b"bathroom where do you start?- andpay for - the hotwater youactually use.They can also be advantageous in homes where space is at a Bathrooms andkitchens are, without doubt,the mostpremium, as the system - and the LP gas bottles that feed highly usedareasinany home andpresent their ownit if you're not on mains gas - can be installed outside. particular design challenges.The gas bottles come in different sizes, too, and will need refilling periodically. If you go with a Rockgas Homepack, AucklandinteriordesignerJoBaylisadvisesanyonefor example, which consists of two 4Skg cylinders, you're buildinganew home to makesurethatplanningislooking at filling them about six to nine times a year for finalised prior to any building work commencing. Oncean average four-person family. pipework has been set into concrete - literally - it can be difficult to explore alternative options.ventilation Before shebegins workondesigning or renovating aExtractor fans are vital in any bathroom to prevent mould bathroom,Jodiscussestherequirementsofeachofand to extend the life of the bathroom fittings. thepeople whowillbeusingthe room,thephysicallighting constraints of the space, and the look and feel envisagedAsk the electrician to install separate light switchesfor by the owner. Priorities are then set according to whatfans, heaters, mood and functional lighting. can be achieved within the budget. plumbing ThemajorityofthecostofanybathroomisinObtain plumbing advice before you decide to move items theinstallation:builder,plumber,tiler,electrician,around in your bathroom. For example, it can be difficult plasterboard-stopper,waterproofing,painter,andato put a toilet against aninside wall in a house with a joiner for any custom-made cabinetry. Then, products willconcrete floor, because there's nowhere for the waste to generally absorb around a third of the budget, says Jo.go. It's much easier to cut a hole in timber floors in an Usingabathroomdesignercancostanythingfromolder home. $500 upwards, depending on the scope of the project. However, the cost ofup front can save you bothtiling planning Tiles may be affordable, but don't forget that most of money and stress during the construction process.the cost is in the installation. Tiling starts at around $50 per things to think aboutSO metre. Small mosaic tiles can cost anything up to $1 per metre to lay. w aterproofingproject management/builders/subcontractors It's vital to choose a wet area-rated plasterboard to linePaying yoursubcontractorsseparately mayyou money, save the walls underneath tiling, and the ceilings.but it may also be false economy.Subcontractors often water pressureneed to return to the site several times and scheduling Think about the quality of your water flow and what willthemintherightsequencecanbecomealogistical work best for you - mains pressure or low pressure.nightmarefortheinexperienced.Aprojectmanager has a team of subcontractors who are used to working water heatingtogether and have an understanding ofhere their roles wAround 45% of most families'monthly electricity billisfinish and the others begin. If you are managing a raft spent heating the water in their hot water cylinder andof separate subcontractors and something goes wrong, it storing it at the required temperature, so itghtworthcould be difficult for you to establish who is responsible mi be looking at a gas-fired continuous-flow water heater.and how to fix the problem. For many people, having a Insteadofpayingto store hot water,continuous-flowproject manager is well worth the extra cost. water heaters take cold water from your mains and heatLastly, always make sure you get guarantees for products it within seconds on demand. This means you only heatand workmanship.H 128habitat"