Bathroom Design – The Process Vol. 1

1.   The Study of Space

Space – How much can I have?

The next step is to find out more about the space that is available for this new bathroom. Is it restricted to the existing bathroom footprint? Can you remove the linen closet and use that space in a different way? Do they really use the whirlpool tub? Can you use an adjacent closet, a coat closet or part of the adjacent bedroom. Many empty nesters are very willing to give up a bedroom to make a new master bath. Master baths with all the amenities can take up a lot of space in a hurry. Look at all the options. You will gain the customer’s respect if you can think of different ways to solve their problem.

Here are the six steps in a bathroom design process:

1. Space - what space is available for this bathroom?
2. Function - how is this bathroom going to be used?
3. Budget - how much do they plan to invest in this bathroom?
4. Layout - what is the best use of the available space?
5. Product selection – within the defined budget, what products fulfill the function of the bathroom, fit their lifestyle and their budget?
6. Building the bath – what process will be used to build this design?

Now look at the room(s) available. Are there windows that will dictate the design? Is there a finished or unfinished basement below? Is there a crawl space below? How much access is there to the plumbing and electricity and HVAC? What is above? An attic, or a finished room? In a two story home, it is likely that the baths are stacked. Note this and start to think about the waste lines and supply lines (waste lines are by far more important and more difficult to re-configure). What walls do you think the waste lines are coming down? Are the walls thicker than the normal walls in the house?

[Tip: You can determine this by measuring from the wall in question to the door, then go out of the bath and measure from the same door to all of the openings/doors and the distance to the next openings/walls, etc, until you come back around to the opposite side of the wall in question. Then a little math will tell you if the wall is thicker that usual.]  Here’s an example:

Other questions to ask are whether the existing configuration is a good one. Does it fit their new needs? Is it safe, efficient, attractive, comfortable, inviting? How much natural light is there?

[Tip: An easy way to get light into a bath with little or no natural light is by using a light tunnel. Velux Sun Tunnel skylight and SolaTube make easy ones to install and they work fantastically.]

If your client is letting you use an adjacent room, then you need to look at what is bearing on the wall(s) to be removed. If they are bearing, then you will have to put in a beam to support the load. Most of my clients would rather see no evidence that a wall has been removed. In other words, they want a flush ceiling, which means you have to cut the joists apart and install an in-ceiling beam. It’s not that hard, but there is a definite technique to doing this. (If you’d like a report on how to do this, just leave a comment and I’ll show you how).

In summary, you are looking at how much space is available, the existing configuration, the design restriction that openings or other physical objects place on your design, how the existing mechanical parts are run and your access to them, and the bearing points that may come into play with your design. You will become an expert at seeing all of this very quickly, and asking all the right questions. In less than ten minutes you will have your clients respect for your knowledge and innovative ideas. Being the obvious expert will make you stand out from others and win you many jobs.

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www.RemodelerBiz.com is published by Randall S Soules, a 37 year construction veteran. The intent of this web site is to help builders, remodelers and those in the trades, create a rewarding career and lifestyle.  At Remodeler Biz you’ll find helpful articles on niches, marketing, graphic standards and the design-then-build field.