Future proofing the bathroom

All this time later, we have finally decided what we want, and booked a company in for August. It’s taken ages to get quotes and designs and make decisions, but we’ve done it!

The bath is going where the separate loo is now (obviously the wall comes out), there will be a rimless loo with concealed cistern (comfort height), we’ll have a walk-in shower opposite, a sink with vanity unit storage and a run of storage units with a ‘worktop’ - that last bit will improve my life by 500% . We’ve chosen stone-effect large tiles and LVT flooring. The bath is Carronite and will have a shower above it as well as the one in the cubicle.

The only real compromises are that the fittings will be chrome - I wanted bronze, but the salesman pointed out that there are so many metal fittings that anything other than chrome is difficult to match. I hadn’t thought of that but can see he’s right. Also we can’t have the cabinet with shaver/toothbrush chargers we like, because the windows are large and reduce the wall space. I can live with both of those though.

Thanks to everyone who helped me to decide.

My bath never needs cleaning, I just dust it instead

I can trip over a postage stamp so absolutely nothing to step over is a must for me. Shower is level with bathroom floor.

Sounds just the job GSM thanks.

Yes, we definitely want a level entry shower. I hadn't thought about a comfort height loo - I don't know they existed - but it's a good idea, thanks. I really don't want to have to do this again when it's done.

We have a level entry shower. It’s brilliant. Nothing at all to step over.

Sorry pressed too soon, a comfort height toilet will go in too.

Having knackered my knee in the the last week we need to get our ensuite shower revamped asap, to get in involves a step up of 4/5”, it needs to be far less as it’s had me beaten.
So, the sooner things are done, for us, the better.

Just a thought - do consider having a 'comfort height toilet'. That will negate the need for having one of those disgusting plastic seat raisers in the future! My mum has one, just looks like a usual loo, but is higher and far easier to get on and off!

Thanks, sandelf, but I like a large, deep bath so I can soak in comfort . I'm still able to get in and out easily, but want to look ahead to when I can't by having a walk-in shower. I might look at getting handles built into the bath, as that's not too obtrusive.

I'd rather knock the wall through, and have everything in one, MIY. I think the designer will suggest moving things around to make the best of the space, based on what he was saying when he was here. I'm looking forward to seeing the design.

I looked up Multipanel, Auntieflo, and you're right, there are some lovely designs.

Example of a bath with sloping & shaped inside. www.idealspec.co.uk/catalogue/bluebook/baths/rectangular/concept-170cm-x-70-75cm_p186.html

Look carefully at the dimensions of water saving baths - not only saving water but lower and narrower than many so you may be able to get in and out of one more easily than you imagine. Do you have B&Q/Wickes etc showrooms where you could see things for real?

Doodledog

Thanks, GSM. I will get a plumber, or a bathroom company in to discuss options, but wanted to have some idea of what I wanted first.

I don't care about the separate loo being dated - it has definite advantages, IMO - but it wastes space because of the door. I quite like the idea of blocking off the door, knocking through and using the space for a shower, but I have no idea what that will mean for the plumbing. That's where the experts will come in, though.

I am planning to start this in the summer, as we've had a lot of disruption with bedrooms and the kitchen being overhauled lately, and I want to relax for a while before starting again with men in the house and no water etc. I want to use the time to consider my options. I think I would miss a bath, though.

Could you not use the loo space for a large storage cupboard and bring to loo into the bathroom itself?

You can keep the bath and when the need arises OT's from Adult Social Care will give you a bath lift to help you get in and out.

Shower wise, make it big enough to get a chair/seat in it now, and preferably make it level access so you have future proofed it and it can still look like a non-disabled bathroom?

We had a new bathroom a couple of years ago and love it but wish we had made it a wet room as my mobility is not as good now.
We had the bath removed and a walk in shower installed with a large handle. If we sold the house, there is enough room to remove the shower and put a bath in.
Just a silly little tip - borrow a child's paddling pool and put it in the kitchen. I had a big plastic jug and poured hot water over my head, soaped up and rinsed.

The small bathroom is in the lodge (fancy caravan ), GSM. The one in the house is a reasonable size.

Oh well, AF. I'm sure it's his loss. I can't be doing with people who don't reply in a timely fashion. I don't expect them to be on their phones when working, but leaving an hour at the end of the day to respond to messages from clients is not too much to expect. If they ignore you, it's not a good sign as regards their attitude to customer care.

I'll look at large tiles for the walls. I have copper backsplash in the kitchen, and I'm very pleased with it, but as I say, it doesn't go right up the walls as it would have to in a bathroom. I'll google Multipanel, thanks.

Doodle, he wasn't a 'cowboy', in fact he was recommended by the local bathroom shop, having done work for them personally. Mind you he was always late in replying to an email, and perhaps he just thought I was too much 😳 I don't know and probably never will.
Have you thought about Wall Panels (Multipanel) for your bathroom? They can look amazing, and we are going to have them, and they can be put up over existing tiles, with a long guarantee.
I have had a recommendation from a friend, whose neighbour was pleased with work done, but am now trawling through the Green Book for more inspiration.

The tiles in our bathrooms are large and the same ones are used behind the loo as in the rest of the bathroom. I imagine that a false wall was created where the loo is, to hide the cistern and pipe work. If your bathroom is small that might not be practical.

For a moment I thought that there must be 'face the wall' loos . I need more coffee.

That's a shame, Auntieflo, particularly given the lead times for getting work done. Did you feel that you got on with him? Maybe he was a cowboy who realised that you would hold him to account? Do you use Facebook? If so, there is almost certainly a local page on which you can ask for recommendations. I've used ours to find people before, and followed up with direct messages to recommenders, so they can be completely frank without the tradesman seeing.

I like heated towel rails, but my husband is a pain in the proverbial when it comes to covering radiators. I just know he will take them off the rail and drape them over the side of the bath😡. He does this in the lodge, as he's convinced that they block the heat. It drives me mad, as it's a small bathroom and not only does it look a mess, the towels are always damp, and there's limited storage space at the best of times.

I'm all for easy-clean options. I'm wondering about what to put on the walls, as the difference between tiles in the kitchen and solid splashbacks is noticeable when it comes to cleaning. I'm not sure how it would work for whole walls though. In the kitchen the splashback is between the worktops and cabinets and behind the hob, but it would be everywhere in a bathroom and might make it look like a caravan.

Thanks for the Carronite info. I'd never heard of it, but it sounds good.

Our loos are the ‘back to the wall’ variety, cistern hidden behind tiled panels which can be removed if necessary. There are two buttons to press, for a longer or quick flush. They only need a light touch. It makes cleaning so much easier.

Auntir0eflo

That's very annoying, but perhaps he wasn't the best man for the job. I hope you find someone good and reliable soon.

Our heated towel rails are quite effective but do take a bit more cleaning than ordinary radiators.
Ours are like this but there are more modern ones available now too.

Doodledog

Thank you.

I've looked online, and a lot of the local people have galleries of examples, and loos with no visible cisterns seem very popular. The sort of thing in the photo.

They do look neat, but is that what you mean about being inaccessible for repairs? I couldn't work out what would happen if the ballcock went, or something.

That looks like our loo except that it ours a panel behind it. The panel is removable if the plumber needs to come to get to anything behind.

How does that one flush? Ours has a round flush in the back panel which you press but I find, as my fingers get a bit stiffer and more arthriticky, it is quite hard to push sometimes.
Other than that, it's neat and easy to keep clean.

Well, last night I had a text from our bathroom chap.
He has pulled out!
I am so upset, as I really don't know why. Perhaps I asked too many questions, he just said quote, " I don't think I am the best person for this project. Hope you find a great installer and that everything goes well" All the best.
So here we are almost back to square one. At least we haven't spent any money yet, and I think I know now more of what I want to achieve.
By the way Doodle, if we lose our bath, you can have ours. It is a Carronite one, and is lovely. 🤗

Thanks both. I'll discuss it in more detail with him if we decide to go with his ideas, which we haven't seen yet. It's quite exciting now. I've googled the baths, and it's Carronite, with two 'r's. Some sort of resin, apparently.

We have underfloor heating throughout the house so I have no experience of what it’s like in just one room. Our heated towel rails are excellent but I don’t think they would be enough to heat the bathrooms on their own.