So we are initially going to renovate the ensuite (bathroom at a later date) but just wondering where a good place to source the material from (ie toilets vanity, shower screen tapware etc) and wonder how much of it is you pay for what you get vs you pay for the name, also not looking for super flash as it would be over capitalising but would still like decent quality and modern looking.
Thanks in advance
Thanks, do you have any experience with online/ebay retailers? not really something you want to have to redo after a few years due to poor quality parts, but the dilemma is that most big bathroom places are so pricey compared to online sellers. Bunnings has some cheaper stuff but unsure about the quality.
I bought my kitchen tap off ebay. paid $80 delivered. same tap at bunnings was ~$220. was a 3 way tap (had a water filter option). that seller no longer trades.
here's the same tap on ebay being sold by an Australian vendor for $299
[here's the same tap for ~$80 delivered from aliexpress]
(https://www.aliexpress.com/item/ROVATE-Purifier-Kitchen-Fauc…)
the tap I fitted 6 years ago. the flex pipes I replaced last august - they (bunnings) do recommend replacing them every 5 year,
that was sort of my fault. when I installed the tap (first time tap installer) I didn't realise that I had to really tighten the bottom nut. so 5 years of swinging the tap between sinks caused some wear in the flex pipes.
tap was excellent otherwise.
bought a black chrome bathroom mixer tap for $1 from this deal.
yet to fit it. looks good. $1
needed a flexible shower hand held head - bought off ebay for $25 delivered.installed 5 years ago. still going strong.
Commercial taps, not as pretty but better for what you pay.
from a plumbing supply place?
Yeh,
Bunnings will do.
It sounds like you are quite inexperienced so with your first project don't expect too much. There is a lot of tricks to learn and sometimes learning the hard way is how we all started.
Ask a family member, friend, workmate, anyone who may have had a bit of previous experience…. if they would have a look at your ensuite and explain what you intend to do. They may help you avoid some of the pitfalls.
DIY plumbing and electrical work may be illegal so check your local regulations.
First bathroom reno but am a tradie so rate my abilities somewhat, the other thing to throw into the mix is that it's in my parent's house, if it was mine it would likely be cheaper stuff from Bunnings but they recently have had people tell them that you need Caroma toilets etc, I don't necessarily agree so thought I'd seek other value-minded peoples opinion.
I didn't think Caroma was a premium brand…
Where are you located? We bought some of our bathroom stuff from renovation Kingdom in parramatta, NSW.
Good question, on the Gold Coast.
Oh in that case I can't help, we did buy our vanity through hardly normal because they had a design that we liked, it wasn't cheap but nearly 3 years later and it still looks new. We also bought our taps through them as we were told we needed a particular brand to fit the plumbing that the previous owners had started to do.
Don't buy cheap junk, install costs more than the parts usually. Stick to known brands, caroma/dorf/methven etc.
I'd find the stuff I liked at Bunnings then do some research online to price beat.
May need to look elsewhere for vanities as they don't have much range.
Remember good tiling is most important, crack one and you compromise your waterproof membrane.
Aliexpress or eBay for "postable" items.
You can also look on facebook marketplace or gumtrre for people selling their renovation extras /surplus