Bathroom Renovation
Nicole Bickley
What Is the Right Height for a Shower Niche?
A shower niche should sit with its base at 1,000 to 1,200mm above the finished floor and its top no higher than 1,800mm, so that it...
Nicole BickleyNicole Bickley
Writes about renovation sequencing, material schedules and building control.
Structure & LayoutNicole Bickley
How Do You Know If a Wall Is Load Bearing?
You cannot know from knocking on it, and you should not decide from a guess. The reliable signals are the direction of the floor joists above,...
Nicole Bickley
Kitchen RemodelsNicole Bickley
Where Should a Kitchen Extractor Duct Run?
The duct should run as short, as straight and as horizontal as the building allows, exiting through the nearest external wall with no more than two...
Nicole Bickley
Budget & SchedulingNicole Bickley
How Much Contingency Should a Renovation Budget Hold?
Fifteen percent on a like-for-like renovation, twenty percent where services or layout change, and twenty-five percent where structure is exposed or the building predates 1960. Below...
Nicole Bickley
Bathroom RenovationNicole Bickley
Does a Bathroom Extractor Fan Need to Vent Outside?
Yes. A bathroom extractor must discharge to outside air, either through an external wall or a roof terminal. Venting into a loft, a cavity or a...
Nicole Bickley