Toilet renovation in an apartment

How a toilet differs from a bathroom

Nobody washes in a toilet, so the water load on the floor and walls is lower than in a bathroom. The floor is still washed, though, and if the toilet or its supply starts to leak, the water ends up on the floor. So in a toilet too the floor and the lower part of the walls are tiled, and the joints by the toilet and in the floor corners are filled with silicone, not grout.

In apartment buildings a toilet may also contain risers. Risers are the common property of the apartment owners, so work on them needs the association's consent and they cannot simply be walled in or moved. The owner must allow specialists authorised by the association or the building manager to access the building's utilities, so a hatch is left in the riser box.

Renovating a small toilet: what to decide

• A floor-standing or wall-hung toilet with a frame: a wall-hung one needs a front wall that takes up depth, but the floor under the toilet is easier to wash.
• The riser box: plasterboard with a hatch, or a tiled opening panel.
• A small sink for washing hands: it needs a water supply and a drain pipe before the tiling.
• A shelf or small cabinet above the toilet or in the box.
• Light and ventilation: whether there will be a lighting point and a fan.

In a small toilet the tile size affects the number of cuts. Around the risers, the toilet supply and the door opening there are many corners, and that affects the amount of work.

Ventilation in the toilet

In residential buildings toilets are ventilated through natural extract ducts. If there is a duct grille in the toilet, it is not tiled over or covered with a box. In a toilet and other rooms without gas appliances the ducts are cleaned and checked at least every 10 years, in rooms with gas appliances at least every five years. Before the renovation, ask the building manager when the duct was last checked.

Order of work

1. Demolishing the toilet and finish The toilet, old tiles or paint are removed. If the risers are old, this is the easiest moment to decide on replacing them.
2. Pipes If the type or position of the toilet changes, the supply and the sewage connection are rerouted. For a wall-hung toilet a frame is installed.
3. Box and walls The riser box and front wall are built, and the walls and floor are levelled.
4. Tiling The floor and walls are tiled and grouted, with silicone in the corners and by the toilet.
5. Toilet and light The toilet, sink and lighting point are installed.

How much a toilet renovation costs

Prices are for labour. Materials are calculated separately in the estimate. The total for a toilet renovation is made up of separate jobs. Example for a toilet with 14 m² of wall and floor to be tiled:

• demolition of old tiles 14 m² × €9 = from €126;
• tiling 14 m² × €24 = from €336;
• installing a toilet during a renovation from €50 per toilet.

Total from €512 for these three jobs. A plasterboard box, a lighting point from €12 per point and replacing a section of riser from €100 per riser may be added. The price is affected by the condition of the walls, whether the pipes and risers are replaced, and the chosen tiles. All prices are on the prices page.

What the price includes