As one of the most used rooms in the house, it’s important to get it right so here’s what to avoid:

Doing It Yourself (DIY)

You may think you are going to save yourself money by doing the renovation yourself but the fact is, certain tradespeople are licensed and registered for a reason – experience. A registered builder will manage all aspects of the bathroom renovation, including ensuring the right products and materials are on site at the right time and that they are installed correctly and to Australian standards.

The builder will also manage the different trades required for the work, namely the plumber, electrician, carpenter and tiler. Both the electrician and plumber have to be appropriately licensed to carry out the work and they must issue Compliance Certificates at the end of the work (subject to value of works).  Your builder will also deal with tradespeople that they trust to do a good job and who they work with on a regular basis. Plus, you can’t put a cost on the stress and time you will incur trying to manage the job yourself – you could be earning money doing what you do best while leaving professionals to get the renovation done.

Planning

If you don’t plan your bathroom, you could end up with a room you don’t really love or that does not quite suit your lifestyle. Ensure you look at what features you already have, what you want to keep and what features you want to add. Changing things after the renovation or during the build could be costly, whether in time or money.

Layout

Bathroom renovation layout is part of the planning process. Again, think about how you will use the bathroom. It will be a constant frustration if you have a towel rail that looks great next to the bath, but you can’t reach it from the shower!

It is also really tempting to completely change the layout of your bathroom when you undertake a renovation. But bear in mind that will mean changing the plumbing and possibly the electrical cabling which will add time and cost to your renovation. And you may find it is not possible anyway due to structural restrictions.

Ventilation

If you don’t have an opening window in the bathroom, you must have an extraction fan. Excess moisture / condensation in the room will likely cause mould and mildew over time, as well as potentially peeling paint.

Heating

Don’t forget heating. The last thing you want is to use a cold bathroom in the middle of winter. There are a number of options, from existing ducted or hydronic heating to heat lamps, heated towel rails and underfloor heating.

Design

Avoid getting carried away at the showroom by picking the all the latest designs and trends available. You want your bathroom to look consistent throughout, with all the fixtures and fittings working seamlessly together. You also don’t want to create a space that you will want to grow tired of a want to change within a short amount of time.

If you are renovating to sell, keep it neutral. You will want to recoup the cost of the renovation as part of the sale but if the style is too specific and people will want to change it, they will not want to pay the extra dollars.

Bathtubs & Showers

Some people remove the bathtub from their bathroom when renovating. This is not the best idea unless this is something you definitely want and you will be keeping the house long term. Ideally you want at least one bathtub in the house.

If you sell the property, the likelihood is that the next owners will want a bathtub, especially if it is a family home.

In fact, if the space allows and you are able to install a separate bath and shower, this is the best option to increase practicality and value.

Storage

Ensure you allow enough storage in your design and layout. Whether it is the addition of medicine cabinets, choice of vanity with excellent storage, linen cupboard addition or a ladder towel rail you will thank yourself later.

When you engage an experienced bathroom builder to undertake your renovation, they should be happy to discuss these considerations with you. Bear in mind that a designer will usually not have building experience or practical knowledge of construction.

The post Common Bathroom Renovation Mistakes appeared first on Room for Improvement Pty Ltd.

Seems simple enough, you just need a bath, shower, sink and toilet yes? Yes, essentially that’s all you need but for the perfect bathroom that will really satisfy everyone’s needs, there is a lot more to consider.

Image from Decorpad

Renovating your family or master bathroom could be the best decision you ever make. When you have a bathroom that really works with your lifestyle, it saves time and makes your life easier.

So what might you need?

1. Storage and lots of it! Think a medicine cabinet above the vanity rather than just a mirror for everyday bits, a vanity with plenty of storage, ladder towel rail and a linen cupboard if space allows.
2. Vanity. If you have young children then possibly a wall hung vanity that allows for easy storage of steps underneath would work well.
3. Tiles. Not only do you want non-slip tiles, think about the longevity of the material they are made from.  Kids are usually not the tidiest and accidents happen, especially with little boys around the toilet! Natural stone tiles are more porous and so more prone to damage from the acidity of urine so porcelain or ceramic may be the better option. Larger tiles will have less grout joints, so easier to keep maintained.
4. Tapware. Find taps that are easy for children to use but also suit the style of your home. With younger children you may even want to use taps that make the direction of hot and cold more obvious.
5. Towels. A ladder style heated towel rail offers three benefits – additional storage of towels for all the family, towels at different heights and they can quickly warm up and dry the towels when necessary. Note that heated towel rails can be set-up so they are both part of your hydronic heating system and on a separate electronic heating element to work independently.
6. Shower. Most adults love a rain head shower but a riser rail shower allows for both height adjustment for kids and the ability to remove the shower head when required. Plus, it is far easier to clean the shower round. A shower cubicle with both offers something for everyone.
7. Bath. Despite the trend for freestanding baths, there are factors to consider when thinking about a family bathroom that will be used by children. Let’s face it, children love to splash and cleaning up water behind a freestanding bath is not always that easy and not a task you want to be doing too often. Also, think about the practicality of where the soap and shampoo will sit. An in-built bath hob may offer a much easier bath time.
8. Toilet roll holder. Think about the placement, can everyone reach? Men and women tend to prefer different placements. Do you want it on the side of the toilet, rather than behind, so it is fair for everyone?
9. Plug sockets. Whether it be the shaver, electric toothbrush charger, hairdryer or straighteners, everyone needs access to electricity these days. A double GPO in each medicine cabinet means you’ll never be left short. All electrical work needs to be compliant and obviously think safety first and don’t have the GPO close to water.

These are the main considerations when thinking about a new family bathroom. Feel free to speak to Room For Improvement Pty Ltd to discuss your needs.

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