Bathrooms

What to consider when replacing a bathroom

Scope of the project

Replacing a bathroom suite requires only the most basic plumbing skills, a few tools and DIY skills, and a bit of common sense. The following should provide you with some tips on what to consider when installing a new bathroom whether you opt to do this via the DIY route or find a recommended bathroom specialist.

The complexity of the job clearly depends upon the scope of the project. The first thing you need to consider is exactly what you want to do: are you replacing the bath, shower, toilet and sink, will you be re-doing the bathroom floor or wall tiles, will you be looking to replace vanity cabinets, shelving?

What is your budget?

When planning any home improvement project it is really important to be realistic about the costs. Clearly the scope of the project drives its cost. Do not be fooled into thinking that the main costs are only for the bathroom suite; ventilation, wall tiling, mirrors, accessories, light fittings, towel rails and so on can all add up. Set yourself a budget you can easily afford and then reduce by 25% - this should be what you aim to work within. Home improvement projects often overrun or you find additional pieces of work you had not foreseen. It is better to budget low and allow yourself some breathing space.

Who will do the work?

Once you have decided what you want to do and what your budget is, you need to consider whether you are going to tackle the job yourself or whether you are going to find a plumber to do the work. If you opt to go down the plumber route then the key is to find a plumber you are comfortable with - this is where xpertfind.com can help by finding you a suitable qualified local plumber. It's a simple process, complete some basic details on your plumbing job and let us do the hard work of finding 3 quality rated plumbers who can provide you with quotes and the decision on who you go with is yours. Whether it be a shower plumber you need or you need to find a bathroom installer, xpertfind's national coverage means we have the right recommended bathroom or plumber contractor for you.

Click here: to post a bathroom job with xpertfind

Once you have found 3 suitable plumbers or bathroom installers you need to decide which one to go with. Choosing a plumber has some useful tips on what to consider when choosing a plumber.

If you decide to tackle the job by yourself, make sure you plan enough time, have appropriate tools and get or have access to expert advice should you need it.

The DIY route

If you decide to tackle the bathroom yourself, the following could help in planning your project. Please note, it is recommended that your installation is checked by a qualified plumber or electrician to ensure your bathroom suite is correctly earthed and remember to consider safety before you start any DIY project.

Tools for the job

Step one in any DIY project is to make sure you have the right tools. Here is a suggested list to get you started:

• Long-nosed pliers
• Basic wrench
• Tape measure
• Spirit level
• Screwdriver
• Two adjustable spanners
• Damp cloth
• Club Hammer
• Cold chisel
• Pencil
• Trimming knife

Purchasing your bathroom

Bathroom suites

Bathroom suites are most usually sold as three-piece suites. Normally a bathroom suite includes:

• Bath, bath taps, plug and bath panels
• Basin and supporting pedestal, basin taps and plug
• Toilet, cistern, seat, handle

If you don't buy a bathroom suite, you'll have to remember to get all these items separately. It is easy to overlook some elements particularly things like cistern handles. A basic bathroom suite will cost from £500-£600. You won't get high style for this price but you will probably get a choice of colour which can be coordinated with your bathroom tiles.

Showers:

When choosing a shower there are 2 main things to consider: the type of shower and what type of hot water system you have.

There are 3 common hot water systems in the UK - Gravity Fed, Combi Boiler, or High Pressure unvented systems. The choice of shower will be dependent upon what your hot water system is.

Gravity Fed: Power, mixer or pumped digital showers
Combi Boiler: Mixer or unpumped digital showers
High Pressure unvented: Mixer or unpumped digital showers

There are 4 main types of shower - electric shower, mixer shower, power shower and digital shower.

Electric shower:

Has an integrated water heater, and heats water as you use it. As the water feed is from your mains cold water supply, it works independently from your hot water system, and is therefore suitable for use in any home, regardless of which hot water system you have.

Mixer shower:

Uses the hot water heated by your boiler or immersion heater and blends it with cold water to deliver a shower at your selected temperature. Mixer showers are ideal for Gravity Fed systems, Combi Boilers and High Pressure unvented systems.

Power shower:

Has an integrated pump within the unit, which will deliver a powerful flow rate. Power showers are suitable for use with Gravity Fed systems, and are ideal if you have low water pressure.

Digital shower:

Works on the same principal as mixer showers, but a digital processor allows water flow and temperature to be controlled at the touch of a button. Use a pumped version for Gravity Fed systems, and an un-pumped version for Combi Boilers or High Pressure unvented systems.

Accessories

Most bathroom specialists or large DIY stores offer a wide range of accessories to match your chosen bathroom suite (shelves, soap holders, toilet roll holders, toothbrush holders, toilet brush holders, towel rails). The list is endless and this is an easy way to eat into your budget. You can easily spend 25% of the price of your bathroom suite on accessories, so plan carefully.

Once you have made your decision on scope of the project, your budget and what tools you need, you should be ready to buy your bathroom supplies and start your project.

There are many sources of help and advice in both planning and installing your bathroom. Major DIY retailers will often have advice that is worth reading before you start: www.diy.com, www.focusdiy.com