Bathrooms see more action than other room in the
house, even the kitchen.
That is according to Elite Bathroom's Ltd Kerry & Margaret
Wilson, Kerry a builder by trade who specialises in revamping
the Capital's bathrooms.
"They are exposed to more moisture than a kitchen
and are used equally by every family member. The kitchen only
has one wet area - the sink - while a bathroom has a toilet,
washhand basin, shower and bath."
As a bathroom specialist, Kerry is up to date with the latest
trends and fittings and is happy to share his opinions on
what makes a great bathroom.
|
 |
| There are a few rules he lives by: |
|
 |
Don't cut corners, set a realistic budget.
("You won't get a Rolls Royce for Mini Minor prices.'')
|
|
Use the right product for the right job.
(Gib makes a special wet area Aqualine board, so use it.) |
| |
|
| A bathroom must fit in with the rest of the house.
If you own a million dollar house, you should have a top of
the range bathroom. If you live in a villa your bathroom should
reflect that. And, of course modern houses suit modern bathrooms. |
|
|
Use quality fittings that are backed by
a good manufacturer's guarantee. |
|
Quality costs more but is worth it in
the long run. |
|
|
Specialist suppliers are your best bet. |
|
| |
|
For the area space it is the most expensive room
in the house to renovate so, Kerry recommends, you should do
it right first time.
“I have missed out on jobs because the client
has only looked at the bottom of the quote for the dollar figure.
I recommend you take a good look at the quotes you get. The
cheapest one may not be the way to go. Check the cost of fittings
being used. You may want the $500 toilet pan, but the cheaper
one is only getting you a $150 one you wont be happy with.”
Kerry also recommends a lot of research so you know what’s
around.
“Have a good think about what you want. Look in
books, visit the library, look at magazines, search the Internet
and think about what the family does in there. For example,
if the kids are big splashers, you should consider getting everything
off the floor, like install off the floor vanities.”
In his six years as a bathroom specialist, he has seen it all
and can help guide clients through the design and build process.
He uses trusted sub-contractors to help get the job done.
Depending on the size of the bathroom, Kerry says most jobs
take three weeks from start to finish. That’s a week for
the builder, a week for the tiler (if you’re having tiles),
and a week for the plasterer and painter.
As a final tip, Kerry encourages us to use more colour. He says
most Kiwis are still conservative when it comes to interior
colours.
“ Hey It’s only paint, it’s easy
to tone down if you don’t like your first bold choice”
|
| |
