Thinking of giving your bathroom a new lease of life to start the year? You’ve chosen the all-important colour scheme, tiles and bathroom accessories, but you might not have considered how you’re going to move the bath to a new location. Here are the four key things you need to consider:

1. Is there space to upgrade to a bigger bath?

If space isn’t an issue then the most straightforward option when repositioning a bath is to pick a larger one. Upgrading your bath is a great way to make your bathing experience a peaceful one and change the overall dynamics of the room just by having a bigger tub.

If a self standing bath is too big for the space then why not opt for a back to wall path which will give you extra room to bath and equally doesn’t take up as much space as a freestanding tub.   

2. Fitting to the pipelines – is it close to a connection point?

If your budget is squeezed then it’s always best to avoid moving the plumbing connection and keep your bath close to the original connection point. If you want to move the connection then you can expect the overall revamp costs to increase as adjusting water connections are costly. Plumbing connections can easily be forgotten when thinking of installing a new bath so don’t get caught out!

For smaller bathrooms, a corner bath like the Camden is a perfect fit to help you maximise available space.

3. Avoid fitting the bath against an outside wall

Where possible make sure that pipes aren’t close to an outside wall. When temperatures plummet, it can be a real problem if the plumbing is fixed against an exterior wall as the pipes could freeze over and cause them to crack. It might be tempting to avoid tackling this at the start of the project, but in the long run this will save you time and cash as fixing burst water pipes can be an expensive job.

4. Opt for a wet wall

Wet walls are great for covering the plumbing connections and if moving the bath to a different part of the room is the only option for you then a wet wall will help reduce fitting costs. However, use wet walls wisely as the more you have, the more it’ll cost you. If budget is an issue then only opt for a wet wall for the one that rests against the bath.

The job is nearly complete

Planning ahead is key when repositioning your bath. Before you start the project, you need to think about the available space and which bath is going to leave enough space for the toilet, basin and other accessories in the room.

Having a plumber you know and trust when moving the bath is invaluable. You want to get it right first time. While choosing items that will meet your needs as well as compliment the overall look and feel of the room are important, always consider how you’re going to reposition the bath.

If you’re looking for more top tips, you’ll find loads of bathroom inspiration on Victoria Plumb’s Love Bathrooms site.

Adam Chard is a bathroom consultant at Victoria Plumb