Here’s what you need to know about changing bathroom plumbing for a renovation

OK, so you’ve decided to renovate your bathroom. Great! But where on Earth do you start?

There’s a lot to think about. You might be envisioning all brand new fixtures and a huge bathtub with a spectacular tile feature. However, you need to make sure that your vision is something that can actually become a reality.

When customers first come to us looking for advice on renovating their bathroom, the very first thing our experts ask them is this:

“Are you willing to change your existing plumbing? Or do you want to stick with what you already have?”

When we refer to “plumbing”, we’re referring to anything in your bathroom that’s connected to pipes - your taps, toilet, waste drain, shower and tub. So the answer to this question has a huge impact on the scope you can achieve with your renovation.

If you're willing and able to change your plumbing, the world is your oyster and you can totally transform every aspect of the layout of your bathroom. Keep in mind though; it will drive up your renovation costs quite a bit!

However, for most people, the cost and practicality of swapping out all of their plumbing is unrealistic. But there are ways you can make significant changes to your bathroom without needing to get a plumber in to rip out all the pipes.

Here’s a few tips of the trade to keep in mind if you’re weighing up whether it’s worth it or not to change your plumbing:

Think about what you want to achieve with your bathroom renovation

For example, if your main goal is to install a new shower, bathtub and vanity because you just can’t stand the sight of your existing fixtures, there’s a very good chance that you can just replace what’s old for new whilst using the existing plumbing connections. There’s really no need to relocate everything if you are happy with your current layout but just want to update the fixtures.

However, if your goal with your bathroom renovation is to completely re-do the space and create a whole new layout from scratch, then you’ll need to change your plumbing. Many people opt for this because they want to totally transform their bathroom space into something more opulent and spacious.

For example - a current trend with bathroom designs is to create a ‘wellness-inspired’ or ‘oasis retreat’ style of bathroom. To do so, you need quite a bit of space to work with. And to create more space, your plumbing needs to be adaptable to the proposed layout.

Investigate other methods for changing the plumbing

For a lot of people, the cost of changing their plumbing is a bit outside of their renovation budget. But there are some clever methods that you can use to make your plumbing system more flexible without having to rip out every single pipe.

With the help of an experienced plumber and builder, there are ways to create hidden wall cavities to extend the length of existing pipes to reach other areas of a bathroom, thereby allowing for greater flexibility in your layout.

While this is still a more expensive option than just sticking to your current plumbing, it’s still cheaper than doing a total plumbing re-fit. This could be the “middle-ground” solution you’re looking for.

There are limitations as to what can be achieved with this approach, but it’s well worth consulting with a plumber, builder or even a bathroom product expert to discuss your options.

Don’t purchase any bathroom fixtures until you’ve confirmed how they need to be installed (especially a toilet!)

Sometimes, we are unfortunately approached by customers looking for help after they have purchased a new and expensive bathroom fixture on their own, especially a toilet, only to realise that it’s not compatible with their existing plumbing.

Toilets in particular require a bit of planning in terms of ensuring they are compatible with existing plumbing as toilet plumbing standards have changed a bit over the years.

Before buying a new toilet, you first need to know if the plumbing of your current toilet is a p-trap or an s-trap. If the big pipe goes out the wall, it’s a p-trap. If it goes through the floor, you’ve got an s-trap. This will affect the waste set-out measurements requirements and will determine what type and size of toilet you can install.

Additionally, you will need to check where the water supply tap is located. Older toilets with high-level cisterns usually have water supply taps located up high. This often conflicts with more modern styles of toilets which have low-level cisterns. This can sometimes end up in the way of the toilet bowl if you’re looking to install a back-to-wall or wall hung toilet.

All in all, there are many different types and sizes of toilets and other fixtures available out there and there’s a very good chance that you will be able to find a product that can be easily attached to your existing plumbing. But it’s best to consult with a professional before committing to a purchase.

Need help with your bathroom renovation project? Talk to the team at arthaus

Whether it’s a home bathroom or a commercial bathroom, arthaus is here to help.

Our bathroom experts have all the right know-how to recommend the right products for your needs so that you can make that final decision with confidence.

Click here to get in touch with us today. We have a dedicated bathroom showroom in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley which is open to the public 6 days a week. 

Or give us a call on 07 3252 6111. We look forward to making your dream designs a reality.