Why Are Bathrooms Renovated In Older Homes?

There are two areas which seem to get the most attention when it comes to renovating an older home, these being the bathrooms and kitchen. The rest of the house might be acceptably livable for the immediate future, but outdated kitchens and old-fashioned bathrooms seem to be a big ‘no-no’ in modern life. It is these rooms, more than any others, which can dictate a price when purchasing or selling a home. The demands of modern life place all of us under extreme time pressures, and bathrooms are a focal point in keeping our schedules under control, so they need to be efficient and highly functional.

Why Are Bathrooms Renovated In Older Homes?

Why is there so much emphasis on the bathroom?

Bathrooms are among the smallest rooms in any space, yet are packed with functional requirements which can take up most of the available wall or floor area. Baths, basins, shower stalls and toilets all need a specific area which is easily accessible, sometimes by more than one person at a time. Families with small children need a bath as toddlers are often afraid of standing under a stream of running water, and Moms really don’t appreciate getting drenched whilst trying to bathe their squirming children under a shower. Baths definitely have their place, and those which have a separate hand-held shower attachment are clearly a bonus when it comes to hair rinsing and a quicker wash if there is no shower room in the house. There are pet owners who wash smaller dogs in the bath during the colder months and being able to efficiently and quickly rinse the shampoo off them with a hand-held shower eases the stress on everyone.

An old-fashioned and ugly bathroom can be more than just irritating

Bathrooms, in particular, although usually used for short periods at a time, can date a house and add to its lack of appeal faster than any other room. Many older bathrooms have full bathtubs, some with an over-the bath shower or no shower at all. With speed, hygiene and water-saving being at the top of everyone’s list of needs when it comes to keeping their bodies clean, a shower is seen as a ‘must-have’ in any modern bathroom. Whilst a high pressure bath/shower combination is definitely a workable solution, the risk of slipping or drenching the immediate area around the bath are very real problems, even with special bath mats to provide grip. Shower curtains, solid glass or plexi-glass shower screens somehow just don’t keep all that cascading water in the bath rather than on the floor. And who wants to spend precious time on their hands and knees mopping up the overspill after a shower?

Remember those old dingy-coloured bathroom suites?

Older, more traditional bathrooms were usually finished in solid-colour gloss wall- and floor-tiles, with the dreaded avocado green or mid-blue being common choices, as well as unappealing pinks, all of which colours extend to matching baths, basins and even toilets. Not only do these types of finishes and fixtures date a room, but also tend to look rather dark and unhygienic, particularly as colours fade, change colour or stain over time with well-used acrylic finishes.

White is the common trend in bathroom fittings …

Modern bathrooms are often tiled using white porcelain – whether gloss or matt – with accents being provided by narrow strips of mosaic or contrasting tile to break up an otherwise bland room with similar white fittings. The choices of floor and wall tiles is, however, expanding all the time, and natural stone such as Travertine is becoming more popular and lending a warmer appeal. Interestingly enough, it seems that vinyl flooring is also making a comeback, with many different designs, including a variety of patterned, wood-finish, or natural stone finishes. Vinyl is hard-wearing, non-slip and non-porous, making it ideal for bathrooms, with the additional bonus of being easy to clean. Without the need for grouting, which is prone to disintegration over time with hard wear and which can also stain easily, keeping the floor sparkling clean and hygienic can now be achieved with minimal effort. Many showers, on the other hand, have a stone floor resembling a pebbled beach, available in a variety of colours, from light to darker tones, ideal as they are generally slip-proof and easy to maintain.

You don’t have to stick to the bathroom’s original layout

Whilst this article has mainly concentrated on the wall and floor coverings in bathrooms, we must not forget that any bathroom can be completely redesigned or revamped to meet the needs of those who use it. Baths can be removed and showers installed, new basins and vanity tops fitted, and low-flush toilets introduced with smaller cisterns which, whilst being extremely efficient, save litres of water with every flush and fill within a very short space of time. Floor space can be maximized with wall-hung vanities with cupboard space for smaller bathroom essentials, keeping clutter to a minimum and those essential but unappealing loo-rolls and other bathroom essentials well out of sight. If plumbing is kept to an outside wall or in its original position, the cost of renovation can be greatly reduced, leaving you with more cash to spend on more desirable fittings. To find out more about bathroom renovations, see Uptasker’s articles on the subject.

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