Bathroom Renovation and Bathroom Building
Bathroom Renovation and Building
Another exciting part of the project is creating your bathroom or renovating your existing bathroom. The kind of environment you want your bathroom to have is dictated by materials, space and finish and many of the advice given to kitchens, above, apply here, too.
- Tiles are an obvious choice of material here but wooden or concrete floors and painted walls have their place (carpet is not recommended, however)
- The fashion is for larger tiles rather than smaller and these help convey a sense of a larger space when the room in small; conversely, small mosaic tiles are still very fashionable and work well in small spaces, too
- Fixtures come in a range of materials – examine the performance characteristics before making decisions
- Tapware is important to the look and feel of your room and modern built retro designs are an option along with modern designs; consider large mirrors to make small bathrooms look bigger
- Don’t forget ventilation and heating – especially underfloor heating (very nice in the winter!) - the room must be able to be fully dry within 30 minutes
- The towel rail should be as big as you can afford and fit – more people, more towels - but bear in mind that the bigger the rail the more power required
- The waterproofing is essential so don’t scrimp – even though you can’t see it, incorrect application will cost you a fortune in repairs. Showers should be tempered or toughened glass
- Lighting is important, from task lighting for makeup application, to soft non-directional lighting for relaxing baths or midnight visits. Consider placing a light under the sink or putting in a step light or hidden flourescent as a low level light for late night visits
- Can you fit two basins in, or one large one with two taps, so that two people can use the basin at the same time?
- Is the tapware correct for your water pressure? Make sure you discuss with your plumber before purchase!
- Does the layout work – can you open the shower door without hitting anything, or bend over the sink without bouncing off the wall behind you?
- Is access to the shower and bath easy? Does the door open the right way?
- Do you have sufficient storage for everything you want to keep in the bathroom (makeup, first aid, personal products, medicines (not recommended because of temperature and moisture fluctuations), bathroom supplies)
- Natural lighting is often sacrificed here: consider installing a roof window or solar tube
- Baths are wonderful and essential for small children but also use a lot more water - is a bath necessary or a luxury? Using a shower only also uses a lot less space
Websites to visit for more information:
National Kitchen & Bathroom Associations NZ Inc (NKBA) www.nkba.org.nz
Please also try our own Bathroom Suppliers resource category at: http://www.buildingguide.co.nz/Plumbing+Supplies/