Can't make my mind up on Bathroom - DIY or professionals?

Phirefly

andrew-b wrote: »

I really don't want to get into repositioning the soil pipe as it would involve excavating both the floor and digging up a concrete path along the side of the house.

Andy

That was what we were considering at first, but we've since found its possible to have the soil pipe go out of the wall directly behind the loo and back in to the house to reconnect to the original pipe at ground level -don't know how relevant this is to you though?

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andyhop

Phirefly wrote: »

That was what we were considering at first, but we've since found its possible to have the soil pipe go out of the wall directly behind the loo and back in to the house to reconnect to the original pipe at ground level -don't know how relevant this is to you though?

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sounds like a lot of bends which i would advise against

helping_hubby

Hello, how is everyone's bathrooms coming along?

We're making some progress now...

We've bought our tiles £340 for 21sq m of wall tiles and 6 sq m of floor tiles. It would have cost £540, but they were on offer when we went back to buy them

We've been gradually removing the wallpaper, tiles and then this weekend knocked down the wall between the bathroom and toilet - piccies:
Before:


After stripping wallpaper and tiles, before wall knocked down:


After wall knocked down:


I plan on ordering the bathroom suite next weekend and storing it in the shed which hubby is clearing out today to make room.

However we still need a plumber! We've had 2 quotes, 1 person round who still hasn't quoted us, and 5 plumbers promising to call us back - with us trying to call them again and not being able to get hold of anyone.

Today I aim to get at least 2 plumbers to set dates to come round for a quote. I'm determined to have one booked by the end of the week.

Some good news, the electrician turned up today He's been great so far, turned up on time, sent us a written quote, put up with my mind changing and now turned up. Why can't all trades people be like that?

Phirefly

Thanks for the update. Its certainly going to make a massive difference, do you plan to relocate the bath/loo etc?

As for me, I'm currently panicking as the tiles should have been ordered by now, but I'm awaiting the fitter to get back to me to confirm how many I need to order. I'd go ahead and order them based on our calculations, but they're special order so I can't order too few as it would take another 3 weeks to order extras, and if I order too many, they can't be returned.

Other than that, we're on-track...

helping_hubby

That's good to hear you're on track.

I won't be able to return my tiles either as it's meant to be within 28 days and I can't see that happening. I'm hoping I've ordered the right amount.

yes, we are swapping the bath and sink around. Where I have taken the photos from is the doorway and that is going to be blocked up. And the door opposite the toilet will be used. The loo will stay where it is and the radiator will move across the other side of the room.

27col

You will not regret knocking it all into one room. The only circumstance under which I would consider having a separate toilet, would be if there was room in it for its own hand basin.

want2bmortgage3

The advice I would offer as to DIY or professional...
- a big diy book will help with types of fittings and removing/installing toilet etc (usually on sale half price in smiths or waterstones)
- get fittings from screwfix as they are a lot cheaper than big diy shops
- buy a decent suite, yes you can get £189 suites to take away but spending another £100 or so will make a lot of difference..compare the £189 suites in b and q to the £299 suite in homebase.. it has better taps and a nicer designed sink/bath/wc
- consider a back to wall WC and vanity unit sink.. these look so much better than a basic toilet and pedestal basin, wickes do a nice vanity unit with monobloc tap hole for £99, get the tap off ebay. they also do the wc cupboard for about £149.
- if you have the budget and dont want disruption (eg no shower/bath for a few days) then try to find a good plumber on recommendation, they will be able to fit the suite a lot quicker and make a better job of the plumbing, soldered pipes are not going to leak or get damaged like plastic fittings might
- plumbers can usually get decent suites from their supplier for a good price and will be able to show you a catalog to choose from
- you will not have to buy a load of tools which you will probably use just the once (such as pipe cutters) if you get a pro in, he will have everything

helping_hubby

27col wrote: »

You will not regret knocking it all into one room. The only circumstance under which I would consider having a separate toilet, would be if there was room in it for its own hand basin.

It's good to hear someone say that. Most people have told us we're silly to make it one room as it's the only toilet in the house. But it's a pain in the a*** to have to walk out the door and round through the bathroom door to wash your hands! Besides my parents had one toilet (in the family bathroom) for years when I was growing up. We never had a problem.

want2bmortgage3

I agree, you have made a good decision knocking it into one room, it looks a lot lighter from your photos. Also all you need to do is tell the family when you need the bathroom for a bath, and they can use the toilet before. If they say no and then change their mind while you're enjoying your bath then tough luck!

want2bmortgage3

heres the progress so far... as you can see one wall is boxed in fully along the end of the bath to conceal the shower fittings and this makes the bath fit against the other wall, where there was a wood 'shelf' before

kind of regret buying a cheap bathroom suite from b and q now i realise i could have got a vanity unit from wickes for £99 , or with a toilet as well for £149 then just the bath to add on. also wondered whether i should have got a back to wall toilet and got the matching wc cabinet from wickes...

the substitute is the boxing in to create a shelf... though i'm still not that sold on it.. my dad likes boxing things in!! the walls around the bath will be tiled and possibly the boxed area behind the sink and wc.

i just wondered what you think of the progress and any suggestions you might have.. i'm still prepared to pay a bit more to get a better end result, and not worried about having to sell spare parts...