Bathroom Renovations - Ideas from the Experts

Rachael, what are good places to start looking for bathrooms ideas?
There's lots of good options. Some people like to start their search on the internet, even creating a board and collecting pictures of what they like. Others prefer to come into the showrooms and see and feel the different products. I've noticed that a lot of people seem to get great ideas from hotels. We'll also have customers who literally hand everything over to us with some general guidelines like “we just want a nice, functional family bathroom”.

If customers find ideas on the internet, is there a risk that you won't be able to actually source them?
More often not, it's about the idea. That might just be a particular colour or it could be a certain feel or atmosphere, like vintage or spa-vibe or very clean lines. It's really a place to start.

Is there anything customers should think about or decide before they start visiting showrooms or calling for quotes?
It's a good idea to look at your stage in life. For example, if you've a young family or may have one in the future, you'll probably want to have a bath. If not, you might prefer a good, spacious shower. And around retirement age, people are are often thinking about future-proofing in terms of accessibility and easier access. It's very individual though and there's no right or wrong way.

What should customers expect during the sales process? 
In our case, we'll have an initial contact with the customer either in the showroom or by phone or email. We'll arrange a time for Shane to call-out to measure up and chat to them about their needs and ideas. At that stage, they can either come in to pick out what they want or send us in pictures of what they'd like. We'll then send out a quote with a detailed breakdown and a link to an image of every fitting, fixture and tile. It means they can see exactly how all the different fittings will look.

What are the main parts of the work and how does cost usually breakdown e.g. what percentage for tiles or fitting?
Every situation is different so the breakdown is different too. For example, if a customer wants to change the layout of the bathroom fittings, then that will require more labour. On the other hand, some customers may decide to splash out on a particular type of tile or vanity unit that they really love.

What's the benefit of getting one company to manage the entire project?
Convenience is the big plus. That's particularly true at the moment as there is such a shortage of tradespeople. It means that the homeowner doesn't have to worry about trying to schedule tradespeople or trying to get them back in if something comes up during the project. They also don't have to worry about any issues with materials. For example, if the wrong size shower tray is delivered, that's our problem to sort out. There's a single point of contact for all projects – our owner and lead fitter, Shane.

How long does a bathroom renovation take?
Our system is to start Monday morning and leave by Friday. Occasionally, we may even be out by Thursday evening.

Are there any particular trends in renovations?
We're seeing a lot of people replacing the standard basin and pedestal with vanity units. Another trend is replacing an old shower tray with a slate shower tray. They have a very low projection so it's more a wetroom effect. They're also non-slip and cleaner. We're also seeing interest in coloured sanitaryware and fixtures. Solar has done a fabulous range in colours like forest green and a deep navy.

If a customer needs to save money, where can they save it? And where should they not try to save it?
There's no hard and fast rules on where to save. If someone is working to a very tight budget, we will work with them to make it work. Having said that, tiles are one place where you could decide to spend a lot but you don't have to.

Are there any big “do”s and “don't”s?
Not really, it's all about knowing what's important for you at this stage in your life and about getting the look that you want. Everyone will have a unique set of requirements and preferences.