Renovating an older bathroom in Springwood or Daisy Hill: what to check

Many homes in Springwood and Daisy Hill still have their original bathroom, or one that was updated a long time ago. Renovating one of these is rarely a blank slate: the waste pipes, wall framing and room size you already have decide a lot of what will fit. This guide walks through what to check before you choose products, so the plan holds up when the trades arrive.

Start with what you cannot easily move

Moving plumbing is possible, but it adds cost and time. Before you fall for a layout, note where these sit today:

• The toilet waste: into the floor (S-trap) or the wall (P-trap), and how far from the finished wall to the centre of the pipe (the set-out).
• The basin waste and water supply: the height of the waste in the wall and where the hot and cold pipes come out. This affects which vanities line up without changes.
• The shower and bath mixers: where the mixer bodies sit in the wall, and whether you want to keep those positions.
• The floor waste: where it is and whether the floor falls to it properly.

Take photos of each with a tape measure in shot. Your plumber can confirm them quickly, and they make every later decision easier.

The toilet

The toilet is usually the most constrained choice in an older bathroom, because the pan has to meet the existing waste. Floor-mounted suites list the S-trap set-out range they can reach. On our site, for example, many Fienza back to wall suites are offered with S-trap options of 90 to 160mm or 160 to 230mm, and the Fienza Delta Care lists a single S-trap range of 90 to 280mm. If your set-out is unusual, an adjustable link suite or a suite with a wide range is the easier path. Read adjustable link toilet suites explained and choosing a toilet for an older home before you choose.

The vanity

Measure the clear wall width between fixed points such as the corner, door frame and shower screen, then check the vanity depth against the door swing. In a small older bathroom, a few centimetres of depth matters.

• Wall hung or floor standing: a wall hung vanity needs solid framing behind the wall to fix to. In an older home, your builder should confirm what is behind the sheeting before you commit. A floor standing vanity avoids that question. Our notes on freestanding vs wall hung vanities cover the trade-offs.
• Width: common widths are 600, 750, 900 and 1200mm. Browse 600mm, 750mm, 900mm and 1200mm vanities, or the vanity sizing guide.
• Basin and tap: the basin height decides the mixer height. An above counter basin usually needs a taller mixer.

The bath

If the bath sits in an alcove between three walls, the alcove length usually decides the bath. Measure it wall to wall at the height the bath will sit, and check whether the walls are square. Back to wall and inset baths are typically sold in lengths such as 1500mm and 1700mm; see our 1500mm baths and 1700mm baths, and how to measure for a new bath.

If you are swapping a bath for a walk-in shower, plan the floor waste, waterproofing and screen together with your builder from the start.

The shower

Older showers often have separate hot and cold taps. Moving to a single mixer is a common upgrade, and it is the time to decide between a standard shower mixer, a diverter mixer if a bath spout or hand shower shares the mixer, or a progressive mixer. Check whether the mixer you choose needs a particular in-wall body, and let your plumber know before the wall is closed.

Ventilation and heating

Older bathrooms often have a small window and no exhaust fan. A combined heater, exhaust fan and light unit deals with steam and cold mornings in one fitting, and a heated towel rail helps towels dry. Both need an electrician to install.

Certification and licensed trades

Choose tapware and toilets with WaterMark certification and check the WELS rating for each item; our WaterMark and WELS notes explain both. In Queensland, plumbing and drainage work must be done by a licensed plumber, and waterproofing should be done by a licensed waterproofer.

A simple order of decisions

1. Record the existing plumbing positions and measurements.
2. Decide what stays and what moves, with your plumber.
3. Choose the toilet that fits the waste, then the vanity that fits the wall, then the bath or shower.
4. Choose one finish family for tapware and accessories.
5. Line up delivery with your trades. Our bathroom renovation checklist helps with the order.

See it before you buy

Our showroom at Shop 4, 1 Bryants Rd, Loganholme QLD 4129 is a short drive from Springwood and Daisy Hill. Bring your photos and measurements, and we will help you narrow the vanities, toilets and tapware that suit the bathroom you already have. Directions from nearby suburbs are on our page for Underwood, Springwood and Daisy Hill shoppers. Pickup is free once your order is ready, or we deliver Australia-wide.