The Do’s and Don'ts of Bathroom & Wet Room Renovation

If your bathroom is starting to look tired, out-dated or simply needs a refresh, it might be time for a bathroom makeover. A brand new wet room is the perfect renovation project to create a newly loved area of the house, but it is also a great way of achieving instant equity and added property value. But, like any renovation job, it has to be done right. Cutting corners and failure to follow best practices can really end in your bathroom dreams becoming a nightmare. We’ve put together a list of dos and don’ts of bathroom renovation to help you avoid these mistakes and create a fully-functioning wet room everyone will love.

DO – Plan your design

Before you do anything else, it’s important that you plan your project to a T. Create a mood board of your favourite design ideas; include tile designs, fixture themes and accessories. They are a great way to organise your ideas and help you decide which direction you would like to go in – as well as determining a likely budget and timeframe.

After you plan the aesthetics, you can look at your space and decide where everything would fit – draw out the floor plan with each feature positioned according to the appropriate building regulations. Keep in mind the major plumbing lines when planning the positions of your toilet, shower and sink.

If you have decided on having a wet room, it’s important to consider drain positioning options for ultimate functionality. A wall mounted drain on the log wall of the room can be a great advantage but do bear in mind your joist direction and any tricky structures below. Our technical team is always happy to help with those initial stages of the project and recommend the best solution.

DON’T – Overestimate your DIY skills

Whilst doing it yourself may save you money in the initial phases, it can cause you problems in the long run. Wet room installation is a job for professionals – if your skills aren’t up to scratch, it’s best to hire an experienced contractor with an up-to-date license and insurance to manage operations.

DO – Install an effective ventilation system

Wet rooms need an effective ventilation solution to remove the high levels of moisture – condensation with nowhere to go will lead to a number of problems. If it’s not dealt with, wet rooms become a breeding ground for mould and bacteria, which not only looks unsightly but can also lead to bad health such as respiratory problems. Poor ventilation also leads to damp, which could result in rotting plaster and grout, tiling cracks and even tiles falling off.

You need the right kind of ventilation fan, and it needs to be positioned in the right place – ideally by the shower but not next to any air conditioning or heat vents.

DON’T – Move the plumbing

Altering a bathroom’s plumbing system is not only difficult, but is a very expensive proposition. If you can, avoid rearranging the plumbing fixtures unless it is absolutely necessary – it will keep costs down and also will prevent you adding an incalculable amount of time onto your project.

DO – Save budget for the unexpected

It’s good to leave room in your budget for the unknown – you may be faced with hidden issues or unexpected problems. For instance, you could discover mould or mildew damage behind your existing shower walls which you may not know about until the installation is underway. Just in case you run into surprises, it’s best to have a contingency budget in time as well as money, leaving you room to deal with them.

DON’T – Cheap out on materials

When it comes to your wet room materials, you shouldn’t sacrifice on quality. The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the house – it gets used a lot each day, so it’s worth paying for high-quality fixtures and fittings to minimise any unnecessary repair costs in the future. Quality products don’t always have to break the bank – you just need to know where to find them. We offer a wide range of high-quality wet room materials which can withstand wear and tear for years to come. See our wetroom product range.

We can help you out with your project, right from the design stages to installation. If you would like help with your wet room project, then don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Important update to the NHBS Specifications 2018

Backing surfaces for tiling should;

• Be moisture resistant, where frequent wetting occurs 

When Tiling; 

• Proprietary water-resistant grouting should be used in accordance with the manufacturer 

Grouting should be: 

• As specified in the design including mix and colour 
• Cement-based, epoxy resin or a proprietary product 
• ‘Waterproof in and around shower enclosures and where tiling can be saturated’. 

Gypsum plaster should not be used where; 

• ‘Repeated or persistent wetting may occur’