Bathroom Renovation Planning
Welcome to the exciting world of bathroom renovations! Whether your wanting to revamp your space or create a spa-like retreat, careful planning is the key to success.
“We saved a ton of time and money just by stopping to think about the small things before we started demolition.”
It probably comes to no surprise to you that planning is powerful. Just like Amy said, it can save you a lot of anxiety and hidden costs later on, if you take a few moments to have a deeper think about what your plan is and how you’re going to get it done. So, let’s start with some considerations.
Define your dreams and understand the costs.
Ask yourself ‘why do I want to do this?’, ‘how do I want to feel when I first step into my bathroom everyday?’, and ‘what do I really want out of my new space?’ These are great starting points to better understand the style and functions of your bathroom.
Then establish a realistic budget. Depending on the size, age, layout, and your wants and needs, a full bathroom renovation can range from $5,000 to $50,000. Don’t fret there are plenty of ways to spruce up your space without breaking the bank too. Thought about wisely, new taps and accessories, towels, and lighting can be just as powerful as a complete renovation.
Get inspired and build your plan.
Spend some time visualising your space with inspiration from the experts. Suppliers such as TileCloud and Reece Bathrooms have a range of fantastic blogs and tools you can use to explore what’s trending across a range of different styles and moods, while collating your favourites.
Next, you’ll want to take the overall measurements to sketch-up a floor design and start planning where the toilet, vanity, shower and bath may be located. Accurately measure your plumbing and electrical points incase they create any limitations. If you are planning to move a major item, double check with a professional to make sure it’s possible without breaking the bank.
Make sure you consider the small things - where will I hang my towels?, how will the lighting reflect my makeup in the mirror?, do I have enough storage?
Before you get started!
Hire the Professionals or DIY?
We’re all for giving it a go yourself! Before you start though, evaluate the scope of the renovations and decide whether or not you need professional assistance. While tasks like painting might be suitable for DIY, it can be dangerous(ie identifying and removing Asbestos safely) and costly to do it yourself, so don’t be shy in asking for help. Infact, the majority of Plumbing, Electrical and Carpentry work requires licenced and insured experts to complete.
Consider the key moments before and throughout construction.
A lot of people are keen to start smashing things a part once they’ve completed their plans. Before you jump on the jackhammer, make sure you’ve understood how long it may take to complete your renovation, who needs to be involved, and how will you take a shower during the renovation?
Permits and Regulations: Check your local council to determine if your need any permits before starting.
Engage a licenced and insured professional: Knocking down a load-bearing wall or sanding lead-based paint could have disastrous consequences. Get the right advice before you start.
Product Selection: You’ll want to do this before you start. Many bathroom items have specific installation requirements. Selecting fixtures and materials before you start will ensure that your tradesperson can keep working while they’re on the job, and help you avoid any unnecessary surprises. For example, toilets can have specific placements for inlet and outlet pipes. Choosing a toilet with even the slightest difference in set-out than your current toilet may require your pipes to be relocated. A cost you may want to avoid early.
Demolition: This is generally the quickest (and the most fun!) part. A full demolition can create a lot of waste and recycling - make sure you have the appropriate waste containers in place, and know what it will cost to remove them.
Rough-In and Rebuild: Now it’s time to start rebuilding. All plumbing, electrical and carpentry work that gets hidden behind the walls or under the floor will happen in this phase.
Waterproofing and Tiling: You’ll start to see your dream turn into reality during this phase. Quality waterproofing is crucial to protect the longevity of your home and may take a few days to complete to ensure the membrane sets properly. Then you’re on to tiling and grouting, which timing will be vary depending on the complexity of your tile design and the layout you choose.
Fit-Out and Final Touches: Finally, your fixtures will be mounted in place. This includes securing and sealing the toilet, vanity, bath and shower screens in place. After a thorough clean up and walk through with your tradespeople. It’s time to enjoy your bathroom!
To get started with the right professional help, book us for a Free Bathroom Consultation.
