This bathroom renovation in Taradale, Napier, was part of a whole-house renovation in 2024. We repiped the house with new water pipes, swapped a low-pressure cylinder indoors for a mains-pressure one outside, and plumbed the new kitchen, main bathroom, ensuite and laundry in stages. The repipe and the outdoor cylinder weren't in the original plan but we were there to guide the homeowner every step of the way.
The house and what the homeowner wanted
The owners undertook a major house renovation which involved taking all of the walls off, changing the layout of the whole house and totally renovating both bathrooms. It was all consented work.
Kitchen: moved from one end of the house to the other.
Main bathroom: the old shower over tub got changed into a modern shower, a new toilet, and the vanity moved to another wall.
Ensuite: the shower and toilet stayed where they were and the vanity changed walls. Every fixture and pipe was replaced.
Laundry: a new supertub, plumbed in at the last stage.
What we recommended, and why
New pipes through the whole house. The original plan covered only the bathroom and kitchen fixtures being replaced. With the walls open, we recommended doing the lot: it was easier and cheaper to run new pipes than working onto the old copper pipes.
Hot water moved outside. On a hot water cylinder replacement, an outdoor cylinder costs less to install, because it needs no safe tray or extra drain run. The owners poured the concrete pad themselves, and we connected the cylinder on it. We installed a Rheem 250L outdoor mains pressure hot water cylinder.
Mains-pressure tapware throughout. We advised choosing every tap and mixer to suit mains pressure on both hot and cold, because tapware built for unequal pressure is bulkier and dearer.
Planning the layout and choosing the fixtures
With the kitchen at the far end, we helped work out where the cylinder should go, to keep the wait for hot water short at both the shower and the kitchen sink. The kitchen sink went where the waste would have enough fall to reach the gully trap.
We also advised on the bathroom layout and which products to use. As the homeowner put it, "it's overwhelming when you start looking at toilets. There are so many options. It was nice to hand some of that decision making off." We advised on the best toilets for value, and recommended Voda tapware for its 10-year warranty.
How the stages ran
The hot water went in first, on its own. The kitchen and main bathroom came next, and the ensuite renovation and the laundry followed about nine months later.
The homeowner booked each stage a week or two ahead, and each took us one to three days. Before the walls were closed in, we advised on anything that needed doing first. They did some of the work themselves and coordinated the other trades, and we fitted in around them. In the homeowner's words, "they showed up when they said, put drop sheets down over our new carpet and took their shoes off at the door."
How it turned out
The house now runs on mains-pressure hot water from the cylinder outside, through new pipes to every tap. This lovely 1950’s house is now brand new as far as the plumbing is concerned and the homeowners can enjoy the modern comforts with the classic style. Asked how it has held up, the homeowner said: "Everything works as it should. We haven't had to call the plumbers back for anything."
Planning a bathroom renovation in Hawke's Bay?
Call us before the layout is settled, while the pipes and cylinder can still move. We do bathroom renovations in Hawke's Bay either way: running the whole job with trades we've worked with for years, or plumbing alongside the owners' own trades, as on this job. We start with a free site visit, and a quote follows. Ring 06 870 6000, Monday to Friday, or get in touch online.
