Articles about the bathroom. Stages of bathroom renovation. Dim work light

In most cases, hands come to a bathroom renovation last. We change the plumbing or renovate some of the finishes when something goes wrong. This is understandable - alterations in the hygiene room cause a lot of inconvenience: neither use the toilet nor take a shower. Meanwhile, experts recommend to carry out repair work in the complex, and not to "put patches", and even call the optimal frequency - once every 15-20 years.

This figure is made up of the average service life of individual finishing elements and engineering equipment: a cast-iron bath can be operated for about 45 years, a steel one - 30 years; steel pipes retain their qualities up to 15 years, galvanized pipes - up to 30 years; sewer risers serve up to 40-45 years. In some cases, local repairs can be carried out - for example, when replacing lamps or mixers. If you decide to change part of the plumbing, this will inevitably cause a chain reaction. You will have to remove the bath, and when you dismantle it, the tiles will be damaged, and so on.

Bathroom overhauls are also economically beneficial: turnkey jobs are cheaper than occasional calls to fitters and plumbers.

Bathroom features

When starting to renovate a bathroom, you need to pay attention to the following nuances:

Heat and moisture are an excellent breeding ground for harmful microorganisms. If ventilation is inadequate, any gap can become a place for mold to accumulate. For this reason, it is not recommended to use plastic paneling - water can get under the crate. Do not put laminate in the bathroom - the locks of the waterproof flooring will still allow moisture to pass through.
Electricity in humid environments is a potential hazard. Care must be taken when laying electrical wires, installing sockets and switches. All contacts must be waterproofed (see photo 2).
Building materials subject to decay or corrosion must not be used in the bathroom. Parts made of untreated wood, steel or aluminum are best left for other areas.
The remodeling must be done wisely. For example, in a small apartment, it is better to replace a massive bathtub with a compact shower cabin.

At the start. How to equip a bathroom

If you decide to do your own bathroom renovation or save on designer services, you will need an accurate layout scheme. Measure each surface and transfer the results to a sheet of Whatman paper. Be careful: the geometry of the rooms is often poor, and the two opposite walls differ in size.

Drawing up a drawing does not require special skills:

Mark the perimeter of your bathroom according to the chosen scale.
List the location of each piece of furniture on paper.
Determine the places of supplying hot and cold water, sewage, electricity connection points.
"Install" the washing machine, shower and other plumbing with the exact dimensions.
Check if you can move freely around the room.

Important! Draw some drawings to find the perfect one. Think about which one will be most convenient, ask the opinion of all household members.

Selection of materials for the bathroom

Separate articles are devoted to the purchase of a bathtub, toilet bowl and warm floor, so let's take a closer look at the nuances of the selection of finishing materials.

For floor

The material must be resistant to steam, moisture and high temperatures and at the same time not be afraid of aggressive substances and salts. Tile or porcelain stoneware is ideal for these parameters. Sometimes a specially treated wooden floor is placed on the bathroom floor. This option is more suitable for spacious rooms with an original interior. It is better not to experiment in typical buildings.

To avoid possible problems with neighbors below, be sure to take care of high-quality waterproofing of the floor. It can be either dry mix in bags, or roll material or mastic. In no case do not use expanded clay for backfilling - this insulation is very hygroscopic.

For walls

The choice of materials for decorating walls in the bathroom is wide enough. Ceramic tiles are practical and durable; they are distinguished by a wide range of colors and various color schemes. Paintable waterproof wallpaper is suitable for walls that are not adjacent to a bath or shower. Any surface can be painted with latex paint, the only condition is to apply it in several layers. Natural or artificial marble, mosaics, glass panels and tiles, stone elements are appropriate as a decor in the bathroom.

For ceiling

The easiest option is to cover the ceiling in the bathroom with water-based paint (note that the products must be designed for rooms with high humidity). You can paste over the surface with fiberglass-cobweb or equip a suspended structure made of plasterboard. In this case, you need to take care of good ventilation. Stretch ceilings made of moisture-resistant PVC film or rack structures are also suitable for the room (see photo 3).

Ventilation in the bathroom

In the bathroom, the air is constantly oversaturated with moisture, which can form condensation in the most inaccessible places. And dampness and heat, as you know, create optimal conditions for the growth of mold and fungi that are dangerous to health. To avoid such troubles, it is necessary to take care of the arrangement of ventilation in advance.

Installation of a forced draft makes sense in rooms with an area of more than 15 sq. M. In a small space, a standard ventilation grill and additional door gaps are sufficient. You can purchase a "specialized" bathroom door - these models are equipped with round holes or small nets at the bottom (see photo 4). There is also an easier option - to leave a small gap under the door (2-2.5 cm will be enough).

Bathroom lighting

It is necessary to mount lighting in the bathroom in such a way as to prevent splashing, steam or water flow on open contacts and hot glass. Foreign sources divide the room with high humidity into four zones according to the degree of safety, they correspond to the degree of protection of the instrument case:

Zero - the space of the shower or bath. Here the degree of protection must be at least IPх7, voltage - no more than 12 V. All transformers must be installed outside the "water" zone.
The first one is above the bathroom (up to 2.25 m in height). Protection degree - not less than IPx5.
The second is an indent 60 cm from the first zone (it is counted on all sides). Protection degree - not less than IPx4. Waterproof sockets can be installed in this area.
The third is the remaining space in the bathroom. Protection degree - IPx1. In fact, any electrical appliance can be used in the “waterless” zone.

The division is more than simple: the closer to the bath there are electrical appliances and lamps, the more reliable the protection from water should be.

In terms of functionality, the room can also be zoned into four parts:

The bath / shower itself. The amount of light depends on what kind of procedures you plan to carry out in the bathroom. If you bathe children, do laundry, do manicure and pedicure. You will need bright halogen lights. If you are just taking a shower, then the built-in lighting is sufficient.
Sink with a mirror. Lamps located near the sink should evenly illuminate the face, not create glare and shadow drops and not be reflected in the mirror (see photo 5).
Furniture. Even in a small room there is a place for shelves, towel holders and other necessary interior items. Whether it is worth making a separate highlight is up to you. In small rooms, basic lighting is sufficient.
Appliances. The situation is the same as with furniture. However, a small lamp above the washing machine will allow you to monitor the operation of the unit without using central lamps.

Wiring should only be done with whole pieces of wire. Don't skimp on power and use double insulated cable. Junction boxes should be placed outside the bathroom. It is better to lay the wires responsible for sockets and switches in grooves.

Important nuances

It is impossible to cover all the nuances of bathroom renovation, but we will try to highlight the basic rules:

Complete dismantle of old coatings. There should be no notches, pieces of old paint or plaster - this negatively affects the quality of the future cladding.
Align all corners to perfect 90 degrees, otherwise problems with plumbing installation may arise (see photo 6).
Pour the screed, taking into account that the floors in the bathroom should be 2.5-3 cm below the general level in the apartment. This will help to save the rest of the premises from a flood if the tap suddenly trips.
Use only cement-based plaster, putty and adhesive mortars. Gypsum is not intended for use in wet areas.
Install a water leakage protection system if possible. "Smart" sensors shut off the water supply in the event of an accident. For example, if in your absence a pipe bursts or a tap breaks, you are guaranteed not to flood your neighbors (and your apartment will not suffer from flooding).
Don't rush the repair. Tiles must not be laid on wet plaster.
Plumbing ducts should be made with the lowest possible depth.
Never use threaded connections and bypasses on sewer and water pipes. If a water hammer occurs, the fittings may not withstand and the pipe will leak at best (at worst it may simply burst).

A complete overhaul of a bathroom, carried out in compliance with all technologies, cannot be quick. The minimum period for finishing in an average room is 3 weeks. Do not settle for fast track options - this is fraught with problems in the future.

For painting the ceiling needs to be leveled, plastered and putty to make the surface look perfect. The best option in this case is water-based dispersion paint, which is intended for rooms with high humidity. If neighbors suddenly flood you, then traces will remain on such a ceiling, and the structure itself will not be able to protect, but condensation will not accumulate on it.

Followed by wall decoration so as not to stain the floor. Most often, the merits of which in this case are undeniable. On previously prepared walls, plaster and putty are applied, after which they dry up to. In this case, tile glue is used, and the installation begins from a prominent angle so that the tile is solid in the most visible places, and cut pieces can be used with other objects. The seams between the tiles are filled, which can be in the color of the tile or, conversely, contrast with it. There can be a lot of tile options, you can combine different types with each other, use mirror inserts that can slightly expand a small bathroom.

Lay in the same way floor tiles, but for the floor, it is better to stop the choice on the most non-slip surface. - waterproof laminate that will definitely be non-slip. Together with it, you can use liquid wallpaper as a wall covering.

Installation of sockets and switches

When the finish is ready, you can proceed to the installation of sockets and switches in pre-prepared places. This stage also includes installation of some equipment, incl. water heater... It may be needed not only by residents of private houses, but also by many residents of apartment buildings, in which summer hot water shutdowns are often practiced. To save space, you can choose not a storage, but an instantaneous water heater.

You also need to take care of. It can be an automatic fan that will monitor the level of humidity and temperature by itself, turning on and off itself. If you yourself will regulate its work, then a separate switch is provided for it, and combining the inclusion of light and ventilation is not always convenient and justified. At this stage, set sockets, switches, all necessary lighting fixtures.

Plumbing installation

This is the stage for which most often the renovation of the bathroom begins. The choice of plumbing is now impressive, so everyone can choose what fits in size, appearance and functionality. The acrylic version can become an alternative to the usual one: they are distinguished by a wide variety of forms and wider functionality. If there is not much space in the bathroom, then the choice is better to stop at shower cabin Now queue for... It is installed at the finish of all work so as not to accidentally scratch it with plumbing. The door should fit well into the bathroom design, retain sounds, and be devoid of completely transparent elements.

At the end of all work, it remains only to put everything the necessary, hang a mirror, pictures, arrange flowers, hang towels, put in their places accessories, which in the bathroom perform not only the role of decoration, but also have a specific function.

In conclusion

Drawing up and breaking down all repair work into stages helps to better imagine everything that needs to be done. Following a clear sequence, the risk of forgetting to do something decreases, and the quality of the work being done improves. Moreover, strict adherence to the stages helps to meet the deadlines, therefore, before starting repairs in the bathroom, it is better to take some time to think about the project and the sequence of work.

Not much time has passed since the time when the bathroom was used purely in a bath and laundry context and did not provide for any design delights. Today it seems strange and impossible, because the bathroom is the place where we start and end our day! And what can be more important for a modern person than comfort? Is that still b O Greater comfort - after all, these are the values and needs of our time.

Modern bathroom- an object of inspired interest of designers, manufacturers of plumbing equipment, furniture, lighting fixtures, all kinds of finishing materials and accessories. And all this is "sharpened" for the solution of the same tasks: the bathroom exists in order to give a person vital energy, deep relaxation, maximum convenience and aesthetic joy. The philosophy of the modern bathroom - be a real home resort... Therefore, everything is important: how beautiful the design is, and whether it is convenient to spend time here, and what opportunities the plumbing equipment provides.

Of great importance is bathroom visual... It should coincide with the aesthetic ideas of a person about what an ideal vacation is. And if someone prefers luxurious marble bathroom furniture, then another will relax with a refined retro style or cozy country style with handmade accessories. But the choice of furniture, as well as ceramic tiles, wall and ceiling finishes must be maintained in a single stylistic key: the designers cultivate the integrity of the image down to the smallest detail.

Fortunately, modern finishing technologies are so diverse that they make it possible to make any individual fantasy come true. You may like traditional tile, faux stone, agglomerate, or mirror tiles. You have a choice - to install a warm floor or limit yourself to a pretty rug, not to mention rich in colors and sometimes unexpected in design.

But the main character of a modern bathroom will be the bath itself... And here preferences are limited only by the size of the room and your wallet. Look: bathtubs are square and oval, cast iron and acrylic, glass and hydromassage - which one do you want? And which one can you afford? The same applies to faucets, shower cubicles, bathroom sinks, heated towel rails. And, of course, mirrors - all sizes and the most bizarre shapes.

Finally, a place to stay is also a good thing. well thought-out lighting system... It can transform a modest design into a fantastic "landscape" full of beauty and filling with such joy and a sense of peace that it is incomprehensible, but how did we manage without all this before? A modern bathroom, even the most democratic and simple one, is designed for bodily comfort. People realized that a lot depends on him - both how we start our day and how we end it. This means how we will conduct it.

We always start a new day in the bathroom, and its design, in turn, can significantly affect the forming mood, and even self-esteem. We will tell you how to create comfortable conditions in the bathroom space, giving photo examples, and based on the presence of the most common mistakes when arranging this room.

Ill-conceived layout

The main problem that causes a variety of inconveniences is the incorrectly planned bathroom space. At the same time, if in a spacious room you can still put up with the fact that the shower stall is in the wrong place, then in a small room such a "defect" is unacceptable.

right

In order for you to be comfortable in a small bathroom, you should think over its filling to the smallest detail, starting, of course, with large plumbing fixtures. The bathtub must be installed so that it completely fills the space along one of the walls. But if it is also necessary to place a washing machine in the room, it is better to abandon the bath in favor of a shower cabin.

Instead of a massive floor cabinet under the sink, use a compact wall-mounted analogue, and install the toilet so that there is enough space between it and the plumbing, opposite, for free passage.

Club atmosphere

If you, once admiring the design of a bathroom in a popular public institution (nightclub, cafe, restaurant), want to recreate a similar atmosphere in your own bathroom, think before you make such a mistake.

Often, the bathrooms in establishments are deliberately relaxed, languid, for example, in dark colors, with a large number of mirrors and dim lighting. In fact, such a bathroom interior in an apartment or house will depress, interfere with a vigorous awakening in the morning, and make your complexion unhealthy.