The Bathroom Renovation Process
Stage 1 - The Procedure
Once you have decided to engage John Hill Bathrooms we start with a meeting to discuss your ideas and requirement for the new bathroom.
We will measure the bathroom and produce a design to suit the space.
We will advise you on the different products that can be fitted into a bathroom and we can discuss a suitable budget for you to work with.
You can supply your own bathroom fittings, or you can select from our discounted packages.
We have one to suite most budgets.
Stage 2 - The Quote
As part of our service we offer a competitive and obligation free quote.
This quote will come as a full written contract and will reflect the agreement we discussed at our first meeting and will be tailored to suite your specific requirements.
Once the quote has been accepted we will issue a building schedule showing the start and finish date. Our aim is to complete your bathroom renovation on time and to budget.
Stage 3 - The Build
On the first day of the renovation we remove and store any object that’s could get damaged and we cover the floors from the access point to the bathroom with floor coverings.
It is our aim to keep your house clean and tidy throughout the course of the build.
If there are items from your bathroom that are to be reused, we carefully store them away.
Once the renovation has been completed we will clean the work area and remove all rubbish from the site.
How long will it take?
Typically, a bathroom renovation will take between three and six weeks to complete, depending on the size of the room and complexity of the requirements.
We are determined to keep the disruption to our clients to a minimum.
Fully Managed
Bathroom renovations are not easy. The biggest difficulty is finding the required sub trades and keeping on top of the renovations progress, not to mention having to pay them all separately.
At John Hill Bathrooms all our bathroom renovations are fully managed.
We only use qualified and experienced tradesmen.
We also make sure that the subtrades arrive at the required time and that their work is work is carried out in a professional manner.
This frees up our clients, so they can carry on with their lives with the minimum of disruption.
Estimating Bathroom Renovation Costs
There are three things to consider when estimating the cost of your bathroom make over:
1. The cost of the build itself. This will include the labour and materials.
This cost will be included in the quote you receive from John Hill Bathrooms.
2. The cost of the fittings and fixtures you have chosen for your new bathroom. It is in this area where the biggest savings can be made. If your budget is tight then smart buying is a must.
3 . The size of the bathroom has an impact on the costs. A small en-suite will cost less to renovate than a main bathroom.
So how much will it cost?
We can cater for most realistic budgets. The cost of a bathroom renovation depends on how much work is involved.
As a general guide, the full cost of a budget bathroom renovation is around $12 - 15,000.
The cost for a medium-priced bathroom will be between $20,000 and $30,000 depending on what you put into to it.
At the top end its not uncommon for the total build to cost over $60,000.
Keeping to your budget
Renovating your bathroom doesn’t have to be a hugely expensive undertaking.
There are several things that you can do to keep the cost down to within your budget.
Don’t move fitting and fixtures into different positions as this will require extra plumbing and will increase the cost.
If you decide to change a floor mounted vanity to a wall hung, then the waste pipe will need to be changed.
Changing, altering or adding wall framing will increase the build cost.
Painted walls cost less than tiled walls, and acrylic showers are more cost effective than custom tiled showers.
If the existing ceiling is in good condition it can be left in place and just painted.
There is a big difference in the prices when it comes to bathroom fittings and fixtures. If you purchase through John Hill Bathrooms we can help keep the costs down, but if you choose to purchase these items yourself we recommend that you shop around for the best prices.
Its important to set aside a sum of about 12% to 15% of the total cost for contingency’s.
If it is found that there is rot in the floor or that the floor is out of level.
A contingency sum will cover any of these events.
Building Consent - Do I need one?
If you are just replacing old fittings and fixtures with new ones that are similar to the existing, “like for like”, then a building consent is not required.
But if you decide to add an item, like a toilet or a hand basin, that is not already existing, then a building consent is required.
The same applies with showers and baths. If you decide to replace a bath or an acrylic shower with a custom tiled shower, a building consent is required.
A building consent gives a home owner the reassurance that their bathroom renovation has been done correctly, and that their home is still covered by their insurance policy.
And if they decide to sell the property they have the relevant warranties attached to the LIM.
Custom Showers and Waterproofing
At John Hill Bathrooms we take pride in our custom level entry showers.
They can be fitted into most bathrooms and built to any configuration.
They are fully tiled and have frameless glass fitted to them.
We remove the old showers particle board floor and replace it with H3 treated plywood.
The shower base is then formed on top of the new floor.
We then waterproof not only the floor and walls of the shower but the whole bathroom floor as well.
Once the shower has been completed, we then use an epoxy grout of the client’s colour choice which seals the joints between the tiles and gives another layer of waterproofing.
Finally, we fit the custom frameless shower glass.
All our custom showers and waterproof membranes come with full warranty’s and comply with the building code.
Showers that leak
At John Hill Bathrooms we get called to homes with leaking showers regularly.
It is not just tiled shower that leak, but acrylic showers and even showers with Stainless bases and Seratone panels that leak as well.
In almost all cases the reason that they leak is because either they have been installed incorrectly or they have not been maintained.
If you find yourself with a leaking shower, just call John Hill Bathrooms and we can come and give you advise on what to do to fix the problem.
Floor and Wall Coverings
To tile or not to tile
Tiles
Let’s face it, tiles look great and with underfloor heating fitted they are a favourite surface covering with our clients.
A standard floor tile measures about 600mm but there are many different sizes and designs on the market from small mosaics to “subway” type tiles to strip tiles that look like a timber floor.
As a rule of thumb the smaller the tile the more expensive they are to lay.
In purchasing your tiles from a supplier it's important to remember that tile prices are dependant on size,
type, and quality, with an average cost of $50 per square metre to be expected.
Vinyl
If you are working to a tight budget, then modern vinyl floor covering may be a better option for you.
They come in many different colours and designs and look smart when fitted properly.
Timber Floors and Overlays
Timber floors give a bathroom a warm rich look, but water damage can become an issue with them as they are prone to rot, so having them under showers or baths is not a good option.
In our opinion, timber overlay floors are not a suitable option for wet areas as the risk of swelling at the joints is just not worth the worry.
Storage and Cabinetry
Vanities that sit on the floor give more storage, and wall mounted vanities look more modern but require that the waste pipe is in the wall not the floor.
Recessed overhead mirrored cabinets are also a storage option but require framing work that will increase the build cost.
When thinking about storage we suggest to our clients that they remove all the items from their vanity and throw out the rubbish.
They are always surprised at how little storage they really need.
Twin basin vanities look good, but are larger and more expensive.
So, ask yourself how often do members of the family use the bathroom at the same time?
Tapware and Mixers
These items are important, as once a shower or bath mixer has been installed into a wall they are very difficult to replace if something goes wrong with them.
John Hill Bathrooms recommend purchasing good quality mixers and taps from known manufacturers and resist the temptation to purchase the cheap imports that have flooded our market.
Baths
Baths form the centre piece of the main bathroom and come in several configurations.
Free standing baths, either modern or traditional claw foot, are popular and don’t require a cradle to be built.
Island baths require a cradle and will allow a tiled upper surface if that is the look your trying to create, but neither of these bath types are a good option if you are planning a shower over the bath.
A shower over bath requires a cradle, and they also require that two sides of the bath are set into the wall and have a flashing system incorporated to stop water entering the wall cavity.
Another requirement is that the shower walls are waterproofed either with an acrylic liner or tiles on top of a waterproof membrane.
Bath prices range from $350 for an acrylic, to the porcelain free standing which will cost several thousand.
Toilets and Bidets
Most modern toilets are now the close coupled back to wall types which hides all the pipework.
These can range in price from $350 to over $1,000 depending on the budget.
The other type is the inwall cistern which not only give that modern minimal look, but are also good in situations where space is an issue.
The inwall cistern toilets are generally more expensive than close coupled, ranging in price between $800 and $1,800.
Bidets are slowly becoming more popular with some households. Bidets require the space to fit them, so they are not suitable for small bathroom, and like toilets they are required to be plumbed into a water source.
The price of a Bidet can upwards of $700.
Lighting
Lighting is an important element to a bathroom makeover but is often over looked.
For the average sized bathrooms, we fit two recessed LED light and a wall mounted light over the vanity mirror.
This set up gives ample light in most circumstances.
With larger bathrooms we will fit more ceiling lights and position them to operate in banks to highlight key features such as the bath or custom shower.