Laura Heynike: Does your bathroom need a renovation?

COMMENT: A bathroom renovation generally sells itself. It is a very difficult and expensive place to renovate.

If your new home already has a renovated bathroom, than it’s actually worth more than the amount you would have spent to renovate it when you consider all the time, temporary accommodation or work-arounds it would have taken to get it done.

But if you are sitting on a little nest egg and you’re wondering if it’s time, then here are a few things that might help you decide.

After 10 years, seals may start to break down, there might be water damage and mould, and insufficient lighting. Photo / Supplied

1. The 10-year expiry date

Compounding damage that hasn’t been addressed over the last 10 years will sure do it.

If you haven’t touched the bathroom in 10 years or bought it how it is, it probably has passed its expiry date.

I’m not saying bathroom renovations should only last 10 years, but this is certainly the point when seals start to break down.

You might see water damage, mould, an outdated ventilation system, dull and insufficient light fittings, and yellowing or cracking of some fittings.

Go for a refit rather than a reno by upgrading removable fittings, re-grouting tiles and replacing tap-ware. Photo / Supplied

2. You could opt for a refit instead of a reno

Your grout may need to be re-grouted and your tap-ware fittings are starting to break down one by one.

If you haven’t maintained your bathroom as you would for the exterior by repainting or staining the deck, then you are in for a gut and renovate option.

However, some people are too quick to write their bathroom off and go down the $20,000-plus route of a renovation. Instead you could just opt for a less costly refit option.

Upgrade the fittings that you can remove, new extractor, lighting and a lick of paint. Perhaps a grout and glass cleaning treatment and you’ve bought yourself another couple of years.

You can tile over old tiles using thin composite sheets instead of removing and re-lining. Photo / Supplied

3. Replacing outdated tiles and tap-ware

Outdated decor could be a deciding factor in wanting to renovate. You may have just moved into your home and the style is not you. And that’s ok.

In this case a renovation might be on your cards, especially if the tiles aren’t your colour or preferred style like stone, concrete or marble.

There are some cheat ways such as thin composite sheets that you can tile over the tiles instead of removing and re-lining but that’s for you to decide.

The tap-ware might be the wrong colour or outdated style wise and functionally.

Some fittings you will be able to remove such as a vanity. Otherwise, it might require the wall to be stripped back to framing.

If you walk into your bathroom every morning and shudder, then it really is time to do something about it to make it more in line with the rest of your home.

Rip the band-aid off and just do it.

If you simply need more space in your layout, you may need a professional to do a redesign for you. Photo / Supplied

4. Adding storage

If your bathroom hasn’t got much storage, you may be able to get away with a few simple tricks.

Swap out the pedestal or one-drawer vanity with a large two-drawer vanity. Put a shelf above the door frame for extra towels or install a storage tower.

If you can’t fit in storage, or simply need more space in your layout, you may need a professional to do a design first perhaps reconfiguring or taking some space from another connecting room.

This will require a renovation, or at least a partial one.

- Laura Heynike is director of Pocketspace Interiors