A bathroom renovation is an exciting project, but without careful planning, plumbing issues can quickly turn it into a costly and time-consuming endeavour. Whether you’re renovating a family bathroom, working with a professional plumber ensures everything runs smoothly. Here are 9 essential plumbing considerations for your bathroom renovation.
1. Plan Your Layout Early
Before you start selecting tiles and fixtures, it’s crucial to finalise your bathroom layout. If you’re keeping your existing plumbing in place, costs will be lower. However, if you plan to move the shower, toilet, or vanity, additional pipework will be required. This not only increases labour costs but may also require council approval, depending on the extent of the changes.
2. Check for Compliance with Australian Plumbing Standards
In Australia, all plumbing work must comply with the National Construction Code (NCC) and Australian Standards (AS/NZS 3500). These regulations ensure proper water flow, drainage, and ventilation. Hiring a licensed plumber like Essendon Plumbing guarantees your renovation meets legal requirements and prevents potential fines or rework. So ensure you always hire a licensed plumber for any plumbing-related work on your bathroom renovation.
3. Ensure Proper Waterproofing
Waterproofing is a critical step in any bathroom renovation. Poor waterproofing can lead to leaks, mould growth, and structural damage. In Victoria, waterproofing must meet AS 3740:2021 Waterproofing of domestic wet areas standards. A licensed professional should apply waterproof membranes to the shower, walls, and floors to ensure your bathroom remains leak-free.
4. Upgrade Your Plumbing System If Needed
Older homes, especially those in Essendon and surrounding suburbs, often have ageing pipes that may not handle modern fixtures efficiently. If your home has outdated galvanised pipes, consider upgrading to copper or PVC pipes to improve water pressure and prevent future leaks as old pipes are one of the most common causes of leaks. Your plumber can assess whether your existing system needs an upgrade before you finalise your renovation plans.
5. Choose Water-Efficient Fixtures
With rising water costs and increasing environmental awareness, installing Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) rated fixtures is a smart choice. Look for:
- Dual-flush toilets to save water with every flush.
- Water-efficient showerheads that reduce water consumption while maintaining strong pressure.
- Tapware with aerators to minimise water usage without compromising functionality.
These small changes can lead to significant savings on your water bills over time.
6. Plan for Adequate Drainage
A well-designed drainage system prevents water pooling and ensures wastewater flows away efficiently. Consider:
- Shower waste positioning: Floor wastes should be placed where water naturally flows to avoid pooling.
- Slope requirements: The bathroom floor must have the correct gradient to direct water towards drains effectively. Your tiler will normally perform all the necessary screeding to ensure adequate fall to the drains.
- Ventilation pipes: Proper ventilation is necessary to prevent slow drainage and unpleasant odours from trapped air pockets in the pipes. This is something we can take care of.
7. Consider Your Hot Water System
If you’re adding a bathtub or rain shower, your current hot water system may not be able to meet the increased demand. We can assess whether you need to upgrade to a larger unit or switch to a more energy-efficient system, such as an instantaneous gas hot water system or a heat pump system.
8. Consider Future Maintenance Access
Hidden plumbing looks great, but it can create headaches if something goes wrong. Plan for easy access to essential plumbing components such as:
- Isolation valves for taps and toilets to quickly shut off water in case of leaks.
- Access panels for concealed pipes to simplify future repairs.
- A strategically placed floor waste to prevent overflow issues from causing widespread damage in your home.
9. Consider Hiring a Builder
Whilst coordinating multiple trades to conduct your bathroom renovation is a way to save money, it does come with its own set of logistical challenges. Vetting each tradesperson, verifying licenses, trying to coordinate overlapping schedules is hard work for busy professionals or parents.
For a simpler streamlined bathroom renovation it might be worth hiring a licensed bathroom renovation builder, like the professionals at Bathroom Renovations who will coordinate and project manage the entire project. This not only simplifies the process but ensures all work is completed according to relevant building standards and completed on time.
Need Expert Plumbing Advice?
At Essendon Plumbing, we specialise in bathroom renovation plumbing and can help you navigate all plumbing aspects of your project. Whether you need new pipework, fixture installations, or compliance checks, our team is ready to assist.
Contact us today to discuss your renovation plans and get a professional plumbing solution tailored to your needs.