Planning a bathroom renovation is exciting, but there's much more involved than choosing tiles, tapware and a new vanity.
The plumbing behind your bathroom needs to be carefully planned before the walls are closed up and the finishes are installed.
Whether you're renovating an ensuite, family bathroom or powder room, getting the plumbing right from the beginning can help prevent expensive problems later.
At Ivanhoe Plumbing and Gas, we work with homeowners, builders and renovators throughout Ivanhoe and Melbourne's north-east to complete plumbing works for bathroom renovations and new builds.
What Plumbing Work Is Involved in a Bathroom Renovation?
Depending on the design, a bathroom renovation may involve completely removing the existing plumbing fixtures and installing new services.
Typical plumbing works can include:
Removing existing bathroom fixtures
Relocating hot and cold water services
Installing new water pipework
Altering existing waste pipework
Installing new shower wastes
Connecting new basins and vanities
Installing toilets
Installing bath wastes and overflows
Installing new tapware
Installing shower mixers
Connecting heated towel rails where applicable
Testing water and waste services
Final plumbing fit-off
The exact scope depends on the existing bathroom and your new layout.
Can You Move Your Shower or Toilet?
In many renovations, fixtures can be relocated — but it isn't always as simple as moving a pipe across the wall.
The existing drainage configuration needs to be considered, particularly when relocating toilets, showers and floor wastes.
Your plumber should assess:
Existing waste locations
Pipe sizes
Drainage gradients
Access underneath the floor
Existing sewer connections
Floor construction
Wall construction
Available space
Planning these details before demolition can prevent costly surprises during construction.
Rough-In Plumbing vs Fit-Off
Bathroom plumbing is generally completed in two main stages.
Rough-In
The rough-in occurs before the walls and floors are finished.
This can include:
Hot water pipework
Cold water pipework
Waste pipework
Shower plumbing
Basin plumbing
Toilet plumbing
Bath plumbing
The pipework is positioned to suit the final bathroom design.
Fit-Off
The fit-off occurs later in the renovation once the relevant finishes have been completed.
This can include installing and connecting:
Vanity
Basin
Taps
Toilet
Shower fittings
Bath
Waste fittings
Other plumbing fixtures
Good coordination between the plumber, builder, waterproofing contractor and tiler is essential.
Why Plumbing Should Be Planned Before Tiling
One of the biggest mistakes during a bathroom renovation is finalising the tiles and fixtures before confirming the plumbing layout.
The plumbing needs to work with the final position of:
Vanity
Toilet
Shower
Bath
Floor wastes
Niches
Tapware
Once waterproofing and tiling have been completed, making changes can become significantly more difficult and expensive.
Get the plumbing layout right before the walls and floors are closed up.
What About Waterproofing?
Waterproofing is a critical part of any bathroom renovation.
Plumbing penetrations, floor wastes and shower areas need to be properly coordinated with the waterproofing system.
Your plumber and waterproofing contractor should work together so that services are installed correctly before waterproofing and tiling commence.
Choosing Plumbing Fixtures for Your Renovation
Before plumbing rough-in begins, it's important to know what fixtures you're installing.
This includes:
Vanity size
Basin type
Tap configuration
Shower mixer
Shower rail
Bath
Toilet
Floor waste
Washing machine location
Hot water requirements
Different products can have different connection requirements, so having the fixtures selected early can make the installation process much smoother.
Bathroom Renovation Plumbing in Ivanhoe & Melbourne's North-East
Ivanhoe Plumbing and Gas provides professional plumbing services for bathroom renovations throughout Ivanhoe and Melbourne's north-east.
We work with homeowners and builders from the initial plumbing rough-in through to the final fit-off.
Our renovation plumbing services include:
Bathroom renovations
Kitchen renovations
Hot water systems
General plumbing
Gas plumbing
Drainage
Blocked drains
Sewer and stormwater plumbing
We service Ivanhoe and surrounding suburbs including Heidelberg, Eaglemont, Rosanna, Viewbank, Macleod, Bundoora, Preston, Fairfield, Kew and surrounding areas.
Planning a Bathroom Renovation?
If you're planning a bathroom renovation, getting the plumbing organised early can make the entire project run more smoothly.
Contact Ivanhoe Plumbing and Gas to discuss your renovation plumbing requirements or arrange a quote.
Ivanhoe Plumbing and Gas
Local plumbers. Quality workmanship. Honest service.
