Bathroom renovation isn’t something to be taken lightly;

aside from the disruption caused by having this part of your home out of action for a week or two, there are various practical considerations you need to bear in mind before you start.

What’s the problem?

The main thing you need to remember when you’re planning a bathroom revamp is that, unlike other furniture that can be picked up and moved relatively easily, bathroom fittings like toilets, sinks and showers are not as straightforward to swap around.

This is because of the in and outlet pipes that they’re connected to, as well as the drain for the toilet, which will restrict where you can position particular features unless you want to undertake a major remodel.

How far can you move fixtures?

However, that’s not to say it’s impossible to move things like the sink or shower a short distance – this doesn’t require too much extra work, as it will normally be a simple pipe extension for the relevant in and outlets.

If this is something you’d like to do, your best bet is to find a local plumber who can advise you about the most appropriate steps to take in your home. Websites like Rated People can put you in touch with homeowner recommended tradesmen, giving you confidence that the work will be carried out to a high standard.

Of course, you can completely rearrange the bathroom and if you’re already planning a full revamp, there’s no better time to do it than this.

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A word about toilets .

If it’s the toilet that you’d like to relocate, think very hard before deciding to go ahead with this project. The problem with this fitting is the soil pipe, which carries the waste out of the property.

These pipes have to be fitted very carefully, with specific dimensions and the right level of slope to enable the system to pull the waste through, but not so much of a slope that blockages can be created.

As the plumbing around the toilet relates to the sewage system, you may also discover that there are specific building regulations which you need to adhere to when making major alterations in this respect. If in doubt, consult your plumber or contact your local council to check.

Think about the flooring

This may sound like an odd thing to consider when you’re re-modelling your bathroom; after all, you’ll be more concerned with the fixtures you’re installing. However, the type of flooring you have will impact on how easy it is to add extra plumbing and move pipes.

For example, if your bathroom is on the first floor, your plumber will more than likely be able to run the new pipes under the floor joists, although you’ll have to be prepared for sections of the ceiling in the room below to be demolished and rebuilt. Should your bathroom be on the ground floor and your home has a concrete slab foundation, you’ll need to break up the concrete to fit any new pipes or drains, which is a trickier process.

Are you keeping any old design features?

Another thing to bear in mind is whether you’d like to keep the floor covering, for instance, or the tiles on your wall when you remodel your bathroom. If the answer to this question is yes, think very carefully about how much damage will need to be done to these in order to move the sink/shower/bath/toilet and whether replacements are readily available. Don’t forget, if you do move a fixture, you’ll need to have the same tiles or flooring to cover the space that’s left.

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