Installation stages – Bathroom
For most of us, the modern-day bathroom plays a crucial role in enhancing our quality of life. As a result, this space has evolved beyond its original purpose of routine personal care and has become a haven of relaxation and rejuvenation.
The bathroom can be equipped with advanced features and modern technologies that promote hygiene, safety, convenience, and comfort. From luxurious showers with efficient water-saving features to shower trays with innovative anti-slip technology built in. It’s a space that can be tailored to individual preferences and has become essential to a person's well-being.
As a result, the true success of all the above hinges on the installation's quality; therefore, it is imperative that you get it right - the first time.
As with any home improvement project, preparation is the key to success, and the strip out of a bathroom in readiness for a new one is no different.
Therefore, before the hammers come out and the muscle moves in, we have several checks that should be made before we start stripping out.
Pre-strip out checks.
- Confirmation that the customer has signed off the design paperwork you have, and it is the final version.
- Has a skip been ordered for the waste, or is it to be uplifted by a local waste management company?
- Has space been agreed with the customer for the placement of a skip or the storage of waste?
- Make sure everyone is aware of the Construction Phase Plan (CPP) and any initial potential hazards.
- Have alternative washroom facilities been agreed upon by the customer for the team and the customer?
- Delivered furniture should be checked for damages. While it’s wise for the first fix and critical items to be carefully inspected for damage at this time, it doesn’t make sense to completely unpack all the furniture and products, as this in itself can risk damage. With non-first-fix items, just looking for damage on the packaging should give a good indication at this time.
The strip out
With outdoor toilets being a thing of the past and, therefore, bathrooms being located inside the home, and more often than not on the first floor, careful thought and consideration should be given to covering up and protecting the various existing stairs, walls, and floor coverings, that run from the room being renovated to the door that will be used for exiting and entering the building.
This route will be extremely busy, and with heavy items being carried back and forth, great care should therefore be given to the choice of floor protection used, with the avoidance of trip hazards being an extremely high priority.
Dust can and will be a problem, and sealing doorways to rooms that don’t require access from yourself or the customer is a great idea to limit the post-renovation cleanup.
Once the protection and cover-up are complete, the first step in any bathroom installation is to remove the existing fittings, fixtures, and tiles. This process may include removing the toilet, sink, radiator, bath or shower, and wall or floor coverings. The strip-out process is essential to ensure a clean slate for the new bathroom installation. Clear labelling of the hot and cold water feeds during the strip-out phase will help quickly identify the correct pipework as the installation progresses.
Roughing
The roughing stage is the ideal opportunity to use all the experience you have gained from previous bathroom rip-outs. Fashion and indulgence aside, each bathroom you take out allows you to see the problems that have arisen, ultimately leading to the need for a new bathroom.
- Where were the leaks?
- If there was damage, what caused it?
- Which materials failed?
- Which materials passed the test of time?
To mentally catalogue this data is a fantastic idea, and the information can be used to significant effect at the various installation stages to make every subsequent bathroom superior and more resistant to typical problems caused by poor installation or the use of inferior products.
The ideal scenario for getting things right the first time is having the whole room stripped back to a shell with all floorboards lifted and the plasterboard removed. Getting back to the bare joists and wall studs will allow you to see and fix any damage that may have been caused by water penetration over the years in the old bathroom. Paying particular attention to any signs of mould or what looks like silvery spiders webs can be a sign that the advice of a specialist may be required to test for wet or dry rot caused by a persistent leaky toilet or shower and the subsequent repairs carried out before any installation works are undertaken.
Coordination of the various trades is vital, as pipework is altered and installed by the plumber, followed by the electrician’s installation of various cables and wires.
Thinking ahead to items that will be fixed and screwed to the walls, now is the ideal time for the joiner/fitter to install timber pads in these areas to save the use of cavity fixings.
Items like mirrors, radiators, and shower screens must be fixed securely. The more securely fixed, the less movement; the less movement, the fewer cracks; the fewer cracks, the less water ingress.
An exceptionally high level of accuracy in the placement of the various pipework and drainage is critical to the design's success. Pipework, even millimetres out, can cause unnecessary problems with tile and furniture layout. Once all the pipework, cables and pads are in place, the subflooring, insulation, and plasterboard can be fitted again. At a minimum, moisture-resistant flooring and plasterboard should be installed in the wet areas but, ideally, the whole room.
Led by the design, any areas of wall or ceiling that will ultimately be finished with paper or paint and not covered by tiles or panels would be plastered or taped and filled.
First fix
The first fix is as it sounds. It’s the first items to be installed before the wall finishes being installed. These would usually be the bath, shower tray, or shower former in the case of a wet room.
Before going any further, we should agree that water is the biggest threat to a bathroom. This is ironic, but the time and money spent to stop water penetration and subsequent damage in a shower room or bathroom are invaluable.
In the case of a wet room, once the shower former is installed, the area of the floor and walls around the former should be tanked or waterproofed using a screed or waterproof membrane.
But what about a standard shower or bath? Should these areas be tanked also? I think so.
The shower tray is the number one item you want to avoid having to remove once the room is completed. The shower tray will cause the most upheaval if it has to be replaced or removed to fix a leak. Therefore, ensuring this item is installed correctly, sealed, tanked, belt and braces is 100% worth the time and effort.
Also worth considering are the floor and walls around a bath. Especially if this is a family bathroom, if you've ever had young kids, you’ll know there are times when there’s more water on the floor than is in the bath. In time, tanking could be the saviour that prevents water from causing damage to the ceiling and room directly below the bathroom.
Wall finishes
Tile is the most common finish on a bathroom wall, but wet wall panels are becoming increasingly common, particularly in shower areas. This is due to the problems of tile grout discolouring over time and the problems of trying to clean it back to its original look. Tile effect wet wall panels showing a fake grout line is perhaps a brilliant compromise allowing for the traditional tile look and the benefits of a panel that is more easily cleaned, but either way, these products are going to be the final finish on the walls and the essential barrier that will stop soggy plasterboard and costly repairs.
As the final wall finish, the tiles or panels must be installed with high skill and accuracy. Flat, flush, straight and level, the finish, as per the design, should be a thing of beauty. As a barrier to heat, steam and moisture, a high-level installation will be your first line of defence.
Away from areas of high moisture, the design may include finishes such as wallpaper, paint, and timber panels. In addition, the tradesperson count is increasing, and your coordination of all these trades will be tested. Therefore, the need for flexible working and high-level skills within your team is critical.
Flooring
With so many unique products on the market, the designer has a wealth of materials and design choices to pick from, and the installation of each flooring product will come with its pros and cons. Remember, the designer’s choice will have considered factors such as budget, style preferences, durability, maintenance requirements, and even the specific demands of the space itself. Still, from an installation point of view, like every surface we walk on, the success of the floor is less about the actual flooring material and more about the subfloor. At this point, the final finish of the chosen floor covering will be determined by the decisions made at the roughing stage and the preparation that was put in at this time. A flat, smooth surface with little or no movement is the ideal foundation to work from.
Furniture installation
With the shell of the room complete, the installation of the main furniture items can now begin. Generally, UK bathrooms are not known for being overly spacious. So when faced with a tight space, the utmost care must be taken during installation to avoid any damage to the furniture or the newly installed walls and flooring. As more products and furnishings are installed, the space will become smaller. Add in a couple of tradespeople, and it becomes extremely easy for accidents to happen and needless damage to occur. Time and care are the order of the day at this point. Consider the placement of protection back onto the furniture after it is installed. Prevention is far better than cure.
Plumbing and electrical connections
Once the furniture is in place, the plumber and electrician can make all the various connections and breathe life back into the room. Again, give each trade the time in the room to carry out this work, as attention to detail is crucial to ensure proper functionality and safety.
Plumbing Connections:
- Plumbers should ensure all connections, such as taps, showerheads, and toilet cisterns, are adequately tightened and sealed to prevent leaks. Adding tape or thread sealant on threaded connections is recommended and adds a layer of protection against leaks.
- Checks should be made to the water pressure and flow rates to different fixtures to ensure they meet the desired levels. Adjustments, such as installing pressure regulators or flow restrictors, may be required to achieve optimal performance.
- It is recommended to have isolation valves installed on the pipework that leads to the taps and toilet cistern. These valves should be easily accessible to the homeowner in case of an emergency or for a plumber to use during repairs. This ensures that the water supply can be turned off quickly as needed.
Electrical Connections:
- Electrical safety in a bathroom is an obvious high priority, and the electrician will have followed all current electrical codes and guidelines to ensure the safe installation of any electrical products. All items in the bathroom with an electrical connection will be covered by RCD (Residual Current Device.) at the main consumer unit. RCD is a safety device that protects against electric shock and prevents electrical fires.
- The designer will have chosen electrical products with the correct IP rating. Ensuring that these products are fitted within the appropriate zone in the bathroom is essential. Products with IP ratings suitable for bathrooms provide safety in high-moisture environments.
Finishing touches
With project completion in sight, the finishing touches can make all the difference to the end result. Taking time sealing up baths, showers, screens, and tiles to prevent ingress of water is time well spent. Appling neat silicon beads is a skill not everyone has and takes time to master, but it can make a difference to the overall appearance.
If the bathroom features tiled surfaces, consider sealing the grout lines to prevent staining and help make cleaning easier. Properly sealed grout is more moisture-resistant and will help maintain the integrity of the tile installation.
Testing and inspecting
Final testing on sliding shower doors, cabinets, and drawers allows for any final adjustments and tightening. On the plumbing side, allow water to run through all taps, showers and waste traps, checking for leaks or air locks. Wiping all pipe joints and traps with tissue paper to check for any water passage is a great idea. This type of paper gives high visibility to any moisture. Finally, make sure that hot water runs through as expected.
The electrician will ensure all ceiling and feature lighting are in working order. Check that control switches control what they are meant to and that any Bluetooth features connect accordingly. Test the extractor fan with paper to show that the fan is drawing and a quick check outside to feel the air being removed. All electrical tests will be carried out, the appropriate electrical certificate will be issued as per BS7671, and a copy will be given to the client and the designer.
Cleaning
It’s always easy to spot the company that has gone the extra mile at the cleaning stage, as there’s no hazing on the tiles, and they are gleaming. It’s easy for anyone to give a bathroom a quick clean down, and on the surface, it can look quite good, but just like anything, when it's your job, when you are a professional, you can’t help but be that little bit better. That little extra is the je ne sais quoi. With this in mind, consider hiring a professional cleaner once the project is complete and allow the room to be cleaned to the highest standard.
They say you are only as good as your last project. This is it.
Fun Fact – The average person will spend one and a half years of their life in the bathroom.
It’s well worth getting it right.
