Want to know what the most important part of a successful bathroom renovation project is?
Good water pressure? A quiet flush? Heated floors? Fast demist mirrors? Yes, these are all important . But they’re not the most essential aspect. For that we need to back up a few steps.
The thing that will make or break a great bathroom (and make or break the budget) is …. a great plan!
So we’ve put together our top 10 things to consider before beginning a bathroom renovation.
1. What do you like or dislike about your existing bathroom?
Chances are you’ve already given thought to this one. You’re possibly renovating your bathroom because you’ve been tolerating that 1970s décor for longer than you’d like. Or you’ve decided that it’s finally time to put in a larger shower for the teenagers. Perhaps it’s just the right time financially. Whatever the case, make sure you also make a list of things you do like about the current bathroom. Your list of likes and dislikes will make the forthcoming project a lot easier, and it will help any suppliers you turn to for help in sourcing materials.
2. Who will use the bathroom?
In most houses, there are bathroom boundaries. Often the ensuite is off limits to anyone between the ages of 10 and 18. There may be a guest bathroom in the hall that doesn’t get a lot of use. Sometimes there is toddler territory – the room with a bath that is usually full of endless supplies of bath bubbles and floaty toys. Be clear about who is going to use the room, and what their needs are.
3. Is this mainly a “functional” bathroom or more of a “sanctuary” bathroom?
Similar to the question about who will use the bathroom, it’s also important to consider what kind of room you want to create. Regardless of whether you have a small or large bathroom to renovate, it’s worthwhile thinking about what kind of space you want to end up with.
To give you an idea, a “functional” bathroom might be a smaller room with just the basics – toilet, basin, towel rail. A larger practical bathroom might also include a shower, bathtub and maybe a double basin. At the other end of the spectrum, we often create what we refer to as a “sanctuary” bathroom. This isn’t necessarily a very large room. And it’s always practical. But to give it that sanctuary feel we pay attention to features you might not consider for other bathrooms in the house – treats like a jacuzzi bath, a double shower, and other lighting and heating details that make the room extra special.
4. Do you have any must-haves or non-negotiables?
At Regency Plumbing in Auckland we always ask our clients to think about the things on their “dream bathroom” list. Chances are you’re not going to renovate your bathroom again over the next few years, so you may as well do it right. If money were no object, what would you have in your bathroom? Let us know … often we can find ways to make it work within your budget.
5. Do you have time and expertise to manage the project yourself?
You’ve probably heard us say it before … the bathroom really is the most important room in the house. And yet, for some reason, it’s often a room that homeowners try to renovate themselves. Because there are so many details involved in a bathroom renovation, regardless of the size of the room, we always recommend you use an experienced bathroom renovation company to manage the project for you. You’ll need to involve several tradespeople – an electrician, plumber, cabinet maker, tiler, painter, etc – so it really does make sense to have a professional coordinate it all for you. Think of it as the easiest way to get the project completed in the shortest timeframe possible with.
6. How old is the current bathroom and the house?
When we renovate a bathroom, we need to consider either the age of the current fixtures and/or the age of the house. The reason for this is that, as mentioned above, a bathroom in Auckland almost always requires the services of a certified plumber and electrician. Their training and expertise can inform what is and isn’t possible with the existing wiring and plumbing – having an impact on your renovation budget. The Regency Plumbing team is able to repair or replace old pipes, address water pressure issues from old systems, and give you options for continuous hot water if that’s what you need.
7. How much do you want to spend to renovate bathroom?
Usually the answer to this is, “as little as possible”. Often people begin researching a bathroom renovation project without knowing what a reasonable amount to spend is. In short, you can spend as little or as much as you want. Over the past 20 years we’ve worked on hundreds of bathrooms throughout Auckland and can recommend ways to be more economical with your budget without compromising on style. We have great relationships with suppliers as well, and can usually source bathroom fixtures, supplies and accessories for a better price than customer retail rates.
8. How many tradespeople might be needed for a bathroom renovation?
A typical bathroom renovation involves at least a plumber and an electrician. On top of that, you’ll often need to bring in a tiler, painter or wallpaper professional, gib stopper, a cabinet maker or builder, and maybe a company that specialises in windows or skylights. There are a lot of people, so coordinating schedules and the flow of work is crucial (see number 9 below).
9. How important is it to hire a professional rather than DIY it?
We always recommend using a professional bathroom renovation specialist like Regency Plumbing. We’ve seen too many DIY projects go awry, causing stress in the household and unnecessary delays. With all the details that need to be coordinated – and the number of tradies you might need – it just makes sense to get an experienced company on board to do it. It might sound cliché, but you’ll almost always end up financially better off when you hire someone to do it (faster and better) rather than doing it yourself.
10. What could possibly go wrong in a bathroom renovation?
Whoa, do you really want to know? We prefer to focus on what could go right. Our experienced team will make sure you know about and adhere to all the compliance issues involved. We’ll make sure all the tradies are lined up effectively to minimise downtime and to get you using your bathroom as quickly as possible. We’ll make sure you’re presented with a range of options and choices when it comes to choosing designs and fixtures – and we’ll do the research and running around for you. We’ll look for ways to save you money. And we’ll try as hard as we can to make sure you have some fun along the way – yes, it is possible to enjoy a renovation project!
If you’ve got any queries about how to manage a bathroom renovation project, please give us a call for a no-obligation initial chat.