Meet our expert
 One thing that comes across loud and clear in all the home renovation television shows and DIY magazines is that the bathroom – along with the kitchen – is one of the most expensive rooms to do up. Therefore, it makes sense to spend a little time and effort in deciding what you want. According to Phil Coulson, from Professional Bathroom Renovations, a good starting point is to try to visualise the style of bathroom you had in mind. Here are Phil's tips:
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Get inspiration
If you have difficulty in visualising your bathroom, collect photographs of aspects of bathrooms that appeal. It could be a colour scheme, vanity, window treatment or flooring. Tear out pages from magazines and catalogues and put them together. But don't combine too many styles, warns Phil. Having a 'bit of this and a bit of that' doesn't always work. Don't be frightened or embarrassed to put your plans down on paper.
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Lighting
Lighting is important in all rooms. If the idea of using dark colours appeals to you, make sure you have enough natural or artificial light to off-set this. Think about skylights or even making the existing window space bigger.
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Surface materials
 Familiarise yourself with the various materials that are available, i.e. stainless steel, stone, laminate and timber. Take a hands-on approach – get the feel of it. Making a 'feel board' can also be good. It's simply a piece of board on which you place pieces of materials, sample paint colours, tiles etc. The idea is to see how they all look together.
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How much do I spend?
At some point the budget for the project is going to influence selections. Shop around before you set your budget so you have some idea of the costs involved. Apart from the money you might spend on the vanity, tapware, basinware, tiling and flooring; most of the costs are hidden – literally. What's behind the walls, above the ceiling and beneath the floors incurs the greatest costs. However Phil claims that you can do a decent job on a bathroom renovation for around $8000 – this includes labour, fixtures and fittings – although recently many of his customers are paying considerably more.
"We've been doing a lot of work recently for mainland commuters. These are people who fly off to their job in Sydney or Melbourne on Monday morning and then fly back to Tassie on Friday night. They're paying around $18,000 – $20,000 for renovations in houses in the more established areas of Tasmania. One customer's renovations are over $40,000. But that's for everything that opens and shuts," said Phil.
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Investment value
Another thing that may influence cost is size. Bathrooms should be as large as possible to ensure ease of use. If it is difficult to move around because the bathroom is too small, the quality of life in the house can be reduced. Potential buyers are often put off by a small bathroom.
Also think about the future. If the occupants of the home are ageing, they may need special fixtures and fittings to help maintain their independence. It pays to make allowance for these now. And the final tip on cost is to get a reputable renovator to carry out the work. Your new bathroom is an expensive item, but the investment will add value to your home – provided it is properly designed and constructed.
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DIY v the experts
The facts:
1. You are NOT permitted to do any electrical or plumbing work yourself.
2. You will need to check with your local council before doing any structural work yourself.
Next you need to ask yourself these questions:
- How big is the job?
- How long will it take?
- Do I have the time and skills to do it myself?
- Have I got the necessary tools to do the job?
Some of these questions will be easy to answer, e.g. you can hire the necessary tools. However when it comes to skills and time, think carefully. It may pay to break down the job into smaller jobs. Know what you can comfortably do versus what an expert can do. Reaching a compromise where you complete the finishing touches yourself may the most economical and personally satisfying method.
With that out of the way, if you are still keen to do it yourself you should plan your workflow so that you do things in the right order. You will also need to give yourself plenty of time because there's a fair chance you will end up spending more time on the smallest room in the house. Now here's another consideration: Do you expect to still be using the bathroom while you are doing renovations? If your answer is 'yes', then it's a bad idea. If you haven't got a second toilet or don't have access to a shower then peace and harmony in the household will be stretched to the limit. Best to pack up the household inhabitants and send them off to Nan's for a long weekend. You'll get more work done and you won't be hassled by someone looking over your shoulder thinking, "Do you know what you're doing?"
Get organised
Before you start ripping things out make sure you have any planning approvals or permits in place. You will also need an electrician to come and make safe any electrics. Have a good talk to him about your plans so that he can put in the appropriate wiring at the right time. Removal and replacement of toilets, baths, vanities etc. is best done by a plumber. Make sure you co-ordinate your plumber and electrician to be there at the appropriate time. Also make sure any electrical or plumbing fittings are delivered in advance so that you have everything there ready to be fitted. With tradespeople time is money, so get yourself organised.
Water, water everywhere
 Remember you are dealing with a wet area. So you will invariably be looking at tiling or some sort of waterproof sheeting. Your floor covering will also need to be water resistant. You basically have the option of tiling, hard floor covering like lino, or polished boards. All methods will require sound preparation and you will need to take particular care to seal baths, shower recesses etc. If water gets in under your tiles or floor coverings you will soon have trouble with swelling or rotting timber.
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Ventilation
Similarly you will need an extractor fan to draw off steam. Make sure it is the right size for your bathroom. Also think about where you are going to put it – your electrical contractor can advise you. Windows that open are a good idea to help prevent mould build up.
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Heating and cooling
 Heating and cooling of the bathroom is also an important consideration when designing. If renovating, take into account the direction the room faces. Is it shaded in winter? Tall shrubs and bushes will also influence the temperature of your bathroom. And don't forget the insulation.
Click here for the top six bathroom heating options.
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Fixtures and fittings
These will be determined by your taste and your budget. But consider the following:
- Water saver shower heads – they will cut down on your hot water usage and save you money.
- A heated towel rail – in the middle of winter there's nothing better than warm dry towels every morning.
- Permanent lighting over your vanity mirror with plenty of power points nearby.
Paint
Only use paint that can tolerate a bit of steam and damp. Any of the acrylics in a satin ‘wipe-clean' finish are ideal. And remember the general colour rule: small room – light colours; larger room – darker colours.
Click here for painting tips and types of paint.
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