How do you know if your home requires a bathroom renovation? When does your shower need replacing? Discover some helpful advice from our experts...
Introduction
How do you know if your home requires a bathroom renovation? For some, they determine based on the design of the latest trend, a new look with improvements on the functionality and the quality of the fixtures in the bathroom. There is a rule going around in the industry, one stating that bathrooms should be remodelled often. The bathroom remodelling industry believes that a renovation should be done every 10 years. Do people still follow that rule?
How did the 10-Year bathroom renovation come about?
For years, people in the industry have been using the 10-year time frame as a guide. Often time the idea of a renovation is to maintain a functional bathroom that remains comfortable for daily use.
Although the bathroom design and fixtures these days can sustain for a couple of years or more, most bathrooms in the past do not have such long life expectancies. The bathroom faucets that we have today have been worked on and improved in quality since their creation. Things like the shower head, the shower tray, and parts of the typical shower enclosure are starting to lengthen drastically in life expectancy not only under the hands of a handful of better manufacturer but also in the general increase of properly maintained new shower.
Most of us do not face the issue of a leaky faucet, however, such was the norm back in the days. After improvements and changes made, the faucets that are in our bathroom these days are much more durable. This relates to most plumbing fixtures too like the shower head, which along with the shower tray, face longer life expectancy, and can handle things like bacteria buildup and a hot shower much more preventatively.
Apart from the durability, other factors influence the idea of a bathroom renovation as well. In 10 years, trends will change and design will be different. Sometimes changes may even occur before the 10-year mark.
There are several reasons why an interior designer will agree to ensure that your bathroom should be up to date with trends. Some include seamless technology, newly designed finishes and more durable fixtures. As such, most people kept to the rule of 10-year bathroom renovation, carefully protecting their age-old idea of a new shower, new ceramic tile and new shower tray every 10 years.
Is the rule still relevant today?
Throughout the years, there have been many changes and redesign that happened as time progresses. For example, electric shower components combined with more effective shower tray technology allows for better rubber seals, better coating that allows you to simply wipe off soapy water and bacteria buildup, and just in general, a more hygienic and sustainable shower enclosure.
With such improvements, designers would be experienced in optimising the bathroom with elements of both. However, the next question would be the durability of the fixtures and appliances after the renovation.
Evolution of bathroom materials
The durability of the new bathroom design will depend on the materials that are used. Common materials used are ceramic and solid brass. Both have been used in the bathroom for fixtures such as toilets, sinks and showers. Material like glass was also used for the doors of showers, making taking a shower feel more like carefully landing yourself in an exhibit. While glass itself hasn't changed very significantly, a good shower enclosure now uses a combination of glass and other protective components to allow the general area to last longer.
People are often reporting that with simply white vinegar, water softener and simple cleaning solutions, they are able to clean their shower, their sinks, and expect more life expectancy out of their bathroom fixtures today,
Cultured marble was widely used back in the 70s, however, it is not the popular choice now due to the marble getting damaged easily as time passes. Other obsolete materials are ivory and pastel toilets as materials of such quality have been replaced with other better and more efficient materials.
Improved bathroom faucets
Common faucets design include those with a handle or knob to be operated. These are still widely used in homes and commercial bathrooms, but some prefer sensor-operated faucets. Such faucets provide a higher level of cleanliness as users are not required to physically touch the faucets to use them.
These days, most faucets are made of metal, unlike in the past when it was made with cast iron or porcelain. Using solid brass as a material is recommended as it has amazing durability. With aesthetics in mind, many homeowners opt for chrome or stainless steel as the classic design. However, some prefer a more minimal look, influencing them to choose matte black and matte white as a design option.
Newly designed shower
Showers combined with bathtubs used to be common in most households, however, it is slowly shifting towards a single shower in newer homes. A standard shower includes the basic shower head, valve and shower itself. Yet, newer features have been introduced into the shower to improve the longevity of the shower area.
Technology has integrated with the simple fixtures that are present in our showers. Controlling the temperature of the water will no longer be the act of turning the knob. Instead, touch screen controls will replace the knobs for a seamless shower. Even the shower heads are changing, with rain shower heads and different spray patterns being introduced, creating a new experience while you take a shower. With all these improvements, the durability of it all also increased when compared to the classic shower head that was once widely used.
Overall bathroom design
Other than the fixtures in the bathroom, the foundation of it has been improved as well. Although not as easily seen when compared to the fixtures, the quality of the materials used to build the foundation has improved. An example would be the ability to treat ceramic, wood and stone to last up to 50 years, which is longer than the 10-year bathroom renovation rule.
All these improvements include the flooring of the bathroom, with many types of flooring that are durable and aesthetically-pleasing available for homeowners to choose from. The common design includes tiles, concrete, stone and ceramic.
Lifespan of modern bathroom fixtures
After all the improvements that have been developed in the past few years, the lifespan of a modern bathroom will definitely be extended more than before. With proper design and planning, a high-quality modern bathroom can last up to 50 years. However, some fixtures require replacing after six months. The materials used in the designing of the bathroom matter as well, with some materials being more durable than others.
Conclusion
With the modernisation of the bathroom and the discovery of better materials integrated into building a higher quality bathroom, most bathrooms can last for longer. Although there is no fixed rule to replace and upgrade your bathroom, it is advisable to observe the state of the fixture and react accordingly. With proper care, there may very well be no need for a renovation every 10 years as you keep the bathroom in tip-top condition.
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