Bathroom Renovation Inspection

Wet areas require tanking (waterproof membrane) system applied to walls and floor. EN 14891 compliant waterproofing required. Minimum 200mm membrane height above splash zones.

1. Ask for documentation of tanking system installation (brand, system, photos)

2. Check substrate — should be cement board or tanking board, not plasterboard in wet zones

3. Inspect the shower tray or wet room floor — water should drain freely, no pooling

4. Run the shower for 10 minutes — check for water outside the wet zone

5. Inspect sealed joints at floor-wall junctions and around penetrations

6. Check ceiling below for moisture stains (if accessible)

7. Verify the shower screen or enclosure contains water properly

- Standard plasterboard in wet zones instead of tanking board

- Tanking membrane not lapped correctly at joints

- Insufficient membrane height (should be full height in shower zone)

- Shower tray not properly bedded — flexes and cracks seals

- Missing tanking at pipe penetrations

- Grout used instead of silicone at movement joints

All sanitary ware must be securely fixed, leak-free, with accessible isolation valves. WC must be firmly mounted. Mixer taps should have hot on the left.

1. Check WC is firmly mounted — should not rock or move

2. Flush the WC — should flush cleanly and cistern refill without continuous running

3. Turn on all taps — check hot/cold operation and pressure

4. Check under basin for leaks while taps run

5. Test isolation valves — should turn easily

6. Check drainage speed — should drain freely without gurgling

7. Inspect sealant around WC base, bath, and shower

8. Verify hot water is on the left side of mixer taps

- WC not properly fixed to floor (movement causes seal failure)

- Slow drain from improper fall or partial blockage

- Tap handles reversed

- Missing isolation valves

- Sealant gaps around sanitary ware

- Low pressure from kinked flexible connections

Bathroom electrical zones (0-2) dictate what equipment is permitted. RCD protection (30mA) required for all circuits. IP-rated fixtures required in wet zones.

1. Test all sockets with RCD tester — must trip at 30mA

2. Verify no sockets within Zone 1 (directly above bath/shower, 2.25m height)

3. Check that shaver socket (if present) has isolating transformer

4. Verify extractor fan operates and moves air

5. Check extractor is ducted to exterior

6. Test all light switches and light fixtures

7. Verify IP ratings on fixtures in zones — minimum IPX4 in Zone 1, IPX7 in Zone 0

8. Check pull-cord switches or switches mounted outside the bathroom

- Sockets in wrong bathroom zones

- Missing RCD protection

- Extractor fan ducted into roof space instead of outside

- Light fixtures without proper IP rating in wet zones

- Standard light switches inside bathroom (should be pull-cord or outside)

- No separate extractor fan switch

Tiles must be firmly bonded with consistent joint widths. No lippage exceeding 1mm for rectified tiles. Joints must be fully filled. Silicone at movement joints.

1. Tap tiles — listen for hollow sounds (no more than 10% of area should be hollow)

2. Check joint lines — consistent width, fully filled

3. Feel for lippage — edges should not protrude

4. Inspect cuts at corners and edges — neat, no chips

5. Verify silicone (not grout) at change-of-plane joints

6. Check pattern alignment and consistency

7. Look for cracks or chips

8. Verify floor tile slope toward drain in wet areas

- Hollow tiles from insufficient adhesive coverage

- Grout at movement joints instead of silicone

- Excessive lippage

- Inconsistent joint widths

- Chipped cuts

- Missing grout in joints

Bathroom ventilation required — minimum 15 l/s (54 m³/h) continuous or intermittent extraction. Must exhaust to exterior, not into roof space.

1. Turn on extractor — hold tissue to grille, should be drawn in firmly

2. Check exterior termination — air should exhaust outside

3. Check noise level — should not be excessive

4. Verify timer, pull-cord, or humidity sensor operation

5. Check duct is connected and insulated (prevent condensation)

6. Verify grille is clean and attached

7. Check trickle vents in windows for make-up air supply

- Extractor vented into roof space

- Duct disconnected at joints

- Fan undersized for room

- No extractor installed

- Duct not insulated — condensation

- Blocked grille