How easy is it to change your bathroom?

If you're keen to change your bathroom layout, the first task is to arrange for a fully qualified plumber to visit, as they should be able to determine whether your new design would be achievable.

In many cases, an existing bathroom layout just doesn't work. Whether you'd prefer to relocate the bath tub, dispense with it altogether or just move the shower so that you're able to have a large walk-in, the bathroom will need updating. And whatever your reasons to want to change, the good news is that in most cases it is absolutely possible! The skilled team of plumbers that we work with here at Strive For Design advise that in most instances it is possible to move pipework around, so don’t always believe that your current layout is set in stone.

The hardest item of sanitary ware to move is the WC as this all depends on where the soil stack is situated. It's often located externally on houses and internally in flats and apartments. Soil pipe locations can be relocated in most cases, but this can't be confirmed until the whole bathroom has been stripped out. One solution is to build some boxing in to accommodate the pipework, but this is likely to be visible and doesn’t look great on the eye. It can, however, be the cheapest and simplest solution.

Changing the position of the soil stack is more costly and can add more time to your renovation project. Drawing on their experience, Leigh and the Strive for Design team will always look for the option of keeping the pipework hidden, and unless it is totally impossible due to the position of the soil stack or joists/steels, or it's in an apartment where the stack runs vertically down all the flats, generally the layouts can be changed.

The shower can be simpler to switch around, but again the distance to the soil pipe is crucial here, as it's imperative that there is enough gradient fall for the water to run away quickly and efficiently. There are some ways around this, which include adding a step up to get the fall of gravity and the position and type of mixer valve that you have, whether this is fitted on the surface of the wall or hidden within it.

So what should you investigate before you make a commitment to change? You should most definitely have confirmation of where your soil pipe is located to determine which way it runs out. Ventilation is key to bathrooms too, as Building Regulations specify it is important to consider what ventilation you have and where it will be situated before any works go ahead. Updating pipework to the existing installation is good advice as this will alleviate old pipework and leaks. Any works carried out will come with a guarantee. Older properties are more straightforward for this as they tend to have timber floors. Newer buildings tend to have concrete flooring which makes it more time-consuming to expose the pipework, and this can also add expense. The position of the door can have a huge effect on the bathroom design and layout, so remember to include clearance for your doorway in the design. In some cases, we've installed a pocket door. If possible, allow the doorway to run internally to an existing wall, as this avoids the need to knock down and replace the wall, which would only add extra expense and can potentially save a lot of space.

The images below show the before and after of a bathroom we transformed for a client in Hertfordshire recently. The bath was under the window, the basin was under the eaves of the roof, and there was no mirror and very limited head height. Leigh and the team changed the layout, moved the WC, relocated the bath to where the basin was and put the vanity unit onto a wall so that the clients could have a mirror! Needless to say, they were delighted with the outcome!

Leigh Hall is an interior designer in Cambridge and Newmarket, and with her team helps her clients to transform their homes. If you're looking to breathe new life into you bathroom, why not contact us to request a no-obligation quotation?