ISSUE 1: Renovating your bathroom
One thing that comes across loud and clear in all the home renovation
television shows and DIY magazines is that the bathroom – along
with the kitchen – is one of the most expensive rooms to do up.
Therefore, it makes sense to spend a little time and effort in deciding
what you want. According to Phil Coulson, from Professional Bathroom
Renovations, a good starting point is to try to visualise the style
of bathroom you had in mind. Here are Phil's tips:
If you have difficulty in visualising your bathroom, collect photographs of aspects of bathrooms that appeal. It could be a colour scheme, vanity, window treatment or flooring. Tear out pages from magazines and catalogues and put them together. But don't combine too many styles, warns Phil. Having a 'bit of this and a bit of that' doesn't always work. Don't be frightened or embarrassed to put your plans down on paper.
Lighting is important in all rooms. If the idea of using dark colours appeals to you, make sure you have enough natural or artificial light to off-set this. Think about skylights or even making the existing window space bigger.
Familiarise yourself with the various materials that are available,
i.e. stainless steel, stone, laminate and timber. Take a hands-on
approach – get the feel of it. Making a 'feel board' can also be
good. It's simply a piece of board on which you place pieces of
materials, sample paint colours, tiles etc. The idea is to see how
they all look together.
Remember you are dealing with a wet area. So you will invariably be looking at tiling or some sort of waterproof sheeting. Your floor covering will also need to be water resistant. You basically have the option of tiling, hard floor covering like lino, or polished boards. All methods will require sound preparation and you will need to take particular care to seal baths, shower recesses etc. If water gets in under your tiles or floor coverings you will soon have trouble with swelling or rotting timber.
Similarly you will need an extractor fan to draw off steam. Make sure it is the right size for your bathroom. Also think about where you are going to put it – your electrical contractor can advise you. Windows that open are a good idea to help prevent mould build up.
These will be determined by your taste and your budget. But consider
the following:
• Water saver shower heads – they will cut down on your hot water
usage and save you money.
• A heated towel rail – in the middle of winter there's nothing
better than warm dry towels every morning.
• Permanent lighting over your vanity mirror with plenty of power
points nearby.
Heating and cooling of the bathroom is also an important consideration when designing. If renovating, take into account the direction the room faces. Is it shaded in winter? Tall shrubs and bushes will also influence the temperature of your bathroom. And don't forget the insulation.
Only use paint that can tolerate a bit of steam and damp. Any of the acrylics in a satin ‘wipe-clean' finish are ideal. And remember the general colour rule: small room – light colours; larger room – darker colours.
Before you start ripping things out make sure you have any planning approvals or permits in place. You will also need an electrician to come and make safe any electrics. Have a good talk to him about your plans so that he can put in the appropriate wiring at the right time. Removal and replacement of toilets, baths, vanities etc. is best done by a plumber. Make sure you co-ordinate your plumber and electrician to be there at the appropriate time. Also make sure any electrical or plumbing fittings are delivered in advance so that you have everything there ready to be fitted. With tradespeople time is money, so get yourself organised.
A Little Wisdom:
