In a compact villa bathroom an unbroken floor is the closest thing to extra space. It is also the hardest thing to build.
The effortless aesthetic of a walk-in shower is exactly what the owners of a heritage villa in Grey Lynn villa sought for their main bathroom, and it's why they came to Woodsmith.
The new layout needed to accommodate a bath, vanity, toilet, shower area, and laundry zone. Our work began by stripping out the space, including the old floor and wall finishes, fixtures, fittings and existing shower area.
Forming the set-down that a level-entry shower needs asked more of the floor than the original framing could give, so we rebuilt it. The floor structure was reworked and strengthened, with new joists installed and four additional piles added below the bathroom area to give the tiled wet area the support it needed.
The consented scope covered new tiling and waterproofing to the existing wet area, so the structural work went ahead under a minor variation, worked through by Woodsmith with the engineer and council while the build carried on around it.
Where the trades meet
A level-entry finish has no margin for error. The important work was in the preparation, structure, waterproofing and setting out of the various bathroom elements, and the result depended on our building team, the plumber, the electrician and the tiler all working to the same millimetres.
Fletcher Plumbing delivered the waste with millimetre precision. Electric Avenue set out the electrical to suit the new layout.
Bart at TileX laid the tiling immaculately, full height up the walls and across the floor, flat enough for the shower glass to sit cleanly on it with nothing in between.
In the owners' words
"We are delighted with the work Mike and his team at Woodsmith did on our bathroom renovation. Renovating an older home inevitably comes with surprises, but the team was fantastic at finding practical, well-considered solutions for structural and foundation issues.
One of the real strengths of Woodsmith is the quality of the wider team they have built around them. They work seamlessly with a strong network of trusted subcontractors and engineers, and the coordination between everyone was impressive. We have confidence in the quality of the work behind the walls and under the floor - something that matters enormously when renovating a heritage property."
Thinking about a walk-in shower for your Auckland home?
The details that look simplest on a plan are usually the ones that ask the most of the structure underneath.
Our free renovation guide covers what builders look for early on. And if you are ready to talk about how to make it happen, get in touch.
