A Bathroom Planner needs to consider the amount of space available and planning accordingly. At least 70cms between each piece of bathroom furniture is required in order to feel comfortable when in the bathroom. Are the walls going to be tiled or is new ventilation going to be added, if you are moving the toilet or shower to a new position, you will also need to consider how this will impact on your electricity and plumbing set-up. The bathroom planner must consider the abilities required to successfully carry out the work involved. For instance changing the wiring in a bathroom can be a tough job, plus it is paramount that you follow the correct safety procedures as water and electricity do not mix. If you are moving the toilet are you comfortable making a new connection to your home’s main soil stack or drain? Do you even know what this is? If we are going to do this then I advice you to first check the regulations around these issues first.
A bathroom planner will need to consider what type of bathroom is going to be installed. Do you want a fitted bathroom, where all the bathroom utilities are fitted in units and follow a single design to create a sense of unity? You will probably be buying these units from a manufacturer and whilst installation will cost extra, doing it yourself with the time, effort and possible pitfalls involved may not be worth it in the long run.
The Bathroom Planner might consider the En Suite bathroom. Now because you have the bedroom nearby the important issue to consider here is the sound made by the bathroom utilities and extractor fans that will most likely need to be installed. It is possible to reduce the sound of a toilet cistern refilling by installing an inlet valve. The Bathroom Planner will need to consider the cost and the skill required to carry them out.
If you have a very small space to work with then a Cloakroom design where everything is compact might be the best option. There are narrow cisterns, toilets and basins specially designed to fit into crammed corners available. In a space like this a window or extractor fan are a necessity.
If you like to feel free in your bathroom then maybe the bathroom planner might choose to go for a Wet Room design. This is where there are no enclosures for showers, the water is allowed to run away freely and drain through the floor. The biggest issue here is ensuring that the bathroom is fully waterproofed and the cost and time involved in doing so.
What A Bathroom Planner Needs To Consider In The Practical Installation of Plumbing
The easiest option is of course to keep everything in the same place. However this may not always be possible so let us consider what these changes will mean in our plumbing. Of course a Bathroom Planner also needs to consider the safety of the electrical systems installed which is a subject all to itself and for the sake of brevity, we shall focus on the plumbing only for the rest of this article.
If each bathroom utility has its own valve then they can simply be turned off and each item can be replaced one after another. However, if they do not, then you will need to first turn off the water at the nearest gate valve, it may even be necessary to drain down the entire system. When dealing with plumbing check the regulations that apply to the UK (If in another country then check the respective authorities). In the UK these are The Water Supply Bye-laws which state that you must give your supply company 5 days notice when performing any activity that could contaminate the water supply. Also the Building Regulations which cover the disposal of waste water from appliances within a property.
Re-routing the waste pipe from a toilet is not simple. An easier option is to fit a macerator behind the toilet pan. A macerator allows the pumping of the waste through small pipes which are then joined with the main stack allowing a toilet to be fitted virtually anywhere. This is possibly the best option to go for.
The Bathroom Planner needs to consider how the shower is going to be installed. It is best to take the shower water pipes off the main water supply and not try to cut corners by taking it off the nearest supply pipe. If the water is taken off the nearest supply pipe then the result will be lower water pressure to the shower and temperature changes when someone is running a tap. It is not nice when you’re in a shower and the water suddenly goes from hot to cold or vice versa.
Summary Of The basic first steps A Bathroom planner Must Consider
So let us recap, the number one consideration a Bathroom Planner has will be to consider first the health and safety issues, electrical regulations and drainage considerations. Then the type of bathroom from the four choices listed above will be decided upon, depending on the needs and outcome that is wished for the space provided. After the basic design is made the Bathroom Planner must think about what implications the design has on the present water and electric commitments.
