Key takeaways
- -Stand where the shower will go and look outward, then walk the driveway, the neighbour's fence line and any upper windows and look back. That five-minute walk tells you how much...
- -A position that catches morning sun dries between uses and stays pleasant for far more of the year. A deep, permanently shaded gully will hold damp, grow moss and feel cold even...
- -Hot and cold water and waste all have to get there. Siting the bathroom back-to-back with an existing wet area is the cheapest option by a wide margin.
01
Privacy first, then the view
Stand where the shower will go and look outward, then walk the driveway, the neighbour's fence line and any upper windows and look back. That five-minute walk tells you how much screening you need and where it belongs.
Screening does not have to be solid. Spaced battens on a drained frame give privacy while keeping air moving, which matters more than it sounds.
02
Morning sun and drying time
A position that catches morning sun dries between uses and stays pleasant for far more of the year. A deep, permanently shaded gully will hold damp, grow moss and feel cold even in summer.
If the only workable spot is shaded, plan for it: ventilated substructure, open duckboard floor and fast drainage.
03
Distance to services
Hot and cold water and waste all have to get there. Siting the bathroom back-to-back with an existing wet area is the cheapest option by a wide margin.
Check what sits between the two points - rock, established roots, paving or a driveway can all turn a short run into a long day.
04
Wind, leaf drop and the path to it
Note the prevailing wind and close that side. Note the trees overhead too: heavy leaf drop means more cleaning and a floor that needs to shed debris.
Finally, think about the walk from the house in winter, barefoot. If the path is awkward, the bathroom will not get used.
Thinking about your own project?
We build across Belgrave and the Dandenong Ranges. Send through photos of what you have and we will tell you what the site allows.