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Bathrooms are one of the most important and personal
rooms in a property in Portugal, or anywhere in the
world for that matter. After all they do contain a
porcelain 'throne'.
Bathrooms in newly constructed properties in Portugal
are a stark contrast to those you will find in older,
un-modernised properties, where on occasion,
inconveniently, the convenience simply does not exist.
Most
developers and
builders in Portugal will pay particular
attention to the bathrooms they install to ensure all
fixtures, fittings and tiles are of the highest quality
and are placed within a good sized area.
In
Portugal you can also expect to find hydro-massage
showers and baths in most new build properties, and an
en-suite bathroom is not considered luxury but at least
one is expected as a standard measure. |
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In older
un-modernised properties you will inevitably find the
bathrooms do leave a lot to be desired with sometimes
dated tiles and even older sanitary ware. Some more
rural properties can be deficient of any convenience at
all and when viewing these it's best to take care
walking in the garden or land in case of any surprise
parcels you may find on your way.
It is
quite ironic then to think during 36 year reign of the
dictator, Antonio Salazar, the Portuguese government
passed a law stating all
properties in Portugal had to
be fitted with a bath and at least one bidet. The law
was obviously never rigorously enforced but has never
been repealed.
Therefore if you are constructing a
property in Portugal
you will unfortunately have to ensure your plans and
your finished property contain at least one bath and one
bidet, whether you want either of them or not. New
legislation also dictates any new build property (post
2006) must also provide at least one fully functioning
bathroom at ground level to be accessible by a
wheelchair user. |
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Hydro-massage
Corner Bath |
Bathroom in
Portugal |
Double Vanity
Basin |
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However
if the property you are looking to purchase needs a
major overhaul or in fact the first installation of a
bathroom you are not bound by the same strict rules and
regulations. If the property was constructed prior to
2006 then you are under no legal obligation to install a
ground floor bathroom and can chose to install the
sanitary ware of your choice whether this ultimately
includes a bath and a bidet.
Whether
you are building new or renovating from old you can be
assured you will have plenty, if not too much, choice
when it comes to kitting our your
bathroom in Portugal.
And making sure your most important room in the house is
fit for a king and queen doesn't necessarily have to
break the bank.
Most
large builder's merchants have departments devoted to
this the most important room in the house with showrooms
displaying the latest in sanitary ware designs including
walk in showers, shower cubicles, free standing
rectangle baths and double vanity wash basins. |
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Old Fashioned
Bathroom |
Basic
Bathroom |
Brightly
Coloured Bathroom |
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You can expect a good
quality bathroom refit in Portugal to cost you around
1,500€ (as of 2011) providing of course you have all the
pipe work and drainage already in place with standard
sanitary ware such as toilets costing as little at 32€.
If the property does not have mains drainage or a septic
tank in place then you will also have to factor this
into your budget.
By shopping around the
various DIY style supermarkets and local builders
merchants you can save Euros off the cost of fitting a
bathroom. Don't simply accept a quote from a plumber (canalizador)
for the installation of your bathroom. Shop around and
find the best deal for you.
As in the United
Kingdom most shops providing displays will have a
seconds section where you can pick up the odd bargain or
two. And, don't be afraid if you can't spot a bargain
bin or seconds section to ask about ex-display products
as you may find the perfect product for your bathroom in
Portugal at a fraction of the retail cost. |
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