Table of Contents
So, you’re considering a bathroom renovation. Look, it is a big task but a very rewarding one! And with the right planning, you can ensure that everything goes smoothly and gets done in no time. And, when it comes to selling your home, a revamped bathroom or kitchen will increase the value of your home.
We discuss what to consider when planning your bathroom reno, what you will need, and we’ve compiled the ultimate DIY bathroom renovation checklist for you to make the process easier.
How to plan a bathroom renovation
The most important part of your bathroom renovation lies in the planning. You need to first envision what you want to achieve with the renovation, as well as keeping practicality in mind. If you overlook the planning phase, you could end up spending more money on redoing things or having to address things you overlooked.
Here are a couple of questions you need to ask to plan your bathroom renovation.
- Who will be using the bathroom?
A bathroom for an individual versus a family will more than likely look different. A family bathroom might need a walk-in shower and bath for the little ones, whereas an individual can make do with a small shower.
- How big is your bathroom?
This is important when choosing the products, fixtures and fittings. Always measure everything!
- Bath, shower, or both?
You will need to plan which of these will fit best where and what plumbing requirements it will come with.
- What is the cost of a bathroom renovation Perth project?
How much does a bathroom renovation cost? That’s another important factor to take into account before starting. As a guideline, you can plan on spending anything from $10,000 to $30,000. However, this will depend on a number of things, including the size of your bathroom, fittings you opt for, labour costs, permits required, materials you decide to use, etc.You can generally add 10% to your budget to act as a buffer.
- Will this be a DIY bathroom renovation job or will you call in the professionals?
This is important not just for budgeting but in planning how long the renovation will take. You also need to take into account whether your plumbing and electricals are too advanced to take on on your own.
- Do you need to do it all in one go?
If your budget is limited, it might be helpful to not go for a complete bathroom renovation but rather complete it in stages. This will help with cutting down and saving money in the process. For example, installing a new shower screen and vanity, a fresh coat of paint, new floor tiles or wall tiling could have a big effect already, and then you can do the rest when you have the budget for it.
- How many sinks and vanities do you need?
If the bathroom is for a couple, you might want to consider his and hers sinks to make sharing the space organised and enjoyable. Do you have to store a lot of toiletries for the whole family? Then you might want to get a closet vanity with loads of storage space and drawers.
- Mixer versus tradition taps
Do you want to have separate cold and hot water taps or one mixer tap to switch seamlessly between the two for the perfect temperature?
- What power points will you need?
An often overlooked aspect of planning a renovation is where to place your powerpoints. A great idea for hiding powerpoint in a bathroom is to place it inside your vanity.
- Toilet standard or in-wall/wall mounted cistern
This will influence your plumbing needs. In-wall cisterns are ideal for more modern bathrooms as well as smaller spaces.
- What ventilation and lighting do you need and want?
These two often go hand-in-hand and are two very important things to take into account when renovating a bathroom. You will need plenty of ventilation in your bathroom. If you have a small bathroom with no windows, you need to consider an extractor fan to avoid the formation of mould. You can get extractor fans installed with your lights so that it switches on whenever the bathroom light is switched on.
- What additional luxuries could you add?
If you want to go all-out with your bathroom reno, what could you add? Things like underfloor heating or heated towel rails can make the world’s difference to your daily bathroom experience.
Your Bathroom Renovation Checklist
A bathroom renovation is not something that happens overnight, unfortunately. You can see it as three stages, namely the planning, production, and final stage. We break down each of these for you below.
Before You Start: The Planning Stage
After you’ve answered all of the questions above, it’s time to start more hands-on planning.
- Look for Inspiration: Create a Project Board with Bathroom Ideas
Before you decide what you want to do, look around for bathroom reno ideas. This will help guide you and give a visual representation of what bathroom styles and elements you like, dislike, and which of these go well together. You can do this by cutting out images from magazines or using Pinterest for collecting your bathroom renovation ideas.
- Put it Down on Paper: Draw Your Bathroom Design
It might be helpful to get a bathroom to help you with this step. You can either do it on paper or use some of the 3D modelling tools available online.
- Shop Around for Contractors
Are you looking for a dream team to help you renovate your bathroom? First, ask around and get recommendations, read reviews, etc., before finalising who will work on the project. According to Sydney-based plumbing company Fixedtoday, home projects such as renovating a bathroom can be overwhelming due to the preparation in design, planning, and costing and it is always a great idea to consult a contractor to help you in every step of the way.
- Permits and Licenses: Do You Need Any?
Some plumbing or other renovation might require specific permits. Ensure that you adhere to local regulations.
- Timeline of the Project
Although you have to be realistic that not all deadlines will necessarily be met, you have to set out a timeline to guide and keep you on track. As mentioned before, the renovation budget will also likely influence the timeline. Plan accordingly by adding 30% to the timeline the contractor gives you.
The Middle Stage: In Production
- Order Your Products and Fixtures
Before you can start with the production stage, you need to order all the products you need. Keep in mind that this is not necessarily an overnight delivery and that some deliveries can take weeks.
- Strip Your Bathroom
Create a blank template for you to work on by stripping your bathroom of the old. It can often be a messy job, so carefully consider when you plan to do this so that you don’t frustrate your neighbours! Also, decide whether you want to do it yourself or call in the professionals. The latter is always recommended so that you don’t do permanent damage.
- Call in the Contractor
If you have a team assisting, set up a clean workspace for them. If you’re doing a DIY job, ensure you do the same and keep the space clean as you go.
- Shop for the Finer Details
If you still have some decisions left to make, such as the colour of wall paint or type of towel hooks or rails, now is the time to get it done while the bigger elements are being taken care of.
- Keep Checking in and the Communication Flowing
Ensure that you keep checking on the progress, timeline, and budget as the project progresses.
The Final Stage: Completing the Project
- Over Deadline? Don’t Sweat it
With any building or renovation project, you’re more than likely to go over the deadline. However, try to remain calm while still reiterating the timeline with your contractor or those involved in the project.
- Put Everything Under a Microscope
Before you consider the project done, carefully inspect all the work done to ensure that it’s up to standard. Any snags should be flagged and fixed before you consider the project done.
- Enjoy Your New Dream Bathroom
Complete the picture with fresh flowers or a plant and celebrate your new bathroom sanctuary!
Your Bathroom Renovation Perth Partners
Design your dream bathroom today. Contact us for all your high-quality bathroom products and fittings.
