RENOVATIONS

Bathroom and kitchen renovations in Cape Town

Renovating a bathroom or kitchen is a huge project. It takes time and it can be overwhelming! Choosing a reliable, experienced and trustworthy contractor can be difficult. Eurosmart Plumbing will oversee the entire renovation project, from conceptualizing the layout through to ensuring the final finishes are in place.

We will guide you through every step of your renovation. First, we will set up an appointment to assess your bathroom or kitchen. During this appointment, we will take photos and measurements. We will draw up a thorough quote, which is free of charge. Should you accept the quote, we will set up another appointment to finalise the details and ensure that your choice of style, materials and fixtures is coherent. Finally, a starting date will be agreed upon.

View our portfolio of past renovations.

Where to start?

It is important to have a clear vision of your renovation. First do some research. Brainstorm ideas and find inspiration. Look at magazines, follow Pinterest and home improvement blogs. Save everything that appeals to you in a swipe file or a separate folder on your computer. Set a budget. Have a look at prices of bathroom fixtures online, to make sure that your budget is realistic. Add 20% for unforeseen costs.

Make sure that your fixtures, appliances, tiles, paint and colour work together match the style you have chosen.

Plan your bathroom layout and stick to it. Locate your drainpipe as the layout and choice of bathroom fixtures will depend on this. For example, if you live in a flat, your drains are normally set at a height that cannot be altered. Unpressurized water always goes down, not up. If you dream of having a freestanding bath or a walk-in shower, this might only be possible if you raise the bath or shower on a step and hide the pipework underneath. Make sure you have enough space to move around the room comfortably.

Beautiful bathroom renovations

Bathrooms do not need to be purely functional. You can create a beautiful and inviting space within a reasonable budget. There are many ways of achieving this. For example, you can use wooden floors rather than tiled flooring, or you can install shelves with decorative objects and lighting. You can also consider painting your bathroom walls, instead of tiling them:

Tiles often give a cold atmosphere whereas paint can bring warmth to a bathroom
Painted walls do not have quadrilateral or diagonal effect of tiles, making the space more harmonious
You can be more creative with paint by choosing an original or dominant colour
Paint has evolved. Before, only glossy paints could be applied in bathrooms because matte paints were not washable. Now, washable matte paints are readily available and can easily be applied in your bathroom
Painted walls are easier to wash than the grout in between tiles

Small bathroom renovations

We have completed many small bathroom renovations. A smaller bathroom might come with some challenges but we will guide you through this and help ensure that the layout and spacing is appropriate for your small bathroom makeover. For example, if you want to be comfortable whilst sitting on the toilet, it is advisable to leave at least 70 cm for your shoulders and arms, and at least 45cm in front of the toilet for your legs. If you would like to install a vanity with drawers, you should make sure there is enough space to open the drawers comfortably.

Stylish kitchen renovations

The kitchen is often the heart of a home. It is the place of meal preparation and informal conversation. Renovating your kitchen can add great value to a property, should you wish to sell it at a later stage. Eurosmart Plumbing can guide you through your kitchen renovation, from the layout and style to the choice of kitchen fixtures.

We work with experienced specialists such as electricians, carpenters, painters and tilers to ensure that every aspect of your kitchen renovation is covered.

Test your paint before you renovate.

What you see in a paint can is not necessarily what your paint will look like on your walls. Many people paint an entire room with their chosen colour, and are disappointed when the result resembles an ice-cream parlour or a hospital.

Before you decide on a colour of paint, buy small samples first and test it out directly on the wall(s) that you would like to paint.
Try it out in different areas of the room, and have a look at your paint patch at different times of the day as the lighting could affect the final result.
If you decide to use two different colours for two adjacent walls, the colours could match well when side by side on a flat wall. However, the result can be very different when the two colours are applied in a corner, as shadows and reflections will certainly change the appearance of the paints.

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Use good quality materials and check the guarantee conditions.

You can try to reduce costs, but do not compromise on the quality of your materials.

We recommend using good quality materials from reputable brands, especially if you choose concealed installations (e.g. taps, concealed cisterns, etc).

Reputable brands usually offer a long-term warranty. It is also easier to find spare parts, which makes maintaining your taps a lot easier. Cheaper taps often give problems after a few years and it can be difficult to find spare parts. This would result in you having to redo an entire section of your renovation, which would cost you more money than if you had invested in a good quality tap in the first place. Brands we enjoy working with include Grohe, Hansgrohe, Meir, Dado, Gio, Cobra, Geberit, and Bluetide.

Your choice of taps in your bathroom will often depend on the set working pressure of your geyser.

If you have a low-pressure geyser (under 200 kPa), it is best to go for stop taps, rather than mixer taps.

Mixer taps tend to reduce the water pressure, so if you already have a low-pressure geyser, you might end up being frustrated with a constantly low water pressure. Furthermore, if your geyser is not balanced (in other words the hot and cold water pressures are different), you might struggle to find the appropriate water temperature.

If you have a high-pressure geyser (above 200 kPa), you can choose either stop taps or mixer taps.

How to choose the right contractor?

When choosing a contractor, it can be tempting to choose the most competitively priced quote. Unfortunately, low prices can often mean cutting corners, poor workmanship, or unreliable staff.

Do your research.
Check your contractors’ reviews and credentials.
Ask for feedback from previous customers as well as photos of previous work.
Scrutinize the quote. Are there any hidden costs? Is everything detailed clearly? Quality workmanship and expertise often comes with a price. It is better to save up that little bit extra, for a renovation that you will be entirely happy with.