New bathroom

JodyBPM

We have been living with the bathroom that came with our house for the last seven years, but after a leak from the bath over the weekend (crack in the plastic) we looked at it and saw, knackered bath, loose and mouldy bath panels, less than pleasant coloured suite, warped leaky laminate flooring, wonky tiling, knackered shower screen and leaky shower. So I think its time for a whole new bathroom rather than a patch up job!

So, I have resigned myself to spending some money! Still would like to do it on the cheaper end though, as we're likely to be moving in the next 5 years so simple, pleasant and functional rather than luxury is the order of the day! I don't like modern styles or bathrooms that look straight out of hotels either IYSWIM!

DH and myself are basic DIYers, Ok with decoration etc, but would use professionals for plumming etc.

So, where do we start? And how much to budget? Bathroom is small, at a guess around 2.5m*1.7m

Ideas so far:

Simple, traditional plain white suite (loo, sink & bath)
Tongue and groove panels around walls (I found Easipanel on googling, which seem something simple enough for DH and I to install, would welcome any feedback on this)
Replace shower above the bath, currently is a straightforward one, but was thinking of an electric one that heats the water so that we can turn the hot water off over the summer:), would welcome any feedback on this too (eg costs, energy savings over heating water (gas) for an hour or two a day.
A nice quality lino on the floor, DH and I should be able to lay. I know tiles look nice, but I think they would be expensive and I also find them really cold (I'm tight about putting the CH on too!)

How do I go about planning all this? We know a plummer we could contact, but was planning on trying to source my own bits. Looking at a low/mid range level.

Oh, and the room will prob need re-skimming once we've hacked off the existing tiles and do I need to re-tile around the shower end of the bath, or would the Easipanel stuff suffice? I prefer the look of Easipanel, but have concerns around mould and water resistance.

Cheers for any tips/ hints comments etc

wallbash

Living with the bathroom ( 7 years) , and suddenly seeing the faults , sounds like me,
but my wife 'sees' everything

Good luck with the project .
My first thought

A nice quality lino on the floor, DH and I should be able to lay.

I will ( and have ) tackled most things , full renovation included
( see photos ) But I draw the line at laying lino , carpet I tackle , but lino is a job for experts. There is no room for error.

Are you really going to save money sourcing the 'bits'
e.g taps are faulty . plumber standing around costing you money!!
Do your sums

Is it your only Toilet , could you shower somewhere else
Is the job time sensitive ??

edgex

do you not want any hot water at all during the summer?
not for dish washing, hand washing etc?
i cant see how you would have any energy savings, as youd still be heating water in the winter, & then not using it (im assuming youve got a hot water tank)
also, you wouldnt be able to install an electric shower, that would have to be an electrician.



have you actually read the Easipanel website?
"EASIpanel™ is manufactured from high quality, moisture resistant mdf"
"Can I use it in a bathroom?
As EASIpanel™ is manufactured from moisture resistant mdf it is perfect for use in a bathroom and can be used as a bath panel and splash back to a sink."

its not waterproof, so i doubt its usable within a shower area, or even above a bath.
also, the max height of the panels is 5', so you would have lots of joins if you wanted to panel the entire wall area. not a good idea where youve got water.



have you had anyone in to quote for a complete job?
you might be surprised at the prices, dont forget, they can source a lot more stuff at 'trade' prices.

keith969

I've never found electric showers to be any good, the flow rate is just too little. In fact in my previous house the upstairs shower had a pump to get a good pressure to it. If you use the shower rather than the bath then its worth spending a little extra making sure it works well and will last. I ended getting one of those chunky Aqualiser ones, they are chromed solid brass and indestructable, after 10 years still looks like new - plastic ones will not.

As regards flooring, I'd agree that laying lino is not something you really want to do yourself. Get it wrong and at the very least it will look like a DIY job, or you will end up with gaps.

For bath/shower surrounds I've always gone for tiling - plain white tiles (although we did use a coloured dado tile to break things up). They are neutral and not likely to put off future buyers if/when you come to sell. I did tile a shower room myself once, all I can say is that when it was done again years later by a professional tiler it looked sooo much better!

keystone

edgex wrote: »

"EASIpanel™ is manufactured from high quality, moisture resistant mdf"

Ha Ha - there is no such thing!

Cheers

keystone

keith969 wrote: »

I've never found electric showers to be any good, the flow rate is just too little.

Electric showers work off cold feed direct from the mains. There must have been something wrong with your installation.

In fact in my previous house the upstairs shower had a pump to get a good pressure to it.

Yes it probably would if it was a conventionally plumbed system with the shower beeing fed from the CWST and the HWC. That would NOT have been an "electric" shower.

If you use the shower rather than the bath then its worth spending a little extra making sure it works well and will last. I ended getting one of those chunky Aqualiser ones.

Agree. There are many other quality manufacturers as well as Aqualisa.

As regards flooring, I'd agree that laying lino is not something you really want to do yourself. Get it wrong and at the very least it will look like a DIY job, or you will end up with gaps.

Lino is old hat. If you want a good vinyl flooring for a bathroom go for Kardean or Amtico. Karndean is cheaper but not too much different in quality. Karndean is also easier to lay but neither are for the novice. Too easy to make a pigs ear of it.

For bath/shower surrounds I've always gone for tiling - plain white tiles (although we did use a coloured dado tile to break things up). They are neutral and not likely to put off future buyers if/when you come to sell. I did tile a shower room myself once, all I can say is that when it was done again years later by a professional tiler it looked sooo much better!

DIY tiling frequently looks carp I'm afraid but if the guy that did it is satisfied with it then thats OK by me. Tiling all the way for me - by far the best and most durable results.
Cheers

keystone

JodyBPM wrote: »

Simple, traditional plain white suite (loo, sink & bath)

Anything from £ 250 to £ 1500. Pays your money and takes your choice. Paying someone to do a straight swap iro £ 300 - £ 500 depending on complexity.

Tongue and groove panels around walls (I found Easipanel on googling, which seem something simple enough for DH and I to install, would welcome any feedback on this)

Yuk! Its MDF! Tile the walls. If getting someone to do it allow £ 25.00 per sq m including adhesives and grout on a prepared surface. Surface preparation will add cost but will depend on how bad it is.

Replace shower above the bath, currently is a straightforward one, but was thinking of an electric one that heats the water so that we can turn the hot water off over the summer:), would welcome any feedback on this too (eg costs, energy savings over heating water (gas) for an hour or two a day

The advantage of an electric shower is that it is instantaneous. What is your current DHW installation - boiler type, HW cylinder in airing cupboard, tanks in roof space etc.. What you have will affect the suggestions.

A nice quality lino on the floor, DH and I should be able to lay. I know tiles look nice, but I think they would be expensive and I also find them really cold (I'm tight about putting the CH on too!)

A quality flooring for a bathroom is Amtico or Karndean. Neither are DIY. Much of a muchness on cost with tiles.

How do I go about planning all this? We know a plummer we could contact, but was planning on trying to source my own bits. Looking at a low/mid range level

I am happy if customer wants to source his own bits because that way I can keep my turnover down below the VAT threshold. Do NOT buy off the internet. There are frequent problems and I, for one, don't like to be kept hanging about whilst they get sorted out. Go to your local plumbers merchant. You can get good deals from them if you haggle a bit.

Oh, and the room will prob need re-skimming once we've hacked off the existing tiles

Allow about £ 400/450 for that because you'll prolly want the ceiling done as well whilst you are at it. Plastering isn't DIY if you want a good result.

and do I need to re-tile around the shower end of the bath,

100%

or would the Easipanel stuff suffice?

I wouldn't put it in bathroom if they gave it away. Its MDF for heavens sake! No you cannot use it round the shower area.

Cheers for any tips / hints comments etc

Don't take my price indications as 100% gospel BTW. Prices vary from job to job as each is different. You'll need a sparks for an electric shower and whilst he is there you'll have to have an extractor fan to meet regs and will probably want downlighters as well. All electrics in bathroom must be done by registered sparks.

I would recommend that you get some people round to give you a quote for the job. Get 2 or 3 for comparison and make sure there's a detailed schedule of work for each. Post back here for analysis.

Cheers

JodyBPM

Thanks guys for all the replies, some food for thought! Feeling a bit grotty this eve, so am heading to bed, but tomorrow will post some photos of our existing bathroom and see what thoughts people have. I'm now wondering if its possible to keep the tiling and slot in a new suite? Tiling is plain white, but DIYed by the previous owners, and not great. Trying to weigh up cost/finish, e.g maybe £1K for fixing/making good as opposed to, I guess, £3-4K for something nice & smart with a good finish!

phill99

Hold on. Stop. If you have a crack in sanitary ware, it is normally a justifiable claim on you buildings insurance. The insuraers will also pay for damage caused as a result of the leak eg to floors, floor coverings, decoration etc. It is worth contacting your insurers. This may pay for a large chunk of the work to be done. And once a contractor has been appointed, ask him about undertaking other works in your bathroom as a private contract.