Renovating a small bathroom: layout, ventilation and storage before requesting a quote

Draw what actually exists

Recording the floor area is not enough. Measure every wall, the height, door swing, window, recesses and the position of the toilet, basin, shower or bath. Locate soil stacks, water connections, drains, ducts and ventilation grilles as well. A sketch with these references separates a decorative idea from a layout that can be assessed technically.

Decide what you want to move and what you prefer to keep

Prepare two versions: one that keeps the main services and another with the layout changes you would like to assess. Mark where you need the shower, basin, toilet, towel rail and sockets, but do not assume everything can be moved without checking falls, routes and intersections with the structure or shared services. Ask for each option to be quoted with the same scope so that they can be compared.

Resolve ventilation before closing ceilings and fitting furniture

The Spanish Technical Building Code’s DB‑HS treats bathrooms and toilets as wet rooms and provides for extract openings connected to the home’s ventilation system. Before covering ducts or installing a tall cabinet, identify how air enters and leaves, where the extraction point is and whether the new layout obstructs it. A window can provide light and occasional ventilation, but it should not be used as a reason to ignore the appropriate technical solution.

Allow for safe movement and useful storage

Use the sketch to check access to the shower, the opening of the screen, door and drawers, the space in front of each fixture and routes without hazardous corners. DB‑SUA aims to reduce the risks of falls, impacts and entrapment and states that renovation work must not worsen existing safety conditions. Then fit in storage: a vanity unit, a shallow tall cabinet or a niche only where the partition and services allow it.

What to prepare for comparable quotations

Provide current measurements and photographs, the sketch showing visible services, your preferred layout and an alternative, the fixtures you will retain, storage and ventilation needs, and the level of finish you want. Also state whether the home will be occupied during the work and any building access restrictions. Ask for demolition, masonry, plumbing, electrics, ventilation, waterproofing, finishes, sanitaryware, furniture and waste removal to be separated.

Sources consulted

• CTE DB‑HS — Health and hygiene
• CTE DB‑SUA — Safety in use and accessibility