Need an extra bathroom?

 

 

 

 

When an entire family wants to use a single bathroom at the same time, this can cause major upsets in the happy home. Not only adding value to your home, adding an additional bathroom will allow a home to function better and keep family members happy.

Only 50 years ago, homes had a single bathroom - more often than not outside consisting of either a septic-tank or a long-drop! It was considered a major improvement when that single bathroom moved indoors. Nowadays, it is uncommon for a home to have less than two bathrooms.

When buying a home, buyers have come to expect and en-suite bathroom and a guest bathroom, but prefer a home that has three bathrooms.

 

 

 

Adding on a new bathroom

Although configuring an existing home may provide additional space for a new bathroom add-on may not be the ideal choice, the cost of adding on a bathroom will provide a significant return on your investment at the end of the day, especially if your home has only one bathroom to start with.

Be sure to work with a reputable contractor who has experience in bathroom remodelling and will help you design an addition that meets your requirements - within your budget.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Considering a half-bath

If the budget won't allow the addition of a complete new bathroom, what about adding on a guest loo. This option takes up far less space and can be placed close to existing water and plumbing lines to keep costs down.

Modern sanitary ware designs now offer corner toilets and corner basins for bathrooms that are small on space. These designs allow you to create an extra guest toilet without loosing valuable floor space. This design could easily fit under a staircase or in an existing closet space, with modifications for water supply and plumbing lines.

If you're considering a modification of this nature, do allow for ventilation by means of an extraction fan if windows cannot be fitted. Good ventilation will reduce condensation and prevent mould and mildew, as is the case in many bathrooms that lack any form of ventilation.

Another important point to consider is that the toilet should be located as close as possible to an outside wall in order to join up to the main sewer outlet pipe.

 

Questions to consider

The following checklist will provide you with a few suggestions and ideas for a bathroom addition or renovation:

• Can two people easily use the bathroom now?
• Do you need a tub or shower or even both?
• Who uses the bathroom?
• Kids might need a step stool - Older people might need grab bars.
• How is the location? Is it convenient to other rooms?
• What about traffic flow?
• Does the room have adequate lighting?
• Is storage or counter space adequate?
• Is there adequate ventilation?
• Is the toilet available for use when the bathroom is occupied?

 

Remodelling an existing bathroom

If an addition is completely out of the question, there are ways to maximise the space in an existing bathroom, so that family members are not inconvenienced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Double up

Installing double wash basins is one of the most affordable ways to maximise on bathroom space and provide more access to family members. You may need to do small modifications, such as replacing the original vanity, but installing your own double wash basins is easily done in a weekend - with help from a reputable plumber to add water lines and drainage for the extra basin.

 

Curtain call

A simple extendable rail - available at your local Builders Warehouse - takes five minutes or less and allows you to hang a shower curtain to section off bathing or showering.

Select a shower curtain that works well with the style or colours already in the bathroom, or add a punch of colour with a bright design.

 

No nudity allowed

Have your shower panels sandblasted or use self-adhesive vinyl to cover up strategic areas that will allow more than one person to make use of a bathroom at the same time.