Improving bathroom functionality in Queenstown

Driven by the need to prevent more water damage to their bathroom timber floors these homeowners contacted Kathleen Magon of Solasta Ltd, a Refresh Renovations® franchise to help with their problem. The properties three bathrooms were all showing signs of water damage to the laminate flooring around the alcove showers. To prevent this issue from getting worse and becoming an ongoing source of frustration the homeowners decided to replace the floor in each of the bathrooms with tiles. They also wanted to remove the old boxed in alcove style and have more shower glazing to allow more light to pass through the spaces.

Major Challenges

One of the biggest issues was in the master bathroom, as it had openings as opposed to doors between the walk-in robe and ensuite it was important to get the transition between the two floor surfaces right, so care was taken to ensure a flush finish between the two different flooring materials. The other concern was in one of the guest bathrooms. The original flooring underneath the shower was not level. This meant extra work grinding work and levelling work was required to prepare the surface for the new shower. High demand on these services meant a delay for the project.

Design Highlights

The introduction of a shower seat by utilising the end ofthe bath cradle extended the space of the shower. The decision to have this the same colour as the floor creates a visual contrast and elevates the space. Care was taken to have all of the tile joins mitred as opposed to having a trim.This softens the overall installation look. For consistency the same tile choices were applied across each of the three bathrooms. For a small pop of colour a warm green was added as a feature wall which plays off the warm beige tones inthe floor tiles.

Project Execution

The renovation was completed in 13 weeks for all three spaces, The homeowners were in residence throughout the construction period meaning that one bathroom was always kept operational. Pressure was put on the schedule due to some unexpected issues. The flush finish for the master ensuite bathroom required more work than anticipated. Plus, the additional floor preparation works in one of the guest bathrooms meant that the project was delayed due to a high demand period on trades. However, the Refresh team was able to pull this unexpected setback forward earlier than originally advised. The original budget for the project was $80,202. The final budget for this project was $142,015. This was due to a combination of multiple factors that all added up. These were a mix of unforeseen works such as additional floor modification and preparation works combined with extra requests and upgrades such as reorientation of spa bath access, mitring the tile joins, extending the amount of tiling in the bathrooms, electrical upgrades and changes and a plaster repair and re-paint of the entire multi-level home.

Although there was some scope creep at the construction end of the project the homeowners were comfortable engaging the team for these additional services so that they could complete everything that they wanted to achieve during a single renovation period. Kathleen Magon and the team at Refresh Renovations® delivered a quality update to these bathrooms space that remedied all of the water tightness issues with the existing flooring.

Client Feedback

The clients love their new look and the durability that the tile floor finish provided and were delighted to not have to worry about any ongoing water damage to their bathroom areas.

Trades Involved

• Builder
• Plumber
• Electrician
• Plasterer
• Painter
• Tiler

Final Thoughts

It can often be difficult finding the balance between durability and budget, these clients opted for solution that would provide them with a long term benefit and added extra labour components with a view of obtaining a superior looking finish in keeping with the rest of the home meaning this extra spend is worth while in the long run.

Refresh® Renovation Consultant Kathleen Magon and her team at Solasta Ltd delivered a bathroom update that enhanced the durability and look of the spaces.

Would you like to transform your bathroom or home? Contact your local Renovation Consultant today for a free consultation.