8 Plumbing Considerations for Your Bathroom Design

 

When designing you bathroom, is important to know exactly what you want and work with a professional plumber who understands the installation demands and limitations of different options. For example, many homeowners want a bidet in their bathrooms. Some bidet bowls use additional water lines that drain through the toilet, and others need their own separate lines. 

2. Exposed or not?

One of the most crucial decisions you have to make when designing your bathroom is choosing between hiding the plumbing or leaving it exposed. If your bathroom design is modern or minimalist, the plumbing has to be hidden. On the other hand, if the style is vintage or industrial, you might want to leave the pipes exposed.

This decision will dictate the type of sink and toilet you can choose, as well as the placement of your cabinets and the vanity style of your bathroom. For instance, if you want recessed cabinets, you have to ensure the vanity pipes won’t be installed in the areas where you want them placed. If you choose a wall-mounted toilet, you need to plan for hidden or recessed drain systems.

3. Plan to have all your plumbing in one place

When planning your bathroom, remember you will save money by locating all the plumbing close to the kitchen and laundry. If you are building a two-story home, place the upstairs bathroom above the downstairs bathroom so that they can share pipes. The further apart your plumbing areas are, the more you will pay in materials and labour.

4. Plan for the future

When building a new home, it’s a good idea to think about your future plans. On average, houses last for around 60 years and installing the necessary plumbing for any possible additions will save you a small fortune later on. For example, you might want to add a second en suite, or patio kitchen down the track.

5. Drainage

It’s important to consider the size of your drains. You can reduce the frequency of dealing with blocked drains by having larger drains installed. The initial layout won’t be too high and it will help you save money later on.

Make sure you have a diagram of your home’s drainage system. This diagram will show you the location of all the plumbing and drainage in and around your home. It will help your plumber place wet walls in the right areas in the bathroom to prevent rot and keep mildew at bay. It will also help you avoid hitting a water line accidentally one day.

When planning a new home, you also need to understand how rainwater flows or pools around your block, and plan for elevation or floodwalls if necessary. In Melbourne, water sensitive urban design is recommended, which to ensure that storm water is diverted and reused before it reaches our waterways.

6. External pipes

In addition, you will need to consider the placement of pipes on the outside of the building. If you live in an area where temperatures can get really low, don’t run them along an outside wall or the pipe might freeze and burst.

7. Quality materials

The best way to ensure your plumbing is strong and long-lasting is to use top-rated materials throughout. When shopping for your new fixtures, make sure they meet Australian quality standards and come with warranties as well. High-quality fixtures come with a five or 10-year warranty. Although they may require a higher initial outlay, you will save a lot in the long run on maintenance and repairs.

8. Professional plumbers

The importance of all these considerations means that you really need to work with experienced plumbers for your bathroom construction or renovation project in Melbourne. Once you have a building plan that meets all the right codes and regulations, our professional plumbers will follow the plans with expertise and ensure everything is fitted correctly. They may even be able to suggest improvements along the way.

Find out how we can help you with your bathroom construction and renovation project by visiting our Services page.