Renovating a bathroom is exciting. New tiles, tapware, showers, vanities and lighting can completely change the look and feel of your home.
But before you get too far into choosing colours and finishes, there are two parts of the renovation that deserve some early attention: the plumbing and electrical work.
A little planning before the renovation starts can make a big difference. It can help you avoid unexpected costs, make sure everything ends up where you actually want it and, importantly, ensure the finished bathroom is safe and practical.
Here are some of the things homeowners should think about before starting a bathroom renovation.
1. Are You Keeping the Same Bathroom Layout?
One of the first decisions is whether your toilet, shower, bath and vanity are staying in roughly the same locations.
Keeping the existing layout can often simplify the plumbing work. Moving fixtures may mean relocating water supplies, waste pipes and drainage, particularly when moving a toilet or shower.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t change the layout. Sometimes moving things around creates a much better bathroom. It’s simply worth talking to your plumber before locking in the design so you understand what is involved.
2. Think About Your Shower Before the Tiles Go Down
There are plenty of decisions to make around a new shower.
Do you want a standard shower head, rain shower, handheld shower or a combination? Are you changing the mixer or installing separate controls? Will the shower be larger than the existing one? Are you considering a walk-in shower?
Your plumber can check whether the existing pipework, drainage and water pressure are suitable for what you’re planning.
It is much easier to sort these things out before waterproofing and tiling rather than afterwards.
3. Check Your Existing Plumbing While Everything Is Accessible
A bathroom renovation provides a good opportunity to look at plumbing that is normally hidden behind walls, under floors or underneath fixtures.
Depending on the age and condition of your home, your plumber may identify pipework, valves, drainage or other components that would be sensible to repair or replace while they’re accessible.
Nobody wants to finish a beautiful new bathroom only to have an old plumbing component cause problems later.
4. Choose Tapware for More Than Just Looks
There is no shortage of beautiful tapware available, but appearance shouldn’t be the only consideration.
Think about how practical it will be to use and maintain, its water efficiency, whether it suits your home’s plumbing and how readily parts may be available if something needs repairing in the future.
Your plumber can also help you work through whether the products you’ve selected are suitable before they’re installed.
5. Don’t Forget About Hot Water
A new bathroom can sometimes change the way your household uses hot water.
A larger shower, different shower fittings, a bigger bath or changes to the number of people using the bathroom can all be reasons to think about whether your existing hot water system still suits your household.
If your hot water system is already getting older, a renovation can also be a good time to discuss your options rather than waiting until it fails.
6. Plan Your Power Points Early
Now for the electrical side.
Think about what you regularly plug in around the bathroom. Hairdryers, straighteners, electric shavers, toothbrushes and other appliances all need somewhere convenient to connect.
Where will your vanity be? Will there be drawers or cabinets that interfere with the location of a power point? Would you like power inside a vanity cupboard?
These details are much easier to plan before walls, cabinetry and mirrors are installed.
Because bathrooms contain water, there are specific requirements around where electrical equipment and power points can be installed. Your licensed electrician can advise on suitable locations.
7. Good Bathroom Lighting Makes a Huge Difference
Bathroom lighting needs to do a few different jobs.
You need good general lighting, but you may also want more focused lighting around the mirror and vanity. Some homeowners also choose softer lighting for evenings or feature lighting to create a more relaxed feel.
Consider:
- General ceiling lighting
- Vanity and mirror lighting
- Exhaust fan lighting combinations
- Feature or ambient lighting
- Night lighting
- Separate switches or lighting controls
Planning the lighting before the renovation starts means cables and switches can be positioned correctly before the walls and ceiling are finished.
8. What About Heated Towel Rails and Underfloor Heating?
If heated towel rails or underfloor heating are on your wish list, tell your electrician early.
These features may require electrical provisions to be installed during the early stages of the renovation. Deciding after the tiles are finished can make installation much more difficult, or potentially rule out some options altogether.
9. Ventilation Is Important
Bathrooms create plenty of moisture, particularly after a hot shower.
Good ventilation helps remove moisture and steam from the room. When planning your renovation, consider the position and performance of the exhaust fan rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Your electrician can help determine an appropriate solution for your bathroom and how it will operate, whether that’s from a separate switch or another suitable control arrangement.
10. Think About the Future
A bathroom renovation is also a good opportunity to think a few years ahead.
Would a walk-in shower make the bathroom easier to use? Would additional lighting help? Could the placement of the toilet, shower or vanity make the room more accessible?
You don’t necessarily need to build an accessible bathroom now, but thoughtful planning can make future changes easier.
Get Your Plumber and Electrician Involved Early
One of the easiest ways to make a bathroom renovation run more smoothly is to involve your trades before everything has been ordered and the final layout locked in.
Your plumber and electrician can look at what you want to achieve, check the existing services and identify anything that could affect the design or budget.
It also gives everyone a clear plan for what needs to happen before walls are closed, waterproofing begins and the new tiles, cabinetry and fixtures are installed.
At O'Brien Electrical & Plumbing Coopers Plains, our plumbing and electrical teams can assist with the services required as part of your bathroom renovation, from the initial rough-in through to installation and final fit-off.
Planning a bathroom renovation? Talk to our team before you get started. We can help you work through the plumbing and electrical side of your plans and make sure those important details aren’t overlooked.