Armrock Constructions

Gold Coast Bathroom Renovations

Renovation Design

Timber-Look Laminate

Turquoise Blonde Custom Timber Laminate Vanity
Turquoise Blonde Custom Timber Laminate Vanity

Timber-look laminates are a popular option for modern bathroom bench tops. In this article with the Gold Coast’s Armrock Constructions, we review timber-look laminates – what they are, how we use them, and how they compare to alternative solutions. If you’re looking for a bathroom renovation on the Gold Coast, please don’t hesitate to contact our team for a free consultation & quote.

What is Timber-Look Laminate?

Lamination is the process of manufacturing materials in layers. By creating a composite material in this way, laminates can create a similar look and feel to raw materials. Timber-look laminates are laminates that resemble timber. They are available in a wide variety of different timber styles, enabling renovations to be easily adapted to suit any design requirements.

Custom Timber Laminate Vanity
Custom Timber Laminate Vanity

Timber-look laminates create the external appearance of the raw material, while internally their construction is made of materials built to give them strength and structural integrity. While a timber-look laminate has the appearance of timber on the outside, on the inside it may have another material (such as MDF) around which the laminate layer is wrapped. There are a number of advantages to this approach which are discussed below.

We frequently use timber-look laminates in our renovation projects for bench tops, splashbacks, and custom bathroom vanities.

Double Mounted Basin Benchtop
Double Mounted Basin Benchtop

What are the Alternatives to Timber-Look Laminates?

In bathroom renovations, we use timber-look laminates for bench tops, splashbacks and custom vanities. While there are a variety of other materials that can be utilised for the same purpose (stone, plastic, resin, glass, porcelain and acrylic, etc) to achieve a timber look, actual timber is the primary option.

Advantages of Timber-Look Laminates?

There are four major advantages of timber-look laminates which make them increasingly popular for bathroom renovations: cost, accessibility, ease of use, and evolutionary.

Marble Tile Timber Laminate Vanity
Marble Tile Timber Laminate Vanity

Cost

Timber-look laminates are less expensive than raw materials. Bathroom renovations can be expensive, so ensuring the budget is on track means assessing options on a quality / cost basis suitable for your project. Because timber-look laminates look just like the real thing, they are always worth considering for bathroom applications.

Accessibility

The origin of bathroom design trends are international, but achieving a look consistent with materials from another country is challenging and expensive. Timber-look laminates help by giving you access to a library of timber styles so you can easily align your renovation with exactly the right type of timber to suit your design.

Mounted Circular Basin Timber Laminate Vanity
Mounted Circular Basin Timber Laminate Vanity

Ease of Use

From the renovation process standpoint, working with laminates is highly efficient, which makes them more cost-effective for you. Laminates can easily be made into different shapes and sizes, making them perfect for customisations such as vanity units and bench tops.

Timber-Look Laminate Double Basin Benchtop
Timber-Look Laminate Double Basin Benchtop

Evolutionary

The best thing about laminates is the way they have evolved. Laminates have been around for a long time, and they have come a long way. The important parameters they need to meet, including form and functional aspects, have been incorporated into their design making them robust, stylish and suitable for any bathroom application. Whether your bathroom is budget or high-end, laminates are an option to consider.

Old Style Bathroom Renovation Timber Laminate Benchtop
Old Style Bathroom Renovation Timber Laminate Benchtop

Laminate Products We Use

We have been achieving great results with Nikpol’s EGGER range on our recent bathroom renovation projects. Learn more about these options on their website. For timber-look laminates, this range even includes timber grain textures, making for a complete timber experience and creating a natural, calming aesthetic for your bathroom renovation.

Important Material Requirements

Since bathrooms are wet areas, its important to ensure materials are suitable for the task at hand. Vanities, bench tops and splash backs need to be durable and able to handle the water that will be coming their way. They also need to look great. Our laminate solutions meet all of these requirements.

Single Inset Basin Timber-Look Laminate
Single Inset Basin Timber-Look Laminate

Timber Laminate Bathroom Vanities

Many of our Gold Coast bathroom renovation projects feature timber laminate bathroom vanities. Laminates may be used in part (e.g. a benchtop or splash back) or whole (to create the entire vanity unit):

Timber-Look Laminate Vanity Tops

Using a timber-look bathroom vanity top brings a natural aesthetic into your bathroom for a winning effect. Whether it harmonises with your bathroom for a natural, relaxed feel or is juxtaposed with black or white vanity for a high-end design, in conjunction with the wide range of timber-look laminates and design choices available, the imagination is the limit.

Timber Laminate Gold Coast Vanity
Timber Laminate Gold Coast Vanity

Timber-Look Bathroom Vanities

Using an all-timber vanity is a luxurious addition that always has, and always will be, an option to consider. Timber vibes are nourishing, calming and enchanting, and Armrock’s carpenters are experienced in bringing concepts to life to become the cornerstone of your bathroom design.

In our Gold Coast renovations, we discuss options with our clients to communicate how your design objectives can be best met. Utilising the timber-look approach is a fantastic way to create affordable control, flexibly suiting the installation of the new vanity into an existing space.

Double Semi-Inset Basin Custom Vanity
Double Semi-Inset Basin Custom Vanity

Successful Gold Coast Bathroom Renovations

Bathroom renovations can be complex – numerous careful decisions and actions are required, in the right order, to build a bridge between your vision, your structure, your budget and your new bathroom. We’re here to help you make it a success. Get your bathroom renovation started today with the team from Armrock Constructions and make yours a success too.

Tiling in Your Renovation Project

Gold Coast Renovation Tiling
Gold Coast Renovation Tiling

Whether you’re undertaking a kitchen or bathroom makeover, tile selection is always one of the most important decisions you will need to make. Tiles impact the style, functionality and budget of your makeover project. Armrock Constructions specialises in bathroom renovations on the Gold Coast, and we are here with a wide range of options to assist you including tile selection, purchasing and installation. Read on to learn more about tiling in your renovation project, or book a free renovation appraisal and quote with our team today.

Book a Free Bathroom Renovation Quote

How Armrock Can Help

Armrock Constructions provides a total bathroom renovation service – our team includes all tradespeople necessary to complete a bathroom renovation. You can learn more about this on our services page. No bathroom renovation would be complete without tiling, and our team is here to ensure you are able to connect with the right tiles and skills needed for your project.

Tile Selection Process

When it’s time to select your tiles for your renovation, our team is here to help. Talk to us to get some expert input into your project – we can inform you on the advantages of different approaches, and guide you to our local tile distribution (Gold Coast) who will be able to help you organise the tiles you need for your project. It’s always best to look at tiles when they’re laid out (rather than looking at small samples) so you can get a proper appreciation for how they look when they’re occupying a larger space, such as a wall.

We can also advise you on tiling solutions that are popular and ones that have longevity. Some options are enticing but quickly tire. We can help you find the right tiles for your bathroom and also creating a specific style in combination with other features, such as fixtures and fittings, for a more complete and lasting style.

Tiled Inset Niche with LED Lights
Tiled Inset Niche with LED Lights

Budgeting For Tiles

Tiles come in a wide range of sizes, qualities, and prices. From the point of view of budgeting for your renovation, it’s important to carefully consider your choice with tiles and how this will impact your total renovation. The great thing about the wide range of choices in tiles is that you can adapt your tiling to suit your budget, as long as you are willing to compromise on stylistic aspects to some extent. We can help you connect with local providers who provide great prices for tiles – just ask our team for help with this.

Tiling in Your Project

Tiling is an important part of any renovation project, and involves a sequence of stages, all of which must be undertaken in order and some of which require a period of waiting before undertaking the next stage. Because Armrock Constructions organises the entire renovation project for you, we can optimise time consuming tasks such as tiling to fit in with other works as efficiently as possible.

Marble Tiles

Marble-look tiles are a popular Gold Coast renovation trend which create an amazingly opulent effect for any bathroom. Marble swirls bring old-world style into the modern bathroom, and our tilers can deploy this effect in a variety of different looks, with tiled niches and LED illumination to really set off the marble effect.

Tiling in Your Bathroom Renovation

Armrock Constructions specialises in bathroom renovations in the Gold Coast QLD and tiling is an important part of most of our projects. Apart from including tiling as part of our service, we work with our clients to help them come to terms with the implications of different choices in tiling, tile options, and strategies to maximise the impact of tiling in the renovation space.

Are Concrete-Look Tiles ‘The Look’ For You?

Could concrete-look tiles be the solution for your Gold Coast bathroom renovation? This is a popular style and can bring interest and value to your design in part or whole. In this article we’ll explore some practical applications of concrete-look tile style for bathrooms, with examples from recent Armrock bathroom renovations. Book a free appraisal and quote with our team for your renovation, or read on to learn more about using concrete-look tiles in your renovation.

Book a Free Bathroom Renovation Quote

What are Concrete-Look Tiles? 

Tiles come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colours and designs. Since tiling is included in practically all bathroom renovation projects, the style of the tiles you select can make a big difference to the finished result. Concrete-look tiles are tiles that simulate the look of concrete. In combination with the discrete selection of other bathroom elements, concrete-look tiles can help create a range of different looks.

What’s Special About Concrete-Look Tiles?

From the design point of view, concrete-look tiles add texture and tone that, generally speaking, creates a more interesting variety of contrasts and aesthetics than plain surfaces. Using concrete-look in design is an industrial style, so-called because they showcase structural & functional elements that were previously hidden out of sight. You can read more about industrial design on decoist.com. Using concrete elements in your design is one way to access this style, and it’s special because of it’s unique design strength, disposition and texture.

Advantages of Concrete-Look Tiles

There are quite a few advantages when you consider working with concrete-look tiles. Here is a summary of the ones we think are most helpful:

Can be implemented in part or whole

Like any tiling work in a bathroom renovation, concrete-look tiles can be added in part or whole – meaning you can make them a feature or use them to define the bathroom on a broader scale.

Combine well with other bathroom elements

Successful bathrooms are achieved by the combination of elements that work together, and that relate to each other in the right way. A sincere advantage of working with the concrete aesthetic comes from its natural grey tones – grey is a fantastic bridging colour between other common bathroom colours such as gloss-white and silver, and thus easily fits into any bathroom renovation situation.

Versatile Colour Temperature

Concrete come in a wide range of finishes, and the same is true of concrete-look tiles. With the ability to adapt the colour temperature of your tiles to suit your needs, the presence and sense of warmth, or cool in your bathroom can be affected by the tiles you choose.

Easy to Keep Clean

Maybe most importantly – unlike white, concrete greys are easy to keep clean and disguise dirt and grime. Naturally, this wouldn’t be a feature of much interest to the average Australian homeowner – after all, who doesn’t love cleaning the bathroom!

Polished Concrete Bathroom Niche
Concrete-Look Tiles with Bathroom Niche

Concrete-Look Bathrooms

A successful concrete-look bathroom includes a juxtaposition of styles. Used exclusively, the concrete look can be overbearing, but when combined judiciously with timbers, glosses, metallics such as silver, and plants or natural accessories, a rich experience is revealed. 

Concrete-Look For You?

If you’re considering the concrete look, and you’re based on the Gold Coast QLD, talk to our team. We provide a free measure and quote, and our team are experts at solving the design challenges of bathroom renovations and achieving outstanding results.

Water Efficiency Ratings For Kitchen and Bathroom Products

When you’re purchasing products for your new kitchen or bathroom, it’s worth paying attention to their water efficiency ratings. These ratings indicate how ‘thirsty’ the products are – and how much water (and money) you can save by using them. 

In Australia, The Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme uses a rating system to help you make informed choices about the water efficiency of products you buy in a store or online. On this page we’ll take a look at this system for insight into choices for kitchen and bathroom renovations. 

The WELS Scheme

The Wels Scheme is a government initiative which you can learn about at waterrating.gov.au. Here, products are registered and their ratings determined. These are then displayed on the products instore and look like this sample from waterrating.gov.au:

Water Rating Label

Understanding the Label

The main parts of the label include:

Star Rating

This shows the water efficiency of the product and helps to easily compare products when you’re instore. 

Water Consumption Information

The middle section of the label shows the amount of water used by the product. This is particularly useful because it shows how much water the products actually use to get the job done. There are different values for different products. The relevant ones for kitchen and bathroom renovations are: 

  • Dishwashers — litres per wash, load capacity of the machine
  • Flow controllers — litres per minute
  • Showers — litres per minute
  • Taps — litres per minute
  • Toilets — litres per average flush, litres per full flush, and litres per half flush
  • Washing machines — litres per wash, load capacity of the machine.

You can read more about this on www.waterrating.gov.au.

Registration and Product Details

Finally, you can read about the product, the manufacturer and the standards that guide how the product was tested. 

Saving Water – and Money

The following statistics come from www.waterrating.gov.au and illustrate the savings that can be made in water and money across common bathroom and kitchen fixtures. 

Showers

Flow rates for showers will be expressed on the water rating label in litres per minute (L/min).
Every 1L/min difference will save a typical family of four nearly 12,000 litres (12kL) of water and $35 each year. For this family of four, replacing their shower that flows at 15L/min with a new:

  • 3-star shower that flows at 9L/min will save 70kL and $210 each year on their water bills
  • 4-star shower that flows at 6L/min will save 105kL and $315 per year on their water bills.

Depending on energy costs, they may save an equivalent amount (or more) each year on energy bills because less water will be heated for showers. Assumptions: each family member showers for 8 minutes per day, at an average water price of $2.99/kL (the national average price reported in the 2014–15 Australian Bureau of Statistics Water Account).

Taps

Flow rates for taps will be expressed on the water rating label in litres per minute (L/min).

Every 1L/min difference can save a household nearly 2,000 litres (2kL) of water and $5.50 each year.

Replacing an old inefficient tap with a flow rate of 15L/min with a new:

  • 3-star tap that flows at 9L/min will save 11kL and $33 each year on water bills
  • 6-star tap that flows at 4L/min will save 20kL and $60 each year on water bills.

Depending on energy costs, they may save an equivalent amount (or more) each year on energy bills because less water will be heated.

Assumptions: tap runs for 5 minutes total per day, for tasks including handwashing, tooth brushing, rinsing dishes, rinsing fruit or vegetables, at an average water price of $2.99/kL (the national average price reported in the 2014–15 Australian Bureau of Statistics Water Account). Time the tap is running to fill a basin is not included.

Toilets

For toilets, the water rating label will tell you how much water is used in an average flush.

Every litre less water that a toilet uses in an average flush, will save a typical family of four nearly 6kL and $17.50 each year in water supply charges.

If this family replaces an old single-flush toilet with a flush volume of 12L with a new 4-star toilet with an average flush volume of 3.5L, this will save 50kL and $148 each year on their water bills.

Assumptions: each family member flushes 4 times per day, at an average water price of $2.99/kL (the national average price reported in the 2014–15 Australian Bureau of Statistics Water Account).

Clothes Washing Machines

The water rating label will tell you how much water is used per load, and what cycle was used for the tests (‘normal’, ‘eco’).

For a family that runs one load of washing per day, reducing water use by 10L per load will save 3.7kL and $11 each year.

Choosing a 6kg load capacity washing machine with a 6-star rating that uses 30L per load instead of a 3-star machine using 80L per load will save this family 18kL and $54 each year.

Assumptions: figures are based on average water price of $2.99/kL (the national average price reported in the 2014–15 Australian Bureau of Statistics Water Account).

Dishwashers

The water rating label will tell you how much water is used per load, and what cycle was used for the tests (‘normal’, ‘eco’).

For a family that runs one load of dishes per day, reducing water use by 10L per wash will save 3.7kL and $11 each year.

For a dishwasher that holds 14 place settings, choosing a 6-star machine that uses 9.5L per wash instead of a 2-star machine using 19L per wash will save this family 3.5kL and $20 each year.

Assumptions: figures are based on average water price of $2.99/kL (the national average price reported in the 2014–15 Australian Bureau of Statistics Water Account).

Book a Free Bathroom Renovation Quote

Marble Laminate Benchtops

Marble laminate benchtops are a fantastic way to get the look and feel of marble, at a fraction of the price. On the Gold Coast QLD, Armrock Constructions specialises in bathroom renovations, and we are getting great results using laminated solutions for benchtops, cabinetry and splashbacks.

Decorate your bathroom vanity benchtop in the opulent fashion of this famous look with a hard-wearing laminate for a transformative result. Read on to learn more about marble laminate with Armrock Constructions, or follow the link below to book a free appraisal and quote for your Gold Coast bathroom renovation. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.

Book a Free Bathroom Renovation Quote

What is Marble Laminate?

Marble is a popular and famous type of stone, known for its high-end style, with swirls and veins creating a lavish, decorative style. In design, it’s as old as ancient Greece, and the style is synonymous with luxury and the good live. Marble is also heavy, expensive, and challenging to work with, which is why alternative solutions are so popular.

Marble laminates simulate the appearance of marble by utilising the technology of modern laminate solutions, which come in a wide range of styles including marble. These can be easily incorporated into kitchen and bathroom designs, generally as either a benchtop, splash back, or within a custom vanity unit.

Marble Laminate Benchtop with Mounted Basins

Marble Laminate Advantages

Marble laminates have quite a few advantages in the modern bathroom renovation. Here are the most important ones from our experience:

  • Hard-Wearing
  • Long-Lasting
  • Affordable
  • Versatile
  • Lightweight
  • Wide Range of Styles

Other Popular Types of Laminate For Bathrooms

Marble is just one possibility with laminates. Other popular options include different types of stone, timber-look laminates, or plain colours such as black and white. Regardless of the style, professionally-installed laminates create an effect which resembles the real thing so closely it’s hard to tell them apart – in addition to being hard-wearing, some manufacturers are also introducing textures into their products for a complete effect. 

Gloss White Laminated Benchtop

Laminated Benchtops for Gold Coast Bathrooms

Laminate benchtops are a great solution for both kitchen and bathroom renovations. They enable a means to easily and quickly refresh and revitalise surfaces and rooms alike. Reasonably priced, they’re popular with Armock’s Gold Coast renovation customers. Just talk to our team about the best solution for your bathroom or kitchen. 

Marble Laminate Design Options

Marble (stone) comes in a variety of different styles. Part of its popularity is related to the random swirls and veins that constitute its patterns. Marble is varied – each piece has its own style. Marble laminates mimic these attributes in a variety of popular styles which are designed for use in kitchens and bathrooms. Light, dark, and with different patterns, there are many options to consider. 

Nikpol Laminate Benchtops

We’re achieving great results working with products made by the Austrian company Nikpol. Hard-wearing and coming in a variety of different designs and styles, their ranges give you easy access to all kinds of bathroom and kitchen design options.

Nikpol Laminate Samples

This is a great example of the effect that can be achieved with a laminate solution. This Gold Coast kitchen renovation featured laminate by Austria’s Nikpol. Included below are some more samples of the results that can be achieved with this range. 

Stone Laminate Samples
Stone Laminate Samples
Timber Laminate Samples
Timber Laminate Samples
Nikpol Laminate Samples
Nikpol Laminate Samples

Splashbacks & Benchtops

Armrock Constructions specialises in bathroom renovations on the Gold Coast QLD. An important component of any renovation is the splashback and benchtop, aspects related to the bathroom vanity. Learn more about splashbacks and benchtops on this page, or contact our team for a free appraisal and quote for your renovation today.

Book a Free Bathroom Renovation Quote
Single Custom Bathroom Vanity Unit
Single Custom Bathroom Vanity Unit with Tiled Mosaic Splashback

What is a Splashback?

A splashback is the name for the protective area on the wall behind your kitchen or bathroom benchtop. Splashbacks are important in wet areas such as kitchens an bathrooms, and provide the functions of protecting the wall from water and contributing to the design appeal of the room. 

Do I Need a Splashback?

Splashbacks are basically an essential inclusion for any situation where there is a wet area (sink, basin) against a wall. There needs to be some type of protection from the water.

What Are Splashbacks Made of?

Splashbacks come in a variety of materials. Examples include tiles, laminate, glass, paint, timber and stainless steel. Splashback options range in quality, looks and functionality. In bathroom renovations, it is quite common for the wall-tiles to form the splashback, in which case they may be the same, or different, to the rest of the wall.

Timber Laminate Vanity Benchtop
Timber Laminate Vanity Benchtop with Tiled Splashback

Four Key Splashback Requirements

1. Waterproof

A splashback is primarily there to contain water. A splashback should be sufficiently waterproof to prevent water permeating the wall. This can be achieved through appropriate material (e.g. tile) selection or finishing / sealing. 

2. Environmental Tolerance

A splashback may be located close to heat sources including stovetop elements or device motors (e.g. fridge / microwave). A splashback should be equipped to tolerate heat from these sources. Our team will work with you to ensure your materials are up to the task required.

3. Look Great

A splashback should look great! It doesn’t need to be flamboyant or OTT to do so. Well-laid tiles always look fantastic even with the simplest design, and our team can help you create a design that will work for your walls. 

4. Easy to Clean

Some materials are easier to clean than others. Ease of cleaning and maintenance should always be considered when selecting kitchen inclusions! 

For assistance with splashbacks on the Gold Coast, talk to our renovation team today – we’re here to help!

Armrock Constructions

Armrock Constructions specialises in bathroom renovations on the Gold Coast. Enquire today for a free consultation and quote for your bathroom, or learn more about bathroom renovations with Armrock here.