Planning a bathroom Renovating a bathroom
Renovating a tired, dreary bathroom is not a difficult task if you can keep the same basic layout. There are lots of ways to update your bathroom on a budget.
There are ways and means to transforming your bathroom on a budget
Cleaning and decorating
Simply giving your facilities a good spring clean can make a big difference. If the tiles are looking shabby or the grout mouldy, you can easily sort this out with specialist cleaning materials. Protect the finish of new or cleaned grout with a grout sealer that helps stop staining and mould growth in the future – a great idea if you are planning to let the property.
Specialist tile paints can give you a new look without the hassle and expense of re-tiling. Alternatively, look at a system of board panels, waterproof boards that can be easily secured to the bathroom wall. They come in plain or patterned colours, some even giving a tile effect.
The next thing to tackle is the bath and or the basin. It might be that the bath just needs a good clean, or the taps and waste pipes need changing – this is easy to do and very cost-effective.
If you are lucky enough to have a cast iron bath but the ceramic covering has started to crack, consider buying a resurfacing kit or hiring someone to do a professional job for you, rather than replacing it. When you come to sell your home, buyers tend to rate period features.
It may be that your bathroom just needs a really thorough clean to get rid of mould and ingrained dirt.
After this it is a matter of accessorising – new curtains or blinds, perhaps adding a new shower curtain or panel or putting down a new floor. A coat of paint on the walls will give your bathroom a whole new look (check out specialist bathroom paints for durability).
Upgrade the suite
If you want to fit a new suite or relocate the bath, shower, loo or sink, try not to do anything that would involve changing the existing pipe work or costs will start to mount.
When choosing a suite, consider a bath made from acrylic, cast iron or steel (but check that the floor is strong enough to take a cast iron bath). You might want to go all the way with a luxurious spa or roll-top bath or even create a wet room.
Fitting a new suite to the existing design is cheaper and easier than relocating the bath, sink or loo.
It is best to buy a bathroom suite of as high a quality as you can afford but it definitely pays to shop around – there are a huge range of products to choose from. Look online, or visit local DIY stores and builders’ merchants as well as local bathroom specialists to ensure you get the best deal for your money. Try to spot special deals such as clearance or other sale offers to get an even better price.
If someone is quoting for purchasing the goods and fitting them, always check what it would cost to have these jobs done separately.
To find reliable local tradespeople, Which? members can look on Which? Local - where members list traders they've used who have done a good job.
Building regulations
If you are remodelling your bathroom, it’s worth updating to current building regulations standards, such as ensuring that any metal plumbing is earthed where electrics are earthed and that electrical fittings such as fans, sockets or additional lighting are created and signed off by a Part P registered electrician.
