“Redesigning a bathroom is not something that should be taken lightly, not only because it is likely to lead to considerable expenses, but also because once the work has been done, there is little you can easily do should you be unhappy with the results. The key to successfully redesigning the bathroom therefore lies primarily in the planning stages and in the correct assessment of your particular problems,” says Jasmin Kraneveldt from Bathroom Bizarre.

She says that unless all you need is some form of cosmetic renovation – simple redecoration or perhaps fitting new tiles – you will find that the main categories of bathroom problems are namely congestion, layout, fittings, sanitaryware, condensation and cold. “All too often, a single room combines all of these, but if you consider each of the problem areas carefully, you may find that solving one may make the others far easier to deal with later on,” says Kraneveldt.

Congestion

When too many people want to use the bathroom at the same time, it can be a major source of family friction. Says Kraneveldt: “The best solution here is to see whether it is possible to provide extra facilities elsewhere in the house, so that the whole family does not have to rely on access to a single bathroom.

“Remember that a small shower or wet room, comprising an open shower area, small wall-mounted basin, a toilet with a built-in cistern, and sliding-door access, can be accommodated in a space as small as 1100mm x 2200mm. So even if you are not fortunate enough to live in a large house, you may be able to find room for such an alteration. The main restrictions concerning the proximity of waste drainage and water pipes, and proper ventilation will need to be provided,” she explains.

If you don’t have the space or the budget to build a separate shower room, Kraneveldt advises that pressure can also be relieved by installing double sinks: “Double sinks provide extra convenience for high traffic areas – no waiting in line to brush your teeth in the morning, or no shaving cream drying on your face while you wait for your partner to finish with her make-up application. With double sinks, there is room for everyone.”

She says that there should be a distance of at least 750mm between the two basins, measured from the centre line of one basin to the centre line to the second: “Less distance is acceptable, but will make it more difficult for two people to use the area at the same time.”

Layout

The two main considerations that dictate layout are the plumbing system and the need to provide sufficient space around the various fixtures for them to be used comfortably. Otherwise, the only considerations are the positions of the windows and the door. Kraneveldt offers the following guidelines to help you design a new layout:


- Drainage: The first priority in drainage planning is the location of the toilet and its proximity to the sewer drain. You should keep the toilet located next to an outside wall for easy access, as laying new drainage pipes beneath the floors is very disruptive and expensive. It will also be difficult to access, which may be problematic later on should the pipe become blocked. The waste pipes for other fittings can often run round one or more sides of the room as they tend to be small in diameter, but the ideal is to always aim for the shortest pipe runs, with as few bends possible. All pipes should slope gently downwards.


- Ventilation: General bathroom ventilation is very important and is achieved with windows and/or extractor fans. Extractor fans do work, but nothing can compare to an opening window – so it is important to try and include one in the bathroom design. Windows are not only good for ventilation, but they are also important sources of natural light for the bathroom.


- Plumbing: The position of the various washing facilities in the bathroom are influenced to a degree by the supply pipes for hot and cold water. Long runs of hot water pipes are not recommended as they waste energy, and so they should be avoided at all costs. In a low pressure pluming system, the priority is to get a sufficient head of pressure by the correct placement of the geyser or the installation of a pump.


- Space planning: One of the major considerations in bathroom design is the space that is provided around the various fittings and sanitaryware. If the bathroom is to be comfortable to use, you have to allow sufficient space for movement. The crucial area is around the basin, where there needs to be a minimum of 200mm elbow room on either side and 700mm of space in front to allow comfortable washing.


Enclosed showers with one or two sides require a clear floor space of 400mm next to the tray for access and dressing, while those enclosed on three sides require a minimum of 700mm of space in front. Make sure you have easy access to bath taps, and a minimum space of 700mm x 1100mm next to the bath for climbing out and drying.
Baths can be placed below a sloping ceiling, for example below stairs or under the eaves of the roof – 1200mm headroom above the base of the bath is usually adequate, but it is advisable to check the space beforehand by physically going through the actions. Similarly, you can fit a toilet in a restricted space – 2000mm headroom is required to stand in front of the pan, but the roofline can slope down to 1200mm behind the cistern. Clear space of 600mm x 800mm should be left n front of the toilet for access. A bidet requires similar space, plus a 200mm knee space either side.


- Doors: When rearranging fittings, ensure that enough space is left for the door to swing open and for a person to step into the room and shut the door comfortably. If necessary, doors can be re-hung to open outwards, but take care that they will not hit anyone passing outside when they are opened suddenly. Alternatively, sliding, concertina or saloon doors offer great space-saving and very functional alternatives.

Fixtures, fittings and sanitaryware

“It is important to choose your sanitaryware first, before designing the layout of your bathroom – in this way, you will be able to measure each piece and design the layout accordingly. When choosing sanitaryware, bear in mind that these are likely to be changed far less frequently than furniture, so take care of your colour and design choices. Currently fashionable shapes and colours may look hopelessly outdated in a few years time – which is why it is preferable to choose sanitaryware and fittings in neutral colours, and add colour into the composition using towels and decor accessories that can be easily and inexpensively changed and updated,” says Kraneveldt.

She notes that storage is another important consideration with regards to the appearance and convenience of the bathroom: “The basic rule of thumb is to store items nearest to their point of use – nothing is more irritating than having to climb out of the bath dripping wet to fetch a forgotten shampoo bottle. And collecting a litter of bath-time accessories and toiletries around the rim of the bath is not solution either, as it looks cluttered and makes the area difficult to clean. The ideal solution is to provide adequate storage alongside the bath for toiletries and fresh towels. Storage above and below the bathroom vanity is also very important to store items that are used regularly, such as toilet paper, make-up, as well as other grooming paraphernalia.”

Condensation and warmth

Good ventilation and in winter, some form of permanent background heating are essential to cope with condensation caused by hot, vapour-laden air meeting cold surfaces. Improved insulation and appropriate wall coverings help, but are not sufficient alone. “Good ventilation will reduce steamy conditions, but at the same time replace warm air with cold. A ventilation system should therefore be variable. Air extractor systems are a good option, and today, you can even invest in units that offer individually-controlled heating, lighting and fans in one streamlined unit. Underfloor heating is a great solution to keep the bathroom warm, and installing a heated towel rail is a must-have for any modern bathroom,” concludes Kraneveldt. - Antonella Dési

Pictures courtesy of Bathroom Bizarre www.bathroom.co.za.

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