Pro Panel: How Easy Is It to Change Your Bathroom Layout?
Looking to rejig your bathroom or ensuite? Consider this expert advice from UK pros before you rearrange any plumbing
Whether you’re keen to expand your shower space, relocate your bath, or maybe do away with a tub altogether, sometimes an existing bathroom layout just doesn’t quite work. Perhaps your current arrangement dates back decades, or maybe you have your eye on a walk-in shower.
Whatever the reason, here, our experts explain the limitations and things to consider when changing your bathroom layout. Houzz got the lowdown from three UK-based professionals: Cat Hoad of Absolute Project Management; Steve Root of Roots Kitchens Bedrooms Bathrooms; and Angus Eitel of Fiftypointeight Architecture + Interiors. And the good news is, in most cases, it’s perfectly possible to change your bathroom layout.
Whatever the reason, here, our experts explain the limitations and things to consider when changing your bathroom layout. Houzz got the lowdown from three UK-based professionals: Cat Hoad of Absolute Project Management; Steve Root of Roots Kitchens Bedrooms Bathrooms; and Angus Eitel of Fiftypointeight Architecture + Interiors. And the good news is, in most cases, it’s perfectly possible to change your bathroom layout.
What are the hardest elements to alter in a new bathroom layout?
“Toilets are the hardest things to move, since the waste pipe needs to be thicker and have the correct fall to the soil stack [which drains sewage from a building],” says Hoad. “This can limit where your toilet can go.”
Eitel agrees that the key consideration is your plumbing or waste pipe. “This is often located externally on houses, but it can be located internally, and moving its position can be tricky,” he says.
“In houses, you may be able to adjust the pipe location, but this can add to the cost and be difficult to 100 percent confirm before you fully strip things out,” says Hoad. “One way around this is to install a macerator toilet [which liquifies waste, then pumps it out via normal pipework], but we only suggest doing this as a last resort.”
“Toilets are the hardest things to move, since the waste pipe needs to be thicker and have the correct fall to the soil stack [which drains sewage from a building],” says Hoad. “This can limit where your toilet can go.”
Eitel agrees that the key consideration is your plumbing or waste pipe. “This is often located externally on houses, but it can be located internally, and moving its position can be tricky,” he says.
“In houses, you may be able to adjust the pipe location, but this can add to the cost and be difficult to 100 percent confirm before you fully strip things out,” says Hoad. “One way around this is to install a macerator toilet [which liquifies waste, then pumps it out via normal pipework], but we only suggest doing this as a last resort.”
Will I need to dig into the walls or floor to change my bathroom layout?
Not necessarily, says Root. “Aesthetically, we often aim to hide pipework completely, so going through the floor is an option when budget and the existing structure allow.
“However, channelling into the wall is not possible for a [waste] pipe, which is 100 millimetres in diameter, the typical thickness of a brick,” he says. “Here, boxing in pipework is often the simplest and cheapest option.”
“Supply pipes [for example, for showers or basins] tend to be much thinner and can be hidden in most walls or new studwork,” says Hoad.
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Not necessarily, says Root. “Aesthetically, we often aim to hide pipework completely, so going through the floor is an option when budget and the existing structure allow.
“However, channelling into the wall is not possible for a [waste] pipe, which is 100 millimetres in diameter, the typical thickness of a brick,” he says. “Here, boxing in pipework is often the simplest and cheapest option.”
“Supply pipes [for example, for showers or basins] tend to be much thinner and can be hidden in most walls or new studwork,” says Hoad.
Find a plumber near you on Houzz, read reviews from previous clients and browse images of their work
Can you just ‘swap’ key items such as a bath with a basin?
Hoad explains that baths and showers can be – but are not always – simpler to switch around. Again, you should consider the distance to the waste pipe.
“Showers and sometimes baths can be tricky, because the drainage outlet is quite low, close to the floor, and all drainage needs a gradient or fall towards the soil vent pipe,” says Eitel. “This means the distance from the bath or shower to the soil vent pipe is critical.”
Hoad explains that baths and showers can be – but are not always – simpler to switch around. Again, you should consider the distance to the waste pipe.
“Showers and sometimes baths can be tricky, because the drainage outlet is quite low, close to the floor, and all drainage needs a gradient or fall towards the soil vent pipe,” says Eitel. “This means the distance from the bath or shower to the soil vent pipe is critical.”
“You may need to add a step up to the shower base or tray depending on the distance and height of the soil stack,” says Hoad.
Your preferred type of shower is also a key consideration, adds Eitel. “Will it be gravity-fed, mains-fed or boosted using a pump?” he says. “The position and type of your shower-mixer valve is also important if the bathroom is being rearranged. Does the mixer valve need to be buried in the wall or will it be surface-mounted?”
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Your preferred type of shower is also a key consideration, adds Eitel. “Will it be gravity-fed, mains-fed or boosted using a pump?” he says. “The position and type of your shower-mixer valve is also important if the bathroom is being rearranged. Does the mixer valve need to be buried in the wall or will it be surface-mounted?”
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What should be investigated before committing to any changes?
“You should definitely confirm the soil pipe location, both inside and, if possible, which way it routes out,” says Hoad. “The same goes for ventilation – any new bathroom will need a vent to the outside added to adhere to building regulations. It’s important to consider this before you go ahead with any works.”
Otherwise, approach your rejigged layout as you would any new bathroom, says Root. “Set the design brief, listing the essential items, your needs and the nice-to-haves, such as a level-access shower or twin basins for couples waking for work at the same time.”
“Bathroom wall and floor finishes are worth considering at an early stage,” says Eitel. “The backing board behind tiles is also important. We would recommend using a tile backer board – superior to plywood and plasterboard and available as a lightweight foam board with a reinforcing layer or a fibre-cement board.” Proper waterproofing is mandated in bathrooms, and a good bathroom designer will be able to advise you of the best materials as well as what’s necessary.
“You should definitely confirm the soil pipe location, both inside and, if possible, which way it routes out,” says Hoad. “The same goes for ventilation – any new bathroom will need a vent to the outside added to adhere to building regulations. It’s important to consider this before you go ahead with any works.”
Otherwise, approach your rejigged layout as you would any new bathroom, says Root. “Set the design brief, listing the essential items, your needs and the nice-to-haves, such as a level-access shower or twin basins for couples waking for work at the same time.”
“Bathroom wall and floor finishes are worth considering at an early stage,” says Eitel. “The backing board behind tiles is also important. We would recommend using a tile backer board – superior to plywood and plasterboard and available as a lightweight foam board with a reinforcing layer or a fibre-cement board.” Proper waterproofing is mandated in bathrooms, and a good bathroom designer will be able to advise you of the best materials as well as what’s necessary.
Will changing the layout affect the budget?
“If you’re replacing the fittings only in the same positions, the cost would certainly be lower,” says Hoad. But keeping a similar layout shouldn’t mean you scrimp on basic quality and functionality.
“Most good tradespeople will advise you to replace and upgrade existing connections and pipework, even if you’re keeping the same layout,” she says. “This will help you to avoid leaks and, where necessary, provide guarantees for the work.”
Inevitably though, she says, “fully changing and relocating a soil pipe can add to both the cost and timeline of a project”.
“If you’re replacing the fittings only in the same positions, the cost would certainly be lower,” says Hoad. But keeping a similar layout shouldn’t mean you scrimp on basic quality and functionality.
“Most good tradespeople will advise you to replace and upgrade existing connections and pipework, even if you’re keeping the same layout,” she says. “This will help you to avoid leaks and, where necessary, provide guarantees for the work.”
Inevitably though, she says, “fully changing and relocating a soil pipe can add to both the cost and timeline of a project”.
Does the age or style of a property make a difference?
Quite possibly. “In old houses with suspended timber floors, changing the plumbing tends to be fairly straightforward,” says Hoad. “If, however, you have concrete slab flooring [common in new builds], uncovering the pipework is much more time-consuming, disruptive and expensive, as you’ll need to excavate it from the top layer of screed.”
Quite possibly. “In old houses with suspended timber floors, changing the plumbing tends to be fairly straightforward,” says Hoad. “If, however, you have concrete slab flooring [common in new builds], uncovering the pipework is much more time-consuming, disruptive and expensive, as you’ll need to excavate it from the top layer of screed.”
Period properties may also be most in need of a layout update. “Often, we see bathrooms where elements have been in place for many years, with piecemeal additions or things that were needed at a certain time,” says Root. “There might be badly placed cabinets or hard-to-clean spaces.”
Fortunately, even when properties are old or outdated, there’s usually a solution, Root adds, though it may be a compromise. “For example, we worked on a very old house and could only fit one water pipe into the room, which meant no hot water from the home’s existing water system,” he says. “A cold supply and electric shower was the only option.”
Fortunately, even when properties are old or outdated, there’s usually a solution, Root adds, though it may be a compromise. “For example, we worked on a very old house and could only fit one water pipe into the room, which meant no hot water from the home’s existing water system,” he says. “A cold supply and electric shower was the only option.”
What about allowing clearance around objects in a new layout?
“At every point in your plan, you should have 700-millimetre minimum circulation space – ideally more,” says Hoad. “You need a minimum of 600 millimetres in front of a toilet and a minimum of 700 millimetres in front of basins. Also consider ceiling height and make sure your showering space has at least 1.9 metres underneath it,” she says.
“Don’t forget adequate access in and out of a shower, and consider whether you can easily reach your towel without dripping water all over the bathroom,” she adds. “Our top tip is to mark out the space and improvise using the room to see if it feels spacious enough.”
“At every point in your plan, you should have 700-millimetre minimum circulation space – ideally more,” says Hoad. “You need a minimum of 600 millimetres in front of a toilet and a minimum of 700 millimetres in front of basins. Also consider ceiling height and make sure your showering space has at least 1.9 metres underneath it,” she says.
“Don’t forget adequate access in and out of a shower, and consider whether you can easily reach your towel without dripping water all over the bathroom,” she adds. “Our top tip is to mark out the space and improvise using the room to see if it feels spacious enough.”
Does it matter if the bathroom is upstairs or downstairs?
“Changing your layout is easier if the bathroom is at an upper-floor level where the floor structure is timber, as you can use the space between the joists for pipework,” says Eitel.
However, don’t worry if you live in an apartment on the ground floor or have a downstairs bathroom. “As an analogy, it’s like travelling from home to a nearby city – it doesn’t matter if you travel by car or train or cycle, you’ll still get to your destination,” says Root. “Similarly, it doesn’t matter if your bathroom is in a flat or house, or when it was built – there are many routes to improving it.”
“Changing your layout is easier if the bathroom is at an upper-floor level where the floor structure is timber, as you can use the space between the joists for pipework,” says Eitel.
However, don’t worry if you live in an apartment on the ground floor or have a downstairs bathroom. “As an analogy, it’s like travelling from home to a nearby city – it doesn’t matter if you travel by car or train or cycle, you’ll still get to your destination,” says Root. “Similarly, it doesn’t matter if your bathroom is in a flat or house, or when it was built – there are many routes to improving it.”
Your turn
Have you changed your bathroom layout and, if so, how easy or difficult was it? Share your experiences in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the renovation conversation.
More
Want more on renovations? Check out this Pro Panel: How Far in Advance Should I Hire a Garden Designer?
Have you changed your bathroom layout and, if so, how easy or difficult was it? Share your experiences in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the renovation conversation.
More
Want more on renovations? Check out this Pro Panel: How Far in Advance Should I Hire a Garden Designer?
It might feel daunting to those of us who aren’t plumbers, but, in most instances, it’s quite possible to move pipework and fittings around, so don’t assume the positions of your bath, toilet and basin are set in stone. “For us, moving plumbing around is an everyday job,” says Root.
“Changing a bathroom is easy if the layout isn’t changing, but even when it is, it’s relatively straightforward in most circumstances,” says Eitel.