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Is Bathroom Renovation Really Necessary?
Statistics show that people spend about three hours each week in the restroom. If you do the math, this equates to about 156 hours every year. This means on average; we spend six and a half days in the restroom. A room where you spend so much time should not be left in an abysmal state.
Your bathroom should be exceptional and intentionally made to be stylish, functional and comfortable. If yours has fallen into disrepair, renovating it always gives it a new lease of life, and should not be viewed as a wasteful project. The bathroom is essential and as such making it look better and comfortable should be your priority.
What Do Bathroom Renovations Involve?
Bathroom renovations might involve, but are not limited to updating or installing new bathtubs, timber flooring, showers, and even sinks. Some contractors refer to this process as doing a "bathroom upgrade".
In addition to renovating the fixtures of the bathroom itself, some people also prefer to renew their bathrooms by completely redecorating them with colourful schemes, installing the most modern hot water systems and adding other things that generally improve the aesthetics of the bathroom.
If you intend to renovate your bathroom, you need to come up with a schedule of work. Doing so will give you an idea of what needs updating and how long it will take you to complete your dream bathroom. When renovations are done right, not only will you enjoy walking into your new bathroom and making most of it, you will also be increasing the market value of your property.
The following are steps to follow when doing a bathroom renovation.
Step One: Choosing the Design
The first step in a bathroom renovation is selecting a bathroom design. You need to think about how you want to use your bathroom and what will work best within the available space. It should be something aesthetically pleasing so that all the investment that goes into the project makes sense. The specific items that need critical thought include:
- Colour of paint
- Wall and floor tiles
- Bathroom lighting
- Power outlet and appliance fixing
- Window and skylight fixing
- Cabinet renovation
- Carpentry, shelves and bathroom storage space
If you're planning to have the project supervised, but can’t do it yourself, it is recommended that you hire professionals. Tradesmen who can help with the design and supervision process include architects, interior designers and bathroom renovators. These professionals are available to help you throughout the entire process of determining your budget, designing, navigating through council approval and supervision.
Step Two: Planning the Renovation
After deciding on the design for your bathroom renovation, you will need to draft detailed plans. You’ll also need to get approval from relevant council authorities and purchase the required products. If you choose not to hire a bathroom renovation specialist to oversee the project, then be sure to allocate time so that you can oversee it all yourself.
Step Three: Buying the Materials
By getting all of your bathroom renovation materials in advance, you can ensure that tradesmen will have enough time to install them properly. This is especially important if there are chances supplies won't be easily available as that may cause delays or disappointment when searching for something specific on short notice.
The following are some of the products you will need for a complete bathroom: basin, mirror, toilet, tiles, taps, shower screens, towel rack, paint, heating system, lighting features, and exhaust fan.
Step Four: Conducting the Renovation
The renovation process typically follows the stages described below:
- Stage 1: The electrician disconnects all the live wires.
- Stage 2: The builder carries out the demolition and stripping out of the bathroom.
- Stage 3: The builder repairs any existing damage if needed and then completes relevant structural works.
- Stage 4: The carpenter, cabinet maker or bathroom designer renovates the room and storage space. This may include installing a new shower recess.
- Stage 5: The plumber works on the drainage and pipe and if necessary, removes the current plumbing system. The plumber can also add showers in other spots if you so desire.
- Stage 6: The electrician reinstalls the wiring.
- Stage 7: The tiler does the preparation work needed for the walls and floor, which will be completed later.
- Stage 8: The plumber returns to complete waterproofing and installation of the bath.
- Stage 9: The tiler returns to complete the tiling and grouting.
- Stage 10: The painter comes in to do the paint work.
- Stage 11: The glazier is called to measure the space for the shower screen.
- Stage 12: The carpenter installs the vanity and storage.
- Stage 13: Remaining plumbing and electrical works are completed.
- Stage 14: The glazier returns to install the mirror, shower screen and other needed accessories.
- Stage 15: Cleaning and inspection of the renovation work done.
Can Plumbers Renovate Bathrooms?
Yes! In fact, if you want your bathroom renovation to last, hire a plumber! A beautiful and functional space is not worth the investment if it will need renovations in just a few years because of faulty plumbing. Hiring an expert takes away guesswork from your project and you can be sure that the work will be completed with quality materials and professionals.
Why Hire A Plumber For Bathroom Renovations?
After working out how you want to renovate your bathroom, the next big step is deciding whether to do it yourself or to hire a professional. While an interior designer is traditionally the person to consult and engage when it comes to home renovations, hiring a professional plumber is also a great option for the following reasons:
Plumbers understand the importance of safety
Bathroom remodeling can be a little risky if you don't prepare yourself. Things like heavy or hard-to-lift fixtures and pressure risks are just the beginning of your troubles. You should also watch out for wet floors, hot water sources, and leaks during this process as well.
If you want to make sure your renovation is safe and effective, hire a plumbing professional. They understand how to adjust water pressure and address hot water concerns! In addition, they will be able to fix any issue that arises during the remodeling process so there isn't an unexpected problem.
You will not be breaking the law
Are you aware that it is illegal to work on wiring or plumbing in Australia unless you are a licensed tradesman? Where that happens, not only might your insurance provider refuse to cover any damage that might arise, but there's also a chance that the tradesman will be fined for working without proper qualifications.
Faster and cheaper renovation
When it comes to bathroom renovations, experience is very important. Plumbers with many years of experience will know the exact locations of your pipes after a quick check of your bathroom. As a result, they will work faster and complete the renovation on time, saving you a lot stress and money in the long run.
You do not need to buy tools
If you decide to carry out the bathroom renovations yourself, you may spend a lot of money buying the tools needed for the job. However, hiring a plumbing professional will save you the need to source tools since the tradesmen will come with them.
You are guaranteed an error-free renovation
While doing your own bathroom renovation, it is possible that you might underestimate how complex it is. It seems like all you have to do is buy a fixture and attach it to some pipes; however, there are many other things that go into this project. Measurements need to be precise and you have to know which thread will match what pipe.
The process can become overwhelming when things don't fit together as planned. Even worse yet, you might turn off water somewhere else in the house leading to not just one small fix but something major because of neglecting an important step along the way.
A big error can occur during the renovation; a pipe might break or a fixture topples and this may go out of control.
Hiring a professional from the onset will always save you a lot because you will avoid problems such as these. Furthermore, Professional work has insurance unlike when you do things yourself.
Cost Of Bathroom Renovation In Australia
The cost of a bathroom renovation depends on various variables such as the size of the room, the scale of the renovation, the purpose of the renovation and your style and taste. An experienced renovation company will tell you that the cost of bathroom renovation ranges between $5,000 to $10,000 for basic bathroom renovation and can go as far as $30,000 for advanced remodeling.
$5,000 to $10,000
This range is the typical cost of a budget renovation. With such a budget, you can accomplish things like changing the colour and styles of your taps, fix new showers and baths. However, you will need much more than this to do re-plumbing and complete renovation of the bathroom.
$10,000 to $20,000
This gives you more financial power to engage the services of professional bathroom tradesmen such as plumbers and electricians. In Australia, there is a minimum wage and the cost of hiring professionals increases with skill set, so you should expect a good part of your budget to go to paying professional labourers.
With this budget you will have more choice and flexibility around style, quality and functionality of materials giving you more room for better bathroom renovations.
$20,000 to $30,000
With this budget, you can achieve a lot including overhauling the whole look of the bathroom by changing the bath and the shower. You can even add a spa or a wet room to add to the luxuriousness of your bathroom. Minor structural changes including adding or taking down walls can also be accommodated.
$30,000+
With a budget of $30,000 or more, you have the power to carry out holistic renovation and remodeling or whole bathroom areas with full luxury features and fittings.
Why Hire Professionals For Bathroom Renovation?
We think nothing is more important than transforming your bathroom space into a haven that's both beautiful and functional. When it comes to renovating your bathrooms, you probably already have some idea of what kind of design you want. Some people prefer modern and minimalist designs while others opt for traditional cottage-style finishes.
From intricate, accurately detailed designs to on-budget large scale upgrades – let the pros take care of your bathroom needs. You will have a project partner that is your go-to person who makes the process extremely easy and guarantees on time, budget delivery of a dream bathroom.
Gregory Built
Your bathroom should be exceptional and intentionally made to be stylish, functional and comfortable.
