Bathroom’s are often forgotten about in our daily lives and therefore when we think about renovating our homes, kitchens are often the first room to be renovated, however as this article will explain, bathrooms are now becoming more popular as our lives become busier.

Bathrooms often become our sanctuary from the pressures of our daily lives; where we can relax with a hot shower or a soak in a tub and forget about the worries of the world, well at least for a little while.

When bathrooms are renovated, the project is often undertaken to rectify a structural problem, normally as a result of water ingress into other rooms, or tiles popping off. It is important when undertaking a renovation that the priority is given to correcting the problem, as otherwise your new bathroom will quickly sour when the old problems re-surface.

The most common problem as mentioned earlier is water ingress. This is where the water seeps through the grout joints, and into other rooms, normally cupboards, wardrobes and alike. This will result in the tiles becoming weaker, and possibly popping of the wall or floor, mould and dampness in adjoining walls and weak plaster.

It is a good idea when undertaking a renovation that includes re-tiling, it is worth considering removing the old tiles, rather than tiling over the top, and installing a waterproof membrane to ensure total piece of mind.

Once the bathroom is dried out and ready for the new design, it is important to ensure the new design suits your lifestyle. It is better to sit down and discuss the needs of each bathroom user before hitting the magazines to select finishes and gather ideas.

Good bathroom design is more than utilising the latest tile finishes and bathroom components, it is about accessing the needs of the users, and creating a welcoming and comfortable environment.”

Bathroom renovations can be costly due to the need to often start from scratch where kitchens can often utilise cupboard carcasses and flooring.

Tricks of the trade

1. Ensure all cupboards are made from MRMDF (Moisture Resistant Medium Density Fibreboard) rather than particleboard, as particleboard will absorb moisture and swell, over time.
2. Ensure there are plenty of drains, especially if young children will be using the bathroom to minimise the risk of flooding.
3. Using full width mirrors will make a small bathroom feel larger.
4. When installing a bath/shower use hand held showerhead as this gives you greater flexibility.
5. Always take 10mm to 20mm off the bottom of the bathroom door for the draw of the exhaust, as the fan needs airflow to properly function.
6. Use liquid soap – as this helps keep the tiles clean from soap scum
7. Use Skylights to brighten the room and reduce energy costs.
8. The best way to figure out space and size of the bathroom design is to tape the bathroom size onto a floor, then tape the bath, shower and vanity to see how much room you have to walk around.
9. The bigger the tile used the bigger the room will appear, as grout tends to make the room look busy.
10. Use chrome taps as they will take small knocks, are easy to clean and never seem to date like many colour finishes.