A Typical School Toilet Refurbishment

See Also: School Toilet Refurbishment Services

Designing and specifying the correct washroom products for a school toilet refurbishment project is a crucial part of our work. This blog guides schools and their contractors to a typical school toilet refurbishment specification. Please note that all items included can, of course, be tailored to individual requirements.

The modern school toilet room or changing room refurbishment specification comes down to several variables which need to be decided from the outset; they include:

• Budget
• Users – e.g. staff, senior school age, primary school age, etc.
• Aesthetics
• Durability – vandal-resistant?
• The duration for which toilets can be taken out of action

A typical school toilet refurbishment project takes between 3 and 4 weeks to complete, and as such, it is usually carried out during the summer holiday period.

The areas of the specification which need to be decided on include finishes to:

Ceiling

Options include suspended ceiling, plasterboard with paint and decorate finish, etc. Changing room and shower areas require different ceiling finishes to cope with higher humidity levels.

Washroom Floors

options include non-slip vinyl and non-slip floor tiles, among others. In a school toilet setting, it is essential to achieve a slip-resistant finish on the washroom floors to prevent children from slipping.

Water is frequently dripped onto the floor surface.

Walls

options include wall tiles, wall cladding, and wall panelling systems. The general rule of thumb is that the harder-wearing wall finishes will increase the overall cost. This usually has a payback, however, in terms of ease of maintenance and the longevity of the washroom's life.

Toilet Cubicles and Panelling

The toilet cubicle panels will provide the colour to the washroom area. For young children, it is essential to purchase a dedicated children's cubicle that has partitions and doors at a suitable height for their age.

The choice of panel material is also crucial in extending the washroom's lifespan. Solid Grade Laminate (SGL) is our preferred panel material.

School Toilets and Sanitary Ware

Toilet options are vast and vary depending on children’s age and use. Young and small children often benefit from school toilets that have reduced-height pans and urinals mounted at lower heights. Particularly vandal-prone areas could require specialist vandal-resistant sanitaryware, whereas ceramics covers more basic needs.

Decisions on whether to conceal cisterns and pipework will affect the budget and sanitary ware.

Taps and Flush Controls

A higher-end specification will include extras such as sensor flush systems for toilets and urinals, as well as sensor-operated taps. Light touch and sensor taps are extremely popular in Primary Schools, where children often struggle to operate the lever and push alternatives.

At the lower end of the spectrum, toilet flushing can be controlled by sensors, levers, or push buttons. Many modern products available will help to conserve water and prevent vandalism.

A School Toilet Refurbishment Example

Below is a typical school toilet refurbishment specification example. This has been supplied by Lan Services Ltd, who specialise in school toilet refurbishment and design projects.

This example illustrates the likely process involved in refurbishing typical girls' and boys' toilets in a school.

Ceiling:

• Install a new suspended ceiling throughout toilet room areas with a 600 x 600 white grid with Danotile ceiling board tiles. The ceiling is to be installed approximately 2.4m above the floor.

Flooring:

• Prepare flooring areas as necessary using latex self-levelling screed.
• Lay Altro Walkway non-slip vinyl flooring throughout using appropriate adhesives and cove form at the edges of rooms.

Walls:

• Install white Altro Whiterock on all exposed walls using white joining trims.

Cubicle Materials (Ultra Toilet Cubicles (SGL with SAA aluminium cubicle fittings)):

• Install 5 x standard-height toilet cubicles.
• Install 5 x half-height IPS WC duct sets with sloping lids.
• Install 2 x high-pressure laminate (HPL) vanity units and access panels.

Plumbing:

• First Fix – Install first-fix plumbing as required.
• Install 5 x Armitage Shanks Sandringham back-to-wall toilets, including concealed cisterns, push-flush mechanisms, waste pipes, and seats.
• Install 4 x Armitage Shanks Sandringham inset wash hand basins.
• Install 4 x pairs of non-concussive taps.
• Install 2 x exposed urinals, complete with cisterns and ceiling-mounted infrared flush controls.

Electrical:

• Install LED downlight fittings.
• Lights to be switched with PIR motion sensors.
• Install 2 x Fast Dry hand dryers.

Paint & Decorate:

• Undercoat and paint the woodwork within the room.

Additional:

• Install 4 x individual vandal-resistant mirrors.
• Install 5 x white ABS Jumbo toilet roll holders with each toilet cubicle.
• Install 2 x white ABS liquid soap dispensers.

The typical cost for the above school toilet refurbishment specification, carried out across an average-sized boys' and girls' toilet room, is approximately £25,000 to £30,000 + VAT. Prices will, of course, vary depending on the number of facilities and final specifications.

Commercial Washrooms offers a unique washroom design and specification service, providing comprehensive CAD drawings (2D and 3D) and Washroom specifications to support tender submissions. This often replaces the need for an architect when considering small, one-off washroom refurbishment projects. 

Our colleagues at Lan Services Ltd will be happy to discuss a full installation service for any projects throughout the South of the UK.

As always, our team is at the end of the telephone for all your queries and questions and has a wealth of knowledge they’re happy to share with you. If you need guidance or would like to discuss your options, you can contact them by calling 01202 650900. 

The above information is provided for guidance only and is published in good faith.

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