My first bathroom project

[Supercoley1]

Hello, I am just setting about doing my first full bathroom DIY job (not pro at all) and have managed to do most things through internet research etc.
The project in question is a bathroom that currently has a shower over bath, W/C, sink and a wall hung radiator. The room is approx 280cm across the breadth (window wall) and 270cm from the door to the window wall. There a dog leg to the room as the airing cupboard is set within this room into a seperate area on the left of the door.
I will be keeping these apart from the wall hung radiator which I want to remove and then put a towel radiator in another place. I don't have a problem with the plumbing and radiator aspect.
We have had the bathroom like this since we moved in 30 months ago and all we did was to change the bath taps for a shower mixer type, tile the shower area on the window and half the bath side wall (It only had a 420mm high splashback around the bath previous to this), put up a shower curtain rail and laminate the floor. Pretty basic 'quick' but ready to use. The picture below shows what this was like:

After planning to redo the bathroom we decided to do it early July and it would take a few months to complete due to the budget (Each month we can afford the 'next step')
So on 10th July we started to plan the bathroom. The W/C and sink will remain in the same place. The Bath will still be on the wall but will be moved so that each end is an equal distance from the wall. A frame will then be built around the bath so that I can tile under the rim and make it look like the bath has been 'sunken'.
The radiator which is currently on the right as you enter the bathroom will be removed and then the plumbing redone to put a towel radiator behind the door as you enter the bathroom.
The area where the bath is will be tiled in black, white and lime green inspired by a picture on Toppstiles here:
Fusion Kiwi Wall Tile | Topps Tiles
however we don't have anywhere near the budget to use those tiles and get the exact design. I have sourced some lime green, black and white tiles that are all a lot cheaper and are 150mm x 150mm. The design of this area is here (These plans are rough guides as they don't allow for grout joints. I will line them up properly when I get the tiles to gauge the number across etc when the tiles come.)
This is the 'fold out' design and what you will see facing the bath. The lime is bit bright in these pictures where the tile I have bought is more subtler more like the ones in the Toppstiles picture:

And this is the plan from above:

The green/black/white combo will only go as far as the bath surround and the rest will be plain white.
This is the lime tile I have bought. 2 boxes:
Tiles, Ceramic Tiles, Wall Tiles, Gloss Lime Green Tile
The floor will also be tiled with white 330x330 tiles. Very crisp very clean, very bright with the single 'feature' area of the bath drawing the focus.
I will update tomorrow on what I have done already.
Regards
AC

 

[White Room]

Nice chair

 

[andy8758]

Good to hear from you Supercoley.

My first DIY project was tiling our bathroom 10 years ago. I appreciate this is really tough for a DIYer - and I even had a brother-in-law on hand (for advice and help) who knew about plumbing and tiling (council housing maintenance). Even so, it was tough to get it right, whilst having a wife and 3 kids all wanting toilet/bath/sink/shower as well!

I have since taken up tiling as a trade - maybe you will get the bug after doing this!

Good planning, but I would not have plastered anything - probably used something like BAL's Quick Render (can tile after 3 hours - cant tile on fresh plaster for 6 weeks), although use of 12mm tile backer boards is always the best course to take if you can.

Good luck and look forward to seeing how things go for you. :welcome:

 

[Supercoley1]

I doubt I'll do it pro. lol I don't drive Hard to get equipment and supplies to addresses on my bike :lol:

AC

 

[Time's Ran Out]

28th I made a little 'mock up' of the bath/shower area for my wife to visualise :lol: I do get bored at nightimes :lol:

AC[/QUOTE
That is a work of art.
Hope the corners line up on the real thing and start with a full tile across the middle line on the bath wall and it will give a bigger cut into the corners.
This is getting interesting.

 

[Supercoley1]

I've used the tiles (and spacers) to work out how many tiles will be needed. Works out at 12 full tiles plus just under a half tile at each side. (So just under 13 in total across the back wall)

The tiles WILL line up in the corners The walls may be a little more bowed in reality though :lol: remember I plastered most of them. Will upload some new piccies tomorrow. completed the frame today although it hasn't got it's plywood shell on yet.

AC

 

[Mike]

I've used the tiles (and spacers) to work out how many tiles will be needed. Works out at 12 full tiles plus just under a half tile at each side. (So just under 13 in total across the back wall)
The tiles WILL line up in the corners The walls may be a little more bowed in reality though :lol: remember I plastered most of them. Will upload some new piccies tomorrow. completed the frame today although it hasn't got it's plywood shell on yet.
AC

why have small ones across the back? you should be ok with 13 full ones with a little trimmed off each side

 

[Supercoley1]

you'll hate me here. lol

I want the black and green to stop level with the bath surround. From thereon the whole bathroom will be white so the bath area is a focal point if you like. Therefore to have a full tile level with the edge of the bath surround (and level with the airing cupboard door it leaves a half tile where the side wall meets the back.

Therefore I assumed it would look better if the back wall mirrors the side wall i.e. 2 half tiles meeting each other rather than a half tile meeting a full tile.

Just another idea to 'bounce off' you guys. As said before our budget won't stretch to new shower components yet, nor do I like the idea of cutting 60mm into an outer wall to fit piping and I definately don't fancy connecting to the 'council owned' combi which is serviced yearly by their contractors .

If at somepoint we want one of those large square shower heads that are ceiling mounted could I connect it up with stainless steel pipe, bent into position and fastened appropriately to the wall and ceiling like the picture below? What do you think (other than the obvious dislike of seeing pipes comments . lol) I just thought this might give us an option if we want it further down the line. Simple 15mm connector with a compression or push fit joint at either end and then 1 single steel pipe bent at the right places. Would fit the current mixer setup.

AC

 

[Supercoley1]

Sorry guys. I've answered my own question after looking at the pic a few times. I think what you would probably think and don't like the exposed pipes either. lol

I guess if I read up well (lol) I could plum a thermo shower into the combi. The wall on the left hand side of the bath as you look at it is actually the only stud wall in the house. built when they first put a boiler in there I suppose. I could link the controls through there and then lead the actual pipe to the shower through the airing cupboard ceiling along the loft floor a little and then down through the bathroom ceiling again to where the shower head would be.

As I said. Whatever route this takes (if any) it won't be for a long time. Little money and a few other projects that have had to wait now that this room has become urgent.

AC

 

[divebommer]

planing looking good just take your time and think things through before hand would like to see the finshing job thanks lee :welcome:

 

[Mike]

Sorry guys. I've answered my own question after looking at the pic a few times. I think what you would probably think and don't like the exposed pipes either. lol
I guess if I read up well (lol) I could plum a thermo shower into the combi. The wall on the left hand side of the bath as you look at it is actually the only stud wall in the house. built when they first put a boiler in there I suppose. I could link the controls through there and then lead the actual pipe to the shower through the airing cupboard ceiling along the loft floor a little and then down through the bathroom ceiling again to where the shower head would be.
As I said. Whatever route this takes (if any) it won't be for a long time. Little money and a few other projects that have had to wait now that this room has become urgent.
AC

you could put the thermostatic shower bar on the stud wall as the pipes are the other side of the wall i take it? the shower head would just come off this with a flexi pipe to the riser. this could be put on later when you have the extra funds

 

[Supercoley1]

I'm getting into the idea of the 'concealed' aspect now I think I will go through the wall with the controls and then up through the ceiling and have the ceiling mounted square 'rainmaker' That will be done in month 5 though :lol:

Will also keep the mixer shower where it was at the end of the bath but put a shorter flexi hose on it and then have a single holder rather than the riser bar it had before. No idea why the missus needs to take it out of the holder when it is up on the riser but I am always finding the shower head resting behind the taps. lol.

See I knew it was a good idea to go through this process with some help and advice from the pros

AC

 

[macten]

You're planning this so well mate! My only suggestion at this point is go for 18mm ply instead of 12mm on the floor. 12mm is below British Standards.
I know it's expensive and may cause height issues which is why I personally would use a 6mm cement board (buy an extra sheet or 2 and it's the perfect material to build your bath panel and shelf with as it's great to tile to and won't go soggy or mouldy in wet conditions.

 

[Supercoley1]

I've decided to change the actual tiling plan now. Rather than the lime and black lines being the whole bath area it will just be the rear wall and bath 'panel. The sides of the bath will now be completely white.

Reason : I've been measuring and drawing on the walls and with the side walls having the lines it became a third of the room rather than a focal point.

It will however mean I have some coloured tiles spare which means I can now get a little closer to the original Topps Tiles inspiration and have wider and bolder lines of lime and green. I am just drawing up a new 'perspective' of the room so I can se what it 'may' look like. Will post it up along with the shelf 'frame' that I have just uploaded. Cheers guys.

AC

 

[Supercoley1]

Quick question.

If I use Mepeigum for the tanking wil I need to 'prime' the walls first?

Also is the Mira tank tape any good? very cheap for 25m rolls.


AC

 

[united]

Quick question.
If I use Mepeigum for the tanking wil I need to 'prime' the walls first?
Also is the Mira tank tape any good? very cheap for 25m rolls.
AC

Yes prime with mapei primer g