Bathroom renovation: find craftsmen, get offers and find out costs

Before you start renovating, you should determine your budget and record your needs and desired style. Think about which elements you want to replace and what functions your new bathroom should fulfil.

A bathroom renovation often starts with a major repair - be it a broken concealed toilet cistern, a damaged bathtub or a leaking pipe. The question then often arises: should we not renovate the entire bathroom right away? After all, many repairs require major work, such as new pipe connections or new tiles.

People who want to renovate their bathroom don't always do so out of necessity. Often the bathroom is simply getting on in years and no longer meets the requirements for comfort and aesthetics. Sometimes needs also change, for example due to an addition to the family or when the occupants get older.

As a general rule, if wall tiles have to be removed for repairs and the bathroom has old water pipes, you should consider a comprehensive renovation.

Before the initial consultation with a bathroom fitter, it's a good idea to think about the fittings. What do you like about your current bathroom and what should change?

Checklist for the consultation

• Would you like a shower, a bath or both?

• Should the toilet have a cistern or just a push plate?

• Do you also need a bidet?

• Who will be using the bathroom?

• Is one washbasin enough or should there be two?

• Do you need a lot of storage space, a mirror cabinet and vanity units?

• What colours and materials do you like?

• Do you have a picture of your dream bathroom as inspiration?

Appliances such as taps, bath and toilet are often selected at a later stage in an exhibition.

How long a bathroom conversion takes depends on the work required. It can take anything from a few days to several weeks. The bathroom is not available during this time. This also needs to be taken into account when planning. The bathroom renovation can be bridged with vacations, a mobile mini-bathroom or helpful neighbors, for example.

The cost of a new bathroom depends on many different factors. The type of fittings, size of the room and necessary building work all influence the price. However, you should expect to pay at least around CHF 15,000 to CHF 25,000. With this budget, a standard bathroom with a bathtub, toilet, mirror cabinet, washbasin, vanity unit and tiles can be designed.