Bathroom project - Work in progress

[davemul]

Apologies mods of this needs to go elsewhere.. please feel free to move it or bin it!

Riiiight.. here goes....

We've been in our first house nearly 2 years now. We've (well ... more like I'VE!) done everything else bar the bathroom. It's an old 1800's cottage so the bathroom was in a pretty bad way. Solidly built but nasty and OLD!

I decided a few weeks ago to RIP it out and start from the beginning.

First task was to move the hot water cylinder from in the bathroom to a new cupboard outside the room (thanks to Scruff from ultimatehandyman.co.uk for the advice!)

Now you see it...

Now you dont!

Ive taken quite a lot out..

CARNAGE

Well, I picked up a load of bits today..

Marmox goods and tiles!

New shower pump for the house too

Also have taken delivery of a taptile wireless light switch system Taptile - Ditch the switch one-touch mood lighting and dimming solutions for the bathroom and kitchen

6 astro glass downlights

an airflow icon15 extractor fan

and some Polk RC60i ceiling speakers

and a couple of remote water isolation switches about surestop

More bits arrive tomorrow.. i'll update this thread as I go along... im taking next week off to start the plumbing and install!

 

[Mike]

are you starting on the walls now? i'd leave the floor now till last to prevent dirtying or damaging it

 

[davemul]

are you starting on the walls now? i'd leave the floor now till last to prevent dirtying or damaging it

I am Mike, just making a measuring stick with the wall tiles so I can plan a few niches.

walls are going to be fun! as the studs have measurements of their own! going to have to make lots of new studs to avoid wasting too much board!

 

[Mike]

i'd check how straight the studs are too, a lot of them old lathe and plaster walls were bowed. i screw new studs adjecent to the old ones if i need to straighten the wall

 

[Bathfix Bob]

Hi Bob, thanks mate

Cold feed to the bath is from the water tank in the loft (which then goes on to feed the pump then on to the shower). Hot water cylinder is also fed from a tank in the loft too mate.

Sound ok?

Yes thats fine. the feeds are balanced as they should be.

What is the size of your loft tank, 25, 50, 100 gallon?

 

[davemul]

Indeed Mike, I had to basically re-stud the wall I did today

Bob, not sure on the tank sizes im afraid

Well, one wall done .. 4 more to go! I cant believe this took me ALL day! rrr:

still need to put some 6mm boards inside the niches and cut the centre.

This little guy tried to help clean up by chewing everything

 

[DHTiling]

Just a tip.... you should be staggering the boards joints , this helps prevent straight line stress cracking.

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Ditto as Dave above, is that a Stabila laser?

 

[davemul]

Ahh, thanks, will be sure to stagger the remaining walls as they wont have niches. Completely slipped my mind! I remembered for the floor though!

Yup its a Stabila. Has been a god send for the walls!

 

[Bathfix Bob]

Yes its hard work doing a bathroom, especially on your own. Stressfull too on the bigger jobs as you have to do a good job for the customer while all the time being careful not to out stay your welcome.

 

[Qwerty]

Ditto as Dave above, is that a Stabila laser?

Looks like youve been busy buying on Tradetiler !!! Ive got a stabila laser too......worth their weight in gold!

Is that 6 or 10mm marmox on the walls?

 

[davemul]

Totally agree. My day job is sitting looking at about 6 screens trying to make money! but I like to have a go at things if I feel comfortable.

This forum has been a godsend with regards to info, so for that I thank you all!

so far with this bathroom i've been an electrician / plumber / builder / interior designer

im shattered! :lol:

Hi Blocko... its 12.5mm on the walls and 6mm on the floor

 

[Bathfix Bob]

Totally agree. My day job is sitting looking at about 6 screens trying to make money! but I like to have a go at things if I feel comfortable.

This forum has been a godsend with regards to info, so for that I thank you all!

so far with this bathroom i've been an electrician / plumber / builder / interior designer

im shattered! :lol:

Hi Blocko... its 12.5mm on the walls and 6mm on the floor

What do you do Dave? Security guard?

 

[davemul]

haha, no. I'm a city tosser by day. Not doing a lot to be honest though at the moment! Back on the horse tomorrow though, hopefully markets will pick up!

 

[Mike]

haha, no. I'm a city tosser by day. Not doing a lot to be honest though at the moment! Back on the horse tomorrow though, hopefully markets will pick up!

any chance of bumping up my rio tinto shares? :lol::lol:

 

[Qwerty]

Great job so far mate! Cant wait for the finishing touches...... can make or break a room, and looks like you are fitting top notch bits. Is that wiring for downlights in the niches in the walls? (if that is what they are to be!)

 

[davemul]

Im actually balls deep in rio at the moment! Shes killing me!

Thanks Blocko! Indeed it is my old mucker. Managed to find some ultra small ones specially for the niches. Controlled by the taptile on its second circuit.

 

[Bathfix Bob]

My little joke........ I guesed that by all the money you've spent so far!, you can do 10 grand easily if you get carried away in planning a luxury bathroom.

Nice command center by the way!

 

[Mike]

Im actually balls deep in rio at the moment! Shes killing me!

Thanks Blocko! Indeed it is my old mucker. Managed to find some ultra small ones specially for the niches. Controlled by the taptile on its second circuit.

what does that mean to us humble tilers dave? :smilewinkgrin:

 

[davemul]

Nothing humble about tiling mate, im in awe of you guys. I just finished tiling the kitchen, it nearly finished me off!

I bought a load of RIO LN in july... I dont even want to look at the price of it now! sunk like the titanic. You win some, you lose some!

 

[Mike]

Nothing humble about tiling mate, im in awe of you guys. I just finished tiling the kitchen, it nearly finished me off!

I bought a load of RIO LN in july... I dont even want to look at the price of it now! sunk like the titanic. You win some, you lose some!

i paid about £8 per share for mine some years ago via sharesave (i worked for rio for 15 yrs) the shares were the best thing about the job. there was a few guys in work (not me) who were sat on a £million worth when the shares rocketed to £70 a few years ago :yikes:

 

[davemul]

£8! Wowzers! I am assuming you have offloaded them? If not... Need a broker!? ;-)

 

[Mike]

i still got around 300, i'm hoping they'll go up again as i need the money to pay off my mortgage. i'll let you know when i need a broker

 

[davemul]

Yes I would hold on to them if/when till they hit the middle 40's then offload :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Mike]

they've been mid forties for around six months till recently, i'm going to be greedy and hold on to them and try for more. rio tinto can be a bit of a risk though as when they bought out alcan they had the biggest debt of any british company at the time (£20 billion)

 

[Diggins1]

c'mon guys, dont ruin this thread with talk of money!!

Just joined the site and was hooked on this thread instantly!!! Cracking work on the bathroom, good to see a job done as it should be! Its pretty clear you've been a tiler for years, you just never realised it! (hooked on straight lines perfect angles)

Can't wait to see the finished product, especially that glowing flusher!!

P.s, when will you be starting the blog for the extra bathroom your gonna have to build so this one can remain perfect forever?

 

[Mike]

we've gone off topic yes but i'm sure dave will post when he has an update

 

[davemul]

Yeah sorry about the work waffle! Not much to update really this week as i'm back at work.

Underfloor heating arrived yesterday. Floor laser level arrives today. I need to order some SLC today and ssome bits and bobs. Finish plumbing the dry deck to the soil stack and test it, then lay the UFH and self level over it.
Oh and need to buy the mosaics for the shower tray / niches too
and the TV for the wall.. stock keeps being delayed!

Also just looked at shower screens.. ouch, pricey!!!

 

[davemul]

Had a spare few hours so put the shower wall up today. Ran out of sealant now though! ugh

 

[Bathfix Bob]

Nice work Dave,

Yes I really like those Grohe valves, you have certain flexibility regarding how far it goes in or out as long as your tiles fall within the margin. Then simply trim the blue casing to the tile finish, just make sure its dead level especially if you have a rectangular facia plate as there's no adjustment that way.

Be aware of the fixed showerhead aswell, have you taken into account the tile/adhesive thickness in regard to the shower arm flange? Nothing worse than a load of thread showing or even worse if the flange/coller bottoms out on the tiles before it scews tight. You also need to make sure it tightens at the right place. Ever fitted an outside tap?

 

[davemul]

I must admit bob, when the mixer first arrived and I saw how deep it was I thought.. BLOODY HELL that will never fit...

then I read the instructions! :lol: