Choosing the fixtures, fittings and tiles for your bathroom can be quite daunting. Work with someone who has relevant bathroom renovation experience so they can guide you in your choices. If you are lucky, you will find a company who can advise you on the whole job, tiles, tapware , baths and right through to the shower screen. This will save you time running from one place to another.

Things to consider when choosing fittings: Is this a family room that will require hard working, low maintenance fixtures that can withstand the wear and tear that only a family can deal out, or is it a sleeker architectural look you are after.

Toilets, Baths Vanities & Basins

Where to start when choosing a toilet for your bathroom renovation? Choose one that you like the look of that fits your budget. These days all are dual flush and some will be “Smart Flush” and use even less water than standard dual flush toilets. I usually recommend a close coupled suite as they are good value for money, easy to clean, and pleasing on the eye. You should be able to find one of these for under $500.

Baths generally fit into two categories. Acrylic and Pressed metal. Some people feel that the metal baths are superior as they are not plastic. Keep in mind that they are easy to chip, and if you are putting a shower over it, can be very slippery. For the family bath I usually recommend an acrylic bath as they are more forgiving in the family bathroom, and less likely to wear and cause injury.

Basins have become something of a fashion item recently, with vanities becoming more freestanding. I often get asked if counter top vessels are a passing fad. Of course they are, but if you like them, then why not? The choices are endless but in general Vessels, Recessed, Semi Recessed, and under counter. Semi Recessed basins are best when you are in a confined space, as the bench takes up less space.  Talk to your bathroom renovator about which is the best for your situation.

Showers

Try to come up with a bathroom layout that will allow you to have at least a 900 x 900mm shower base. This is quite workable. Showers with walk through tiled bases are becoming more common. These look great, but of course are difficult to construct and waterproof. Make sure if you choose this type of shower base that your bathroom renovator is well qualified and prepared to give you a guarantee on the waterproofing. If you are like me and prefer to be safe than sorry, you cant go past a polymarble shower base for practicality and watertightness in your bathroom renovation.

Shower screens are also a consideration. They come in three major categories. Framed, Semi Frameless and Frameless. They are priced in that order and roughly cost, $600, $1,200, and then upwards of $2,200 for the frameless. We tend to recommend semi frameless as a base, as they are a more modern look and are cleaned much more easily than the framed screens. Frameless is obviously the pinnacle, but sometimes be cost prohibitive.