Bathroom renovation doesn’t have to be a chore
Bathroom renovation can be a daunting task. But with a little thought and forward planning the whole thing can be accomplished without too much disruption. So, whether you are upgrading, updating or simply looking to add value to your home, read on.
“Step back and take stock…”
Here at Big Bathroom Shop we decided to follow staff member and customer, Steve Jacques, as he tackles his own bathroom renovation over three weekends. Having grown tired of their existing bathroom, which was neither to their taste nor child friendly – the sharp edged glass basin had to go – Steve set out to plan the perfect bathroom for himself and his young family.
“What people don’t tend to realise,” said Steve, an experienced bathroom fitter and plumber, “is that making a good plan should be at the very top of the agenda.
“You really do have to step back and take stock and then sit down with a pen and pad to do some initial sketches.”
So, first things first, let’s take a look at Steve’s exiting bathroom.
The current bathroom measures 1850mm (W) x 2900mm (L) x 2300mm (H) and consists of:
- Walk-in shower enclosure with one-outlet thermostatic valve
- Glass basin with high rise mixer
- Single flush close-coupled toilet
- Small heated towel rail
- No storage
- Tiled floor with step to shower and basin
- Fully tiled walls
“The bathroom we have is very modern, with a walk in shower instead of a bath,” he said. “But when the kids came along we wanted to put a bath in so they could splash about. There were also a lot of sharp edges in the old bathroom, so there was also a safety aspect to think about.”
It had long been Steve’s intention to replace the existing shower enclosure with a double ended bath and a small quadrant shower enclosure. He also wanted to install a wall mounted basin to save space. While not a tiny bathroom space to work within, it is certainly not huge and all of this was factored in during planning.
“When you are working with limited space, even the pedestal can take up much needed room. A wall mounted basin not only saves space, but also creates an impression of much greater space.”
However, with three children under the age of eight to consider, he was keen to get started and at least get the bath installed so that they weren’t left without facilities for the planned three week period over which the bathroom renovation would take place.
Inspiration
“No end of inspiration…”
When deciding on the style of bathroom, Stephen and the family decided to go for modern fittings throughout to ensure the bathroom harmonised with the rest of the house. The family knew that a bath and separate shower enclosure would be essential to satisfy the needs of a busy, family bathroom.
Said Steve: “We’re a young family, and we have always tried to be on point when it comes to decor. My wife is schoolteacher, but she is also a big fan of interior design. So there was no end of inspiration.”
Planning
“We’ve planned the bathroom renovation several times with different combinations of baths, toilets, basins and enclosures.”
The family eventually settled on a version which uses quite a bit of existing pipework minimising such work having to be carried out. During the planning stages, Stephen recommends using virtual bathroom planning software when planning a bathroom makeover.
By using a comprehensive guide such as a virtual planner it can give an accurate idea of exactly what to expect with no nasty surprises, it ensures that tradesmen are given a details and clear outline with which to work and above all, a virtual planner gives you the freedom to make small changes throughout without disrupting the job or incurring extra costs.
Steps
“Once we have saved up enough money for the renovation, we then got various quotes for the work; plumbing, tiling, plastering and electrics. Some of the work I can do myself to save money.”
So, what steps has Stephen taken so far?
“Over the weekend I’ve removed the entire bathroom suite and knocked all the tiles off the wall. I have also removed the plaster board. The new suite is going to be tiled in the shower enclosure with a splash back around the bath and above the basin. Once I had a clear room, I first fixed the pipework for all the new products.”
After insulating the stud walls, Stephen then plaster boarded the walls and is now ready for the plasterer to come next week, ready for part two in this work-in-progress bathroom renovation.
Limitations
A number of limitations were encountered by the family during the initial stages of the bathroom makeover including restrictions on the scope of the project due to the room size and shape, issues with external walls and the location of the soil and water pipes made it difficult to plan a makeover where the fittings had been repositioned.
Additionally, Stephen said: “Trying to get all the trades lined up to avoid as much disruption as possible proved very difficult. Some trades had a waiting time of six months – they must be good.”
Check out part two of this bathroom renovation project. If you have any tips or even if you’re considering renovating the bathroom and you want us to feature your remodel in our work-in-progress blog posts, get in touch!
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Hi, I’m Liz, an interiors blogger. My main focus area is the bathroom, where I aim to inspire anyone who’s planning and designing a new bathroom – you’ll find plenty of tips, how-to guides and a wealth of ideas!
