Bathroom Renovations in Málaga

What it involves

The bathroom is the room with the highest exposure to moisture and thermal variation in the home. That is why bathroom renovations prioritise waterproofing under the tiling, the correct slope towards the drain, ventilation and the choice of materials that resist intensive daily use.

Beyond the technical side, the bathroom is a space where design (screen, lighting, vanity, shower tray) directly influences daily experience. Common decisions have to do with swapping the bath for a shower, expanding storage and updating the lighting.

Typical scope

What this service includes

Our bathroom intervention rests on five documented elements.

01

design_services

Custom design and 3D plans

Before deciding tiling and sanitary ware, we produce plans and 3D visualisation of the bathroom to assess layout and finishes.

02

plumbing

Complete plumbing installation

Renewal of water inlets, drains and shut-off valves using modern multilayer material and thermostatic taps when requested.

03

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Professional tiling

Substrate preparation, laying of ceramic or porcelain tiles according to the pattern defined in project and final waterproof grouting.

04

bathtub

Screens and premium sanitary ware

Bath swapped for anti-slip shower tray, tempered-glass screen, wall-hung fittings and bespoke vanity units.

05

light

Perimeter LED lighting

LED points distributed to light the mirror, shower area and general room lighting, with dimming when the design requires it.

Worth knowing

Before deciding the scope

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Waterproofing under tiling

As important as the visible finish. Deficient waterproofing causes leaks to the flat below after a few years of use.

heat

Slope and drainage

The shower tray needs enough slope towards the drain. Changing the drain location can require lifting and rebuilding the whole bathroom slab.

air

Forced ventilation

Blind bathrooms require a mechanical extractor connected to the shaft or outside. It should run on a timer to evacuate humidity after use.

accessible

Accessibility

For older people or reduced mobility, a floor-level shower tray, a fixed-leaf screen and support bars are recommended. They can be planned from the project without significant extra cost.

Finishes

Which floor and wall tiling to choose for a bathroom

In a bathroom the material choice is more than aesthetic: it must withstand constant moisture, frequent cleaning and, in the shower tray, be properly anti-slip.

grid_view

Rectified porcelain

Best fit

Large formats (60×60, 60×120) with minimal joints. Low absorption and easy cleaning. A common choice for walls and floors.

Worth knowing

Needs fitters experienced in setting out and levelling: an uneven tile shows a lot in large formats.

landscape

Continuous microcement

Best fit

Jointless continuous coating over prepared substrate. Warm, uniform appearance on walls and shower tray.

Worth knowing

The waterproofing underneath is critical. Maintain with specific sealers and avoid heavy point impacts.

waves

Anti-slip C3 shower-tray tile

Best fit

Flooring specifically for shower trays, with C3 slip-resistance class, compatible with slope to drain.

Worth knowing

Rougher surface than the rest of the floor: functional, but slightly slower to clean.

Mosaic-style tiles

Best fit

Small formats in decorative patterns for specific areas (shower back wall, niche) or as flooring in small bathrooms.

Worth knowing

Many joints: a flexible, mould-resistant grout is important.

Finish detail

Waterproofing stays hidden; the finish is what you see

Below the tile the liquid waterproofing layer protects the slab for decades. Above it the chosen format and grouting define the final look of the bathroom.

check_circle Liquid waterproofing on the full shower tray
check_circle Rectified large-format porcelain tiles
check_circle Perimeter LED lighting on IP44 boxes
check_circle Thermostatic shower with safety limiter

Critical technical points

Waterproofing, slope, ventilation and electrical protections

The bathroom holds constant humidity and pressurised water in daily-use areas. These four technical points draw the line between a renovation that lasts decades and one that starts to fail within a few years.

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Waterproof membrane

Liquid membrane or bituminous sheet across the whole shower tray and perimeter skirting, with bands at the junctions before tiling.

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Slope to drain

Minimum slope formed with technical mortar so water always runs to the drain and never pools.

air

Forced extraction

Extractor sized to the bathroom volume, connected to shaft or façade, running on a timer after the light switches on.

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Bathroom differential

Specific protections at the consumer unit for the bathroom circuits, with IP44 watertight boxes near the shower.

Workflow

Phases of a bathroom renovation: from strip-out to final screen fit

A bathroom renovation chains trades in a confined space with zero margin for waterproofing error. This is the usual order of work, designed to leave the substrate dry before tiling begins.

construction

01

Strip-out of sanitary ware and tiling

Removal of WC, basin, bath or tray, screen and existing tiling, with protection of the rest of the home and rubble transfer in certified bags.

plumbing

02

Plumbing and new drainage

Replacement of hot and cold water inlets with multilayer piping, relocation of drains with new minimum slope towards the siphon trap and installation of accessible shut-off valves.

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03

Shower tray waterproofing

Slope formed with technical mortar, bands at wall junctions and application of liquid waterproofing membrane across the whole tray and perimeter skirting before tiling.

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04

Tiling and flooring

Setting out the tile layout, bonding of porcelain with flexible cement adhesive, respect of expansion joints and grouting with moisture-resistant mortar.

light

05

Sanitary ware, screen and lighting

Fitting of WC, basin, thermostatic taps and vanity unit, installation of tempered-glass screen and placement of perimeter LED points with IP44-rated housings.

Daily use

What you touch every morning

The washbasin, the mirror and the storage are the pieces that get used every day. Their height, their light and their mechanisms are decided alongside the client, not by catalogue.

check_circle Suspended cabinet with soft-close drawers
check_circle Backlit mirror with warm 3000K temperature
check_circle Shaving socket inside a drawer
check_circle Toilet with concealed cistern and dual flush

Before the quote

Bathroom decision checklist

Five decisions worth closing before requesting a quote to avoid modifications during the works.

01
space_dashboard Final layout

Before buying sanitary ware, confirm where the WC, basin and shower area will sit, with dimensions matching the 3D project.
02
shower Shower tray

Choose the real tray size (resin, ceramic or microcement with slope), drain type and screen model (fixed, sliding, folding).
03
sink Sanitary ware and vanity

Decide wall-hung or floor WC, inset or on-top basin and vanity unit sized to the opening.
04
air Forced ventilation

Confirm there is a shaft or external outlet available for the extractor and check timer operation.
05
lightbulb LED lighting

Leave IP44 housings in project for perimeter LED points, back-lit mirror and ambient lighting — no cables added once tiling is in place.

In depth

Bathroom renovation in Málaga: waterproofing, installations and finishes

The bathroom is the room with the highest exposure to moisture and pressurised water in the home. In Málaga, where a coastal climate amplifies interior relative humidity, waterproofing the shower tray and the perimeter skirting is as important as the visible tiling. Our process applies a liquid waterproofing membrane before the cement adhesive, with bands at wall junctions and reinforced protection around the drain.

Swapping the bath for a flush-floor shower tray is the most requested intervention. When the new tray shares the location of the existing bath, the renovation is simple; when the shower area is expanded or moved, the project must plan new drainage with a new slope, which means lifting the floor and, in some cases, lowering the tray. In homes built in the 1960s–1980s the bathroom's electrical installation also typically needs renewal with specific protections and IP44 boxes near the shower.

Choosing between rectified large-format porcelain, continuous microcement or C3 anti-slip tile depends on intended use, finish level and budget. At reformasmalaga.net we present the four common families with their real advantages and limits, so the decision matches how the bathroom will be used and avoids future maintenance surprises.

Frequently asked

Common questions about bathroom renovations

01

Can I swap the bath for a shower tray without changing the drain?

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When the bath and tray share the same location, yes. If you want to expand or move the shower area, the floor must be reworked to guarantee slope towards the new drain, which can affect the flat below if not done well.

02

How long does a complete bathroom renovation take?

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Timings depend on scope and material availability. A typical complete bathroom (bath to shower, new tiling, sanitary ware and vanity) usually runs within a bounded timeframe that is reflected in the detailed quote after the technical visit.

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