Slimmer, lower, bevelled: solutions for space constraints in bathroom refurbishments
Every bathroom specialist is familiar with the problem: when modern requirements clash with the constraints of existing properties, unconventional solutions are needed. Refurbishing older bathrooms is particularly challenging. Often, cramped spaces and winding, narrow floor plans have to be reconciled with contemporary methods such as pre-wall installation – space constraints and tricky installation scenarios are then inevitable. However, new products make bathroom refurbishments considerably easier: they are designed to address the specific challenges faced by heating and plumbing craftsmen in their day-to-day work, saving both space and time. Three examples show how it can be done.
Sometimes life on a construction site could be so simple: if only that one standpipe wasn't in the way, or the toilet didn't have to be positioned diagonally across the room. That would free up those crucial centimetres, which could be used to create a more spacious shower area, for example. For André Kreuz, Managing Director of Albert Kamphausen GmbH in Mönchengladbach – a company specialising in bespoke bathroom refurbishments – such situations are daily business: “In bathroom refurbishments, pre-wall installations are the best solution because of their practical layout,” says Kreuz. “However, you often have to work in very confined spaces in the bathroom. Gaining space in a small area is therefore a crucial factor when choosing pre-wall modules, alongside compatibility and the manufacturer’s ability to deliver.”
Small bathrooms, big challenges
Glossy brochures and Instagram feeds are full of spacious, picture-perfect bathrooms. However, in reality, around 70 per cent of all construction work across Germany involves the refurbishment of existing properties, which means that bathrooms are often small, narrow and full of nooks and crannies – yet state-of-the-art technology still needs to be installed in them. Common projects are the modernisation and extension of neighbourhood blocks dating back to the post-war decades. But what can be done when the position of the pipes or the bathroom’s layout restricts the design options? This is a question not only for craftsmen, but also for manufacturers who keep a close track of market trends. The result is a range of unconventional modules for pre-wall installation, which are either particularly slim or low-profile. And nobody has to forego compatibility, convenient prefabrication or tool-free installation steps.
Slim modules fit between the pipes
A typical loss of space is caused by toilet ceramics. They protrude into the room but need to be positioned at a sufficient distance from the washbasin or shower. The smaller the gap between the toilet module and the bathroom wall, the better – this also applies to pre-wall installation. Typical obstructions arise when the downpipes and risers run along the wall in such a way that a standard 500 mm-wide toilet module cannot fit between them and must be positioned in front of the pipes instead. The ideal solution is a slimmer module, and indeed there are now models that are just 320 mm wide, saving more than a third of the space on either side. In return, the flush volumes are reduced to 7 litres. Here, the module benefits from modern, water-saving toilet ceramics, meaning that, despite the smaller volume, it functions as a fully-fledged built-in cistern.
Thinking around the corner
However, toilets can cause space issues particularly when they have to be fitted in a corner due to the existing layout. Here, too, the limited width is often a problem, to which the geometry also contributes: a cistern with a rectangular design does not make optimal use of the space on the diagonal wall. This results in gaps between the wall and the cistern, causing the toilet to protrude further into the room than it would be the case with a more suitable design. That is why manufacturers are responding to this issue by developing cisterns with bevelled corners, combined with a reduced width. These models, such as the TECEprofil toilet module with the Compact 320 cistern, are fully compatible with the manufacturer’s other systems and components, meaning the installation does not require additional training. For example, all TECE flush plates can be used with this module, including tool-free installation using the ‘easy fit’ method.
Thinner walls, same stability
Some challenges in the bathroom may seem trivial to the untrained eye but can cause real headaches for plumbing and heating professionals. This is the case, for example, with simple screening walls, such as privacy screens around toilets or the spatial separation of a shower area. To save effort, half-height wall elements made from pre-wall components are ideal, as they can be mounted on one side without the need for built-in fittings. However, such walls usually need to be more than 20 cm thick, as they require a corresponding supporting foot. Therefore, installers are frequently asking for products that are significantly thinner. Newly developed double brackets and push-in brackets now offer precisely this option, allowing walls with a depth of just 69 mm (including 2 x 18 mm cladding) to be installed using this practical method. Once tiled, the walls are less than 100 mm wide – yet sturdy enough to meet the demands of a bathroom. All that is required is a profile pipe, which is attached to the subfloor and a solid wall. This allows for the installation of slim privacy screens that are up to 2 m high from the finished floor level and up to 1.4 m wide from the solid wall.
New solutions for a contemporary look
Space constraints can also arise in terms of height, particularly in bathrooms under pitched roofs. But also, contemporary trends can call for space-saving solutions in terms of height. For example, countertop washbasins are becoming increasingly popular in hotels, restaurants and private homes. The crux of the matter is that they require a low pre-wall construction. If the toilet is to be integrated into a shared pre-wall structure with the washbasin without any difference in height, then traditional toilet modules are too high. Modules with a height of just 750 mm are required here, and these have now been developed. This reduction is achieved through shorter drain valves and by positioning the flush plate upwards; the latter is also practical during operation.
Compatibility as a key factor
These new, more specialised modules offer craftsmen plenty of possibilities and simplify both planning and installation. As they draw on tried-and-tested techniques from pre-wall construction and are fully compatible with the respective manufacturers’ systems, they offer the classic advantages of modular construction and proven practical details, such as pre-assembled filling valves. Installation tunnels and connection boxes ensure that flush and drain connections, as well as connections for the shower toilet, remain clean right up until the toilet is installed. The reduced size also pays off during transport, as significantly more modules can fit onto a single pallet. To develop optimal products that meet the increased demands of bathroom refurbishments, the dialogue between skilled craftsmen and manufacturers is crucial. “We find time and again that manufacturers who provide us with the best possible support in our day-to-day work are also at the forefront when it comes to practical innovations,” emphasises Alexander Stamos, Managing Director of the plumbing and heating specialist firm Stamos GmbH in Grevenbroich. “Our long-standing, successful collaboration with TECE is a clear indication that we will continue to receive new, practical solutions in the future.”
