Planning a bathroom renovation in Wellington: the plumbing side

A bathroom renovation is one of the most rewarding things you can do to a home, and one of the most stressful while it is happening. A lot of that stress comes from the plumbing, because the plumbing quietly drives the order of the whole job. Here is what to think about before you start, from the people who have done the plumbing side of these jobs for decades.

Decide early whether you are moving anything

The single biggest plumbing decision is whether the toilet, basin, shower or bath stays where it is or moves. Keeping fixtures in their existing positions is far cheaper, because the drainage and water supply are already there. Moving the toilet in particular means new drainage, which is more involved and needs to fall correctly to work. Neither choice is wrong, but knowing which you want changes the budget and the timeline, so decide it up front.

The plumbing happens in two stages

In most bathroom renovations the plumbing is split into two visits. The first is the rough in, where the pipes for supply and waste are run and positioned while the walls and floor are open. The second is the fit off, where the actual basin, toilet, shower and tapware go on near the end. In between, the waterproofing, tiling and lining all have to happen in the right order. Get the sequence wrong and you are pulling up new tiles to fix a pipe.

Why a plumber is often the right person to coordinate

This is the heart of it. Because the plumbing drives so much of the sequence, having the plumber coordinate the trades tends to keep the whole job in order. We offer a full project management service for exactly this reason. Renovations can be a stressful time for homeowners, and the way we reduce that stress is to manage the trades so you are not the one ringing five different people trying to work out who is meant to be there on Thursday.

Over the years we have built long standing relationships with quality builders, electricians and other tradespeople. Working with the same trusted trades for many years is what greatly reduces the problems that crop up in a renovation. You can read more on our renovations page.

Things worth deciding before the trades arrive

• Layout. Are fixtures staying put or moving? This drives everything else.
• Shower type. A walk in, a tiled base, or an acrylic tray each have different plumbing and waterproofing needs.
• Heating. Underfloor heating or a heated towel rail brings the electrician into the plan early.
• Tapware and fixtures. Have these chosen and on hand before fit off, because waiting on a back ordered tap can stall the whole job.
• Ventilation. An extractor fan ducted outside is worth it in a Wellington bathroom to manage the damp.

Older homes have extra considerations

If your home is from the 1970s or 1980s, a renovation is a good moment to deal with any aged pipework while the walls are open. If we find Dux Quest pipe in the area we are working on, it makes sense to replace it then rather than leave it to fail later behind new tiles. We explain that pipework in our article on Dux Quest pipes in older Wellington homes.

Budget for the unexpected

Once a bathroom is opened up, the occasional surprise appears, an old leak that has been quietly rotting a floor, or pipework that is not where the original plans suggested. A sensible renovation budget keeps a little in reserve for this. The advantage of an experienced local team is that we have seen most of the surprises Wellington homes throw up, so there are fewer of them and we deal with them calmly.

Start with a conversation

The best first step is a chat about what you want to change and roughly what you want to spend. From there we can plan the plumbing, line up the right trades, and give you a realistic picture of the job. Whether you want us to manage the whole renovation or just handle the plumbing while your own builder runs the rest, both work fine. Call 027 247 3030 or use our contact page to get started, and have a look at our general plumbing services while you are deciding.