- By Hanover Plumbing
- In Plumbing, Tips
- Tags Bathroom, NZ Homes, Renovations, Tapware
Bathroom Renovation Checklist for NZers
Whether you’ve been in your home for months or years, the amount of time you’ve spent in your bathroom is probably longer than you realise. According to studies across a lifetime, men spend more than 855 days in the bathroom and women spend over 770 days in the bathroom. So having a functional and comfortable bathroom makes a lot of sense. Here’s a bathroom renovation checklist to keep in mind.
When you move into a home, you sometimes have to accept the quirks and downsides that come with it. Perhaps this means putting up with a tiny shower, or terribly ugly bathroom tiling. Then one day, you might decide it’s time to make some changes. Renovating a bathroom is not something to rush into. It requires a lot of thought and planning so we want to help you get started.
1. Cost
Set a budget. All of your decisions have an affect on the cost so it’s best to know what you’re working with before you start. Even if it’s a ballpark figure, you’ll need a rough guideline to decide where to spend and where to save.
2. Timeline
As we noted in our post about Common Bathroom Renovation Mistakes, many people underestimate the time required to complete the project. Discuss this with your bathroom designer, builder and plumber to be sure you understand what’s involved and how long it will take. Draft a timeline that includes plenty of time to decide on the layout and to source the fixtures – you don’t want to still be deciding which vanity when the bathroom is mid-demolition. Don’t forget to make some plans for a backup bathroom if your house only has one bathroom!
3. Function
Carefully consider the use and function of the bathroom. Who lives in the house and what lifestyle do you have? Will anyone’s needs be changing in the next 5-10 years? Do you want the toilet in a separate room from the vanity and shower? Are there children or anyone with special needs to plan for? Discuss the plans with everyone who will be using the space to ensure that you’ve considered all of the different uses.
4. Design
The first consideration is the layout and then comes the colours and finishes. How much space do you have to work with? Will you rearrange the fixtures or just replace them? Would you rather have a shower over a bath to save space? Will the style be dated quickly? Can you future-proof it by choosing some finishes that are easy to change?
Will you have any unique finishes or features?
5. Major or Minor Changes
Will you be stripping everything back to the framing? Are you replacing any damaged/problem areas? Does the piping need to be changed? Is it just a coat of paint and a new cabinet? The amount of work will all depend on how thorough the bathroom renovation is. Consider what changes are musts and which would just be nice to have.
6. DIY or Professional
Will you be completing any of the work yourself? Have you done this type of work previously? Do you know where you need to hire professionals?
7. Consent
Are you making changes that require council consent? Your tradespeople can let you know what needs an inspection so be sure to talk to them early enough in the bathroom renovation to understand how this will affect your cost and timeline.
8. Flooring and Walls
Will you be replacing the wall linings? What kind of flooring are you going to use? Will it require any underfloor heating?
New squared-off jib stopped walls can look great and really give the room a fresh modern look.
9. Lighting, Heating & Ventilation
Does the bathroom get enough daylight? Will you change the light fixtures? Are you going to add more lighting? Will you replace or add heating? Do you have an exhaust fan already? If not, do you know why it’s important to install one?
10. Storage
Does your current storage suit your needs? Will you need to add more? Have you thought about a mirrored medicine cabinet to give you storage behind your mirror?
Need a Helping Hand?
Now, this list isn’t exhaustive but it’s a base to start building on. Of course, there are many details to consider and when it comes to your tapware, have a look at our post on choosing your tapware. Some of the details can come once the big work is complete – hello new soap dishes!
If you have any questions about where to begin with your bathroom renovation contact us at Hanover Plumbing.
