Planning a bathroom renovation
Start with what is not working: too little storage, a bath nobody uses, a cramped shower or tiles that will not come clean. Many Pretoria homes built in the 1970s to 1990s still have their original bathrooms, so ageing pipes and loose tiles are common reasons to renovate.
Decide early whether you are refreshing the room or stripping it back to brick. A refresh keeps the layout and plumbing positions, while a full renovation opens the walls and floor, which brings more choices and more trades into the job.
- List what you want to change and why
- Set a budget range and priorities
- Collect inspiration photos
- Choose fittings before tiling starts
Layout choices, walk-in showers and bath-to-shower swaps
Keeping the toilet, basin and shower in roughly the same positions avoids moving drains, which keeps the scope simpler. Moving the toilet in particular can mean breaking into the floor slab to reroute the waste pipe.
Replacing a bath with a shower is one of the most requested changes. A walk-in or level-entry shower needs the floor screed laid with a fall towards the drain so water does not run into the rest of the room, and a linear drain along the wall can make this neater. If it is the only bath in the house, consider whether future buyers or small children will need one.
Waterproofing before tiling: the critical step
Tiles and grout are not waterproof. Water gets through grout lines over time, and without a waterproofing layer underneath it soaks into walls and floors, causing damp, lifting tiles and stains in the room next door.
In a shower, a waterproofing membrane is applied to the floor and up the walls, with reinforcing tape at corners, joints and around the drain and pipe outlets, and left to cure before tiling. Ask the contractor how they waterproof showers and how far up the walls the membrane will go, because this step is hidden once the tiles are on.
Plumbing, electrical work and ventilation
Moving supply pipes, connecting a new shower mixer or working on the geyser needs a qualified plumber. New lights, a heated towel rail, plug points or an extractor fan need a registered electrician, who issues a Certificate of Compliance.
An extractor fan is worth adding to any bathroom without an opening window, and even to some with one, because trapped steam marks paint and ceilings. Mention plumbing and electrical items in your enquiry so the contractor can say what they can and can't handle and how the trades will be sequenced.
Choosing tiles and fittings
Large-format tiles mean fewer grout lines but need a flatter wall and floor, while smaller tiles follow a shower fall more easily. Choose a slip-resistant finish for floors and showers, and a grout colour that will not show every mark.
Have taps, mixers, the vanity and the toilet chosen before work starts, because their sizes and pipe positions decide where outlets go. Wall-hung vanities and toilets need suitable support inside the wall, which must be planned before tiling.
What affects the quote, and living with one bathroom
The size of the room, how much is being stripped out, the condition of walls and floors underneath, whether drains move, and the tiles and fittings you choose all shape the quote. Access matters too, for example an upstairs bathroom in a complex where rubble has to be carried down.
If the house has only one bathroom, talk to the contractor about the order of work. Some contractors aim to reconnect the toilet at the end of each day, but you may still need a plan for showering elsewhere for part of the job.
Bathroom Renovations: common questions
Can new tiles go over the old ones?
Sometimes, if the existing tiles are firmly bonded, flat and the extra thickness will not cause problems at doors and fittings. In a shower, stripping back is usually the better option so the waterproofing can be done properly.
Do I need approval to renovate a bathroom in an estate or complex?
Internal work often needs notice to the body corporate or HOA, especially for working hours, noise, contractor access and rubble removal. Check your conduct rules before the contractor is booked.
Is a frameless glass shower screen a good idea?
Frameless glass looks clean and is easy to wipe, but it relies on the shower being designed so water stays inside the shower area. Pretoria's hard water can leave marks, so a squeegee after each use helps.
Can a bathroom be added in a room that never had one?
It may be possible, but it depends on getting waste pipes to a drain with enough fall. Adding a new bathroom may also need building plans approved by the City of Tshwane, and the contractor can advise whether plans may be needed.
Should I buy the tiles and fittings myself?
Some customers prefer to, others leave supply to the contractor. If you buy them yourself, confirm quantities, allow for cutting waste, and have everything on site before the job starts.
Areas
Enquiries for bathroom renovations are referred across Pretoria East and Centurion, including: