10 things to consider before renovating a bathroom

Contemporary Bathroom by Baenziger Coles
Author: Gillian Lazanik

Whether you have a simple powder room or a master ensuite, functionality should be at the heart of your bathroom. Read on to learn tricks for gaining storage, improving lighting, drainage and more, to ensure that your revamped bathroom stands the test of time.

1. Plumbing
Residential plumbing typically uses 40 millimetre pipes for drains. You’d be surprised how much gunk and hair goes down that drain. The larger the drain, the less likely it is to clog. The cost difference to upgrade to a 50 millimetre drain is practically negligible, and unless your framing doesn’t allow for it, you should consider increasing the drain in your shower to 50 millimetres.

Also, If you live in a region where temperatures drop below freezing during the winter, it’s important that your water supply lines don’t get routed through an exterior wall.

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2. Lighting
Consider recessed light fixtures throughout your ceiling to brighten up the room. Include one (or two) in your shower with the proper shower trim. Install a dimmer switch so you can adjust the mood in your bathroom. You’ll want to consider how you’ll be using the mirror in your bathroom and whether you want aesthetic or functional lighting. Whether you’ll be applying make-up or shaving, bright light fixtures properly placed go a long way to help you see what you’re doing close up.

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3. Medicine cabinets
Do you have the space to recess your medicine cabinet? Oftentimes this is a great way to save a few centimetres of space over a shallow vanity, and the additional framing typically isn’t going to break the budget. If that’s not an option, ensure that you have enough room at your vanity to have your medicine cabinet protrude by 10 to 12 centimetres.

4. Wall-hung toilets
These fixtures have grown in popularity lately, and for good reason. They no longer break the bank, and they also save space since the tank is hidden behind the wall. But there is a big consideration with these special fixtures. Because of how these toilets drain, if you ever change your mind and opt for a floor-mounted unit, you’ll have to rework the supply.

5. A window in the shower
This is a great feature if done properly. Some things to consider include: choose a frosted-glass panel for privacy and preferably one that opens for fresh air. Next, ensure that there are stone jambs along the entire installation so that this area is watertight. Also, ensure that the sill gets sloped down and away for proper drainage. Lastly, I always specify a tilt-and-turn window in a shower, because the screen is located on the outside of the window; the handles are plastic, so they won’t rust; and the window provides full privacy even when tilted open.

6. Shower sills
Like the windowsill, what’s important here is that it is sloped properly into the shower. Try to choose a material that is solid, like stone or quartz. If you tile your shower kerb, water can sit on the grout lines and eventually seep through to the framing.

7. Shower floors
Larger tiles are typically more difficult to slope properly, and unless they’re textured, they’ll be slipperier because the grout lines are further apart. Smaller tiles, whether textured or not, offer more traction and are typically the norm for shower floors – though the options are nearly limitless.

8. Shower bases
Gone are the days of boring beige prefabricated shower bases. More and more, I’ve been using shower systems that have modern, clean bases made out of acrylic or porcelain. Don’t overlook other options for your shower floor.

9. Drawer storage
Consider installing a vanity with drawer storage rather than doors. Drawers are easier to access and easier to organise. They can be cut out around the plumbing, and can be extra large to accommodate bigger items.

10. Shower or tub?
When considering a bathtub or a shower-only option, ask yourself how many baths you take a year. I often have to remind my clients that they are not renovating their homes for a future buyer, but rather for themselves. Even if you live in your house only for another five years, it’s worth it to do it for yourself. And besides, there’s no guaranteed way to tell what will appeal to a future buyer.

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