under Part P — protecting your home insurance and your family's safety.
Bathroom Renovation: Waterproofing, Materials & Standards
Waterproofing (tanking) is the single most important element of any bathroom renovation. Masters Group uses liquid-applied tanking membranes (such as BAL Tank-it or Mapei Mapelastic) on all shower areas and wet rooms. The membrane is applied in two coats to walls and floors, with reinforcing tape at all internal corners and pipe penetrations. This creates a continuous waterproof barrier that protects the building structure regardless of what happens to the tile and grout above.
For wet rooms (level-access showers without a tray), the entire floor must be tanked and graded to a linear or point drain. We use pre-formed gradient boards or screed falls to create the correct drainage gradient. Wet room drainage must handle a minimum of 24 litres per minute to cope with modern power showers. The drain is connected to a trapped waste to prevent odour return.
Wall substrates in bathrooms must be moisture-resistant. We use moisture-resistant plasterboard (green board) on standard walls and cement fibre board (such as Hardiebacker) in shower areas and behind baths. Standard plasterboard is never used in wet areas — it absorbs moisture, swells, and eventually disintegrates behind the tiles.
Tile adhesive and grout selection is critical. In wet areas, we use flexible, rapid-set adhesives designed for use with tanking membranes. Grout is epoxy-based or polymer-modified to resist water absorption. Standard cement grout in a shower enclosure will absorb water, crack, and allow moisture to reach the substrate within 2–3 years.
Sanitaryware ranges from budget manufacturers through to premium brands such as Villeroy & Boch, Duravit, and Roca. Masters Group installs client-supplied sanitaryware or can recommend suppliers at every price point. We focus on the building infrastructure — ensuring water supply pressures are correct, waste connections have proper fall, and all fixings are into solid substrate.
Underfloor heating in bathrooms is typically electric mat systems installed beneath the tile finish. These systems use minimal energy (typically 150W per square metre), heat the room quickly, and eliminate the need for radiators — freeing up wall space for storage or a larger shower enclosure. We install Devi, Warmup, and similar brands with thermostatic controls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready for a Bathroom That Lasts?
Get a free estimate for your bathroom renovation. Expert waterproofing, premium finishes, and a fixed price from start to finish.