If your family always fights over the bathroom, then it may be time to consider adding a new one to your home. Putting in an extra bathroom is more convenient and less expensive than moving to a larger home, especially if you are happy with your house otherwise. Here are some tips for preparing to install a new bathroom.
Start with a Plumbing Inspection
One thing you'll want to know is the condition of your existing plumbing. If you have old galvanized pipes that are corroded and near the end of their lifespan, it's a good time to replace them when you add a new bathroom. Call a residential plumbing services and have your system inspected. You'll want the plumber to check that the existing pipes, drains, and vents are suitable for a new addition and that they can handle the extra demand for water and waste. You'll also want to learn about building codes that might limit where you can place the bathroom and how the pipes and drains must join to comply with codes.
Choose the Bathroom Location
You can put an additional bathroom just about anywhere, especially if it is a half bath or a bathroom with a shower only. If you have a large bedroom, you might consider putting the bathroom in there, or you could put it in the basement, finished attic, or even the garage. Each place has its own unique needs for installation that you want to consider. For instance, a bathroom in the basement needs a pump to get rid of waste. Plus, if you can add the new bathroom next to an existing one or behind a kitchen or laundry room, the pipes will be right behind the walls or under the floor and ready to hook into.
Choose the Components
When you build the bathroom, you'll want the plumber to install the pipes and drains before you finish the walls. You can put up the frame and then mark where you want the toilet, sink, and shower for the plumber. The plumber will need to install lines for hot and cold water, drains for water and toilet waste, and a vent that connects to the vent on top of the roof. Once all these are in place, you may want to go ahead and finish the drywall and flooring and then have the plumber come back and connect the toilet, sink, and shower.
You can choose from many styles of sinks and faucets. Your choice may depend on the size of the room. If your new bathroom is small, you'll want a sink and toilet that don't take up much room, but you may still want to splurge on a luxury shower with multiple shower heads. Just make your decisions before the plumber installs the lines so everything is set and ready to connect when the bathroom is finished.
Share20 July 2018
My homes have always had either copper or PVC plumbing pipes. But when my plumbing system needed an overhaul last spring, I wanted a piping system for my home that I could work on myself when needed. There were a lot of good reasons to choose PEX piping, but my favorite thing about the PEX piping is that it's easy to work with, even if you're a beginner like me. Now I can make small repairs myself instead of calling the plumber every time I have a minor leak or other small problem. I still call the plumber for the big stuff, but it's more affordable now that I can take care of small issues myself. I started this blog to help others learn how they, too, can do DIY plumbing repairs at home.