Thinking about renovating your kitchen or bathroom?
Most people start with tiles, countertops & fixtures. Let’s be honest though….that’s the fun stuff.
Here’s the important bit that gets overlooked.
Your drains.
Doing a blocked drain diagnosis before starting renovation work could save you thousands of pounds in unnecessary costs. It will also save you weeks, if not months of headache.
But most homeowners never think about their drains until it’s too late…
And that’s the frustrating part.
Because there’s an easy way to prevent drainage problems ruining your renovation plans.
Let’s take a look at what you need to consider.
What you’ll learn:
- Why Drainage Should Be First On Your Pre-Renovation Checklist
- What To Look For Before Work Starts On Your Drains
- Simple Signs That You Could Have a Drainage Problem
- Budget Ruining Problems and How To Fix Them
Why Drainage Should Be First On Your Pre-Renovation Checklist
Lets start with a couple of obvious facts.
Kitchens and bathrooms are the two rooms that get renovated most.
Bathroom renovations have recently taken over kitchens as the most popular home upgrade. They both tied at 24% in the 2024 Houzz & Home Study. But kitchens are not far behind at 23%.
That means hundreds of thousands of kitchens and bathrooms are torn apart every year in the UK.
But only a small percentage of those homeowners stop to ask “Why is my drain blocked?!” before renovation day arrives.
Ok… that may have been a slight exaggeration…
But you get the point. All houses have drains that keep the kitchen and bathroom flowing.
Both kitchens and bathrooms have appliances that connect to the drainage network. Showers, sinks, toilets….waste water from them all drains into hidden pipes under the home.
If these drains are blocked…half of your renovation is falling apart.
Repairing blocked drains. Finding hidden pipes. Digging up concrete floors.
Not ideal.
Do yourself a favour and have your drainage looked at PRIOR to starting any work.
Get a professional CCTV drain survey done. See what’s happening underground before you pull your bathroom sink off the wall.
You’ll be glad you did!
The Pre-Renovation Drainage Checklist
So your throwing your kitchen out and putting a bathroom in its place. But first….you should be looking at the drains. Here’s what to do.
Look for blockages
The easiest (and free) place to start is by simply running water in all your sinks, showers and baths. Watch how quickly it drains away.
Slow draining water is usually the first sign that a problem is lurking below.
Any visible drains? Check them too. Telltale signs of slow drains outside can also be spotted in guttering, external pipes and drains. Especially manholes.
They should all be free-flowing with no obstructions.
Get a Drain Survey
The only way to be 100% certain your drains are in good health is to look inside drainage pipes with a professional CCTV drain survey.
It takes about two hours and gives you peace of mind that all your drainage is working as it should.
You’ll also have a clear idea of what’s going on inside your pipes. Information you can share with your renovation team.
Preventative maintenance is always better than solving problems once they happen.
If you don’t know there is a problem, how will you know when it happens?!
This is especially important with drainage. You never know what’s going on down there until you take a look.
Simple.
Signs You Could Have a Blocked Drain
Already worried you may have a drain problem? Don’t stress yet.
Blocked drains don’t always require an expensive emergency call-out. If you know what to look for there are several tell-tale signs that even the most novice homeowner can spot.
If you have a kitchen or bathroom renovation coming up look out for:
- Slow drains in sinks and showers. Stop seeing things immediately drain!
- Gurgling pipes. That old tickling sound drains make when air is trapped by a blockage.
- Foul smells coming from plugholes.
- Any water backing up when you run the washing machine.
Fixing blocked drains suddenly became the most important part of your kitchen renovation. Avoid the stress….get it sorted first.
And worst case…..you can relax knowing your drainage is clear and ready for when the kitchen work starts.
Oh yeah…and here’s another thing….
If you’ve got a brand new rainfall shower set-up ready to install….and your drains are partially blocked.
They will get BLOCKED again.
And your amazing new shower will literally drain away your happiness.
Don’t let this happen to you.
Catch the problem before work begins and your new bathroom will work exactly how it should.
Drainage Problems That Blow Your Bathroom Renovation Budget
Okay… picture this….
You’ve decided to remodel your bathroom.
Slapping the hipster-filter on photos doesn’t take long when you have Ikea vanities at your disposal.
Everything is decided. Drawings are drawn. Materials ordered.
Renovation day arrives….
And guess what?
The builder discovers your pipes are old clay pots with tree roots growing in them.
Nice one.
Now the bathroom remodel cost just went up a few grand. Not only do you have to demo your bathroom. But possibly dig up the floor and replace ALL the pipes.
And all could have been avoided with a simple drain survey prior to renovation work beginning.
Evidence suggests up to 39% of homeowners went over budget on their renovation projects. A large amount of which was due to unplanned issues being discovered once the renovating had already started.
Headaches.
Drainage problems are no fun. Especially when you don’t know they are going to be an issue until your project has begun.
Talk to a plumber BEFORE work begins. Understand the condition of the drains. See if any problems are likely to cause issues when renovating.
Better yet…..get that pre-renovation drain survey done.
A drain survey gives peace of mind that no problems will occur later.
If they are there, the survey finds them. They can be dealt with…before work starts.
It’s worth it every time.
Tips to Getting Your Plumbing Renovation Ready
So how do you make sure your plumbing is ready for renovation? Here are a few simple tips to keep any surprises at bay.
- Book in for a CCTV drain survey. Professionals spend most of their days down drains advising homeowners on what they find. It’s always worth getting their expert opinion.
- Fix before you renovate. It’s far easier (and cheaper) to fix drains when your kitchen is still intact.
- Talk to the builder about the drainage. Does your renovation plan involve moving fixtures to new positions? If so…you may be cutting into drains!
- Ensure any changes to drains are regulated. There’s nothing worse than getting fined because the plumber didn’t mention something was going to happen.
There you have it!
Just because you’re renovating kitchens and bathrooms, doesn’t mean you should ignore your drains.
You rely on them to work every single day.
Start renovating with confidence by knowing what’s happening behind the scenes of your home.
Wrapping It Up
Renovating your kitchen or bathroom is meant to be exciting. Dreaming up ways you can improve your humble abode is half the fun.
Don’t let hidden drainage problems come along and dampen your spirits.
Save yourself the hassle and have your drains surveyed before work begins.
Remember…
- Check drains are flowing freely before starting work
- Book in for a professional drain survey
- Clear drains of any blockages/issues before renovating
- Communicate findings with your renovation team
- Check changes to drains aren’t contravening any building regulations
Drainage may not seem like the most important aspect to consider when renovating, but it really is.
Trust your drains.