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Commercial Washrooms represent a significant investment for any business, but their design and maintenance shouldn't break the bank. With thoughtful planning and smart choices, you can create efficient, durable, and hygienic washroom facilities while keeping costs under control. Here's how to achieve the perfect balance between quality and cost-effectiveness.
It is easily possible to reduce the initial cost of a Commercial Washroom without compromising the quality but thought should also be given to the ongoing maintenance.
Smart Material Selection
Choosing the right materials can significantly impact both initial and long-term costs:
Cubicles
Perhaps the largest initial saving can be made when choosing the Toilet Cubicle Material. Solid Grade Laminate (SGL) is the most popular selection due to it’s damage resistance and waterproofing making it perfect for any wet area or changing room.
However, if Waterproofing and Moisture Resistance is not a priority then cost-savings can be made by choosing a less expensive material like High-Pressure Laminate (HPL) or Melamine Faced Chipboard (MFC).
It is worth noting that the initial cost-saving may be a false saving as HPL and MFC will need replacing more often than the more durable SGL Cubicles.
Flooring
Many Commercial Washrooms opt for expensive floor tiles. Commercial-grade Vinyl flooring not only provides a cheaper alternative but can provide a lower-maintenance solution, especially when ‘cap-and-coved’ slightly up the walls to provide wet-room level waterproofing.
Although Vinyl floors are great for high-traffic environments, for heavy and high-traffic areas we recommend floor tiles.
Walls
Altro Whiterock wall cladding can be a cheaper and more hygienic solution to covering walls than tiles.
You may also want to consider having plain moisture-resistant painted walls for non-essential areas and Tile just the areas around Basins and Toilets.
The key is to invest wisely in areas that matter most while finding creative solutions to reduce costs in others. With careful Washroom Design and Planning and implementation, you can create washroom facilities that are both economical and effective, providing value for years to come.
Sanitary ware
Corian Solid-Surface Wash Troughs are practical and stylish. They offer a larger hand-washing area that often helps confine water splashing, making them easier to clean and maintain.
Good quality Basins offer a cost effective alternative to Wash Troughs and a simple wall-hung basic can reduce the outlay.
Waterless Urinals
You can opt for Waterless Urinals where appropriate. Waterless Urinals can save thousands of litres of water per year.
Mirrors
You can spend a lot of money on Washroom Mirrors – some have integrated Soap and Water dispensers and many are illuminated so there is a large cost saving by specifying a simple mirror.
Have you considered having no mirrors at all? In School Washrooms, mirrors are increasingly being omitted in order to reduce ‘hang-time’ in the washrooms and save money.
Taps
There are dozens of different premium styles of taps from Sensor Taps to Lever Taps but sometimes a simple non-concussive tap is the best choice. Non-concussive taps are sturdy, vandal-resistant and they will save money by reducing water use over time especially when fitted with a flow-restrictor.
Sensor taps may cost a little more initially but will also reduce water usage.
A Traditional Chrome finish will save money over a premium finish such as Black or Copper.
Checkout Intatech for low-cost concussive taps.
Smart Lighting
Smart lighting is another fixture that may cost a little more to purchase but over time. LED lighting fixtures for lower energy consumption and longer life.
Use motion sensors in less frequently used areas and position fixtures to maximize natural light where possible. Lighter coloured walls and cubicles will help with lighting.
Choose light-coloured finishes to enhance brightness and reduce the number of required fixtures
Unisex Washrooms
Another great way to save money on Commercial Washrooms is to consider a Unisex or Gender-neutral Toilet block.
You will save space and most Unisex toilets do not have Urinals.
Future proofing
Include adequate ventilation to prevent moisture-related damage, saving on long-term repair costs.
Design with standardized dimensions to allow for off-the-shelf products rather than custom solutions.
Wall-mounted toilets and sinks for easier floor cleaning preventing water and mould damage to the floors and walls.
Hand dryers instead of paper towel dispensers to reduce ongoing supply costs
Accessible service panels in IPS units for quick repairs.
While cost-effectiveness is important, certain areas shouldn't be compromised:
- Door hardware and hinges
- Waterproofing systems
- Ventilation equipment
- Emergency fixtures and safety features
Consider these additional cost-saving measures:
- Buy in bulk for consumables and cleaning supplies
- Standardize fixtures across multiple facilities for simplified maintenance
- Create detailed maintenance schedules to prevent costly repairs
- Train cleaning staff in efficient techniques to reduce labour costs
Consider these long-term strategies:
- Plan for future expansion or modification
- Include isolation valves for individual fixtures
- Install adequate electrical capacity for future upgrades
Conclusion
Creating cost-effective commercial washrooms doesn't mean sacrificing quality or functionality. By focusing on smart design, appropriate material selection, and efficient systems, you can build and maintain washroom facilities that serve their purpose well while keeping costs under control. Remember that the goal is to reduce unnecessary expenses while maintaining the standards expected in a commercial environment.
The key is to invest wisely in areas that matter most while finding creative solutions to reduce costs in others. With careful planning and implementation, you can create washroom facilities that are both economical and effective, providing value for years to come.
