Help-Question about removing 2 layers of bathroom tiles

screamer

Our lovely little house is let down by the hideous dusky pink and grey bathroom (pink suite and pink and grey tiles with roses on them) The old owners did everything on the cheap and tiled over old tiles. I want to do up the bathroom but I can't get through to OH that when we take both layers of tiles off (bottom layer is over 25 years old, top layer 20 years old) that the wall/plaster underneath is going to be a terrible mess so we'll end up having it plastered. The ceiling definately needs plastering, it has cladding on it and filth falls from the ceiling through the gaps in the cladding and through the sunken downlighters. Yuk!

I've suggested having the bathroom plastered all the way round and only putting tiles round the bath and a small splashback above the sink, OH disagrees and says it will be cheaper to just tile the whole bathroom. I've told him even if we did that, the walls will still need plasterboard or something similar to make a flat surface to mount the tiles, therefore actually costing us more not less.

Does anyone have any experience of this and am I right in thinking the walls would need plasterboard, then tiling. I believe that plastering the whole room will be cheaper because we then wouldn't have to spend money on tiles for the rest of the room. We would be paying someone to plaster obviously, but OH is convinced he can put upwards of 800 tiles up on his own and that it won't take long. I know him, I'm not convinced!!

He now says he thinks part tiled bathrooms look rubbish although in his next breath he says he's never seen a part tiled bathroom. The room is only a small one (7ft by 5ft) and I currently think the room completely tiled looks stifling and overbearing, but again he disagrees.

Any advice would be much appreciated as voices are getting raised now and I fear we may end up brawling over it. Please help, I'm close to losing my rag with him!!

Mojisola

Having just had our bathroom redone - I would say it's most likely that you'll have to plaster the lot. We have had the whole room tiled because that's the look we like but, if you tile just round the bath and sink with neutral tiles, it gives more freedom with the decor. You're not going to change the tiles very often but the painted walls can be redone quite easily if you want a new look.

wallbash

Go for Logic

Get a quote for the plastering .
Work out the cost of the tiles
Compare.

But as you say , removing two layers of very old tiles, will result in major restoration of walls before you can tile.

I tend to spend more on bathrooms than kitchens:D my bathrooms last for years
while I will renovate my kitchen , after five.

phill99

I run a Maintenance Company and we do a lot of bathrooms. I always advise customers to allow for a full replastering after old tiles have been removed. This actually makes the tilers job easier as it is quicker to tile on a flat surface than a pitted one. If you have plaster board walls, you will not have a choice but to have the walls reboarded as removing tiles always brings most of the plasterboard with it. Even if you don't tile all the way round, you will still need to plaster. to get a god finish for emulsioning. It might be a bit more money, but it is worth spending the extra to get the walls replastered.

screamer

Thank you both for the advice. I passed on the message from Mojisola and he still says plasterboard the room and tile over it.

My idea is a mixture of what you have both said. I want the bathroom to last years but I also want it to be neutral so it can be changed if we either get bored or if we decide to sell up in the future, it's easy for the new owners to get it how they want with minimum hassle. He wants to tile the room himself but has never done tiling. (800 tiles for a novice is way too much to ask) He wants to put the plasterboard up himself but has never done that before. He also wants to fit the bathroom himself stating everything is push fit nowadays so it can't be too difficult but he has no idea what to do, and especially seeing as though the bathroom we have was fitted 20 years ago, the fittings aren't going to be that easy to sort. We also want a shower installing and the old one taking out but it hasn't occurred to him that he needs a professional to install a power shower. For heavens sake, the curtain rail in the living room keeps falling down because he stuffed up. If he can't fit a curtain rail then how is he meant to renovate and install a whole bathroom.

Thread should be called "boyfriend is delusional, now he's going to destroy the bathroom!"

screamer

And thanks phil99. I was writing my post as you posted yours.

Of course, now a professional has said to allow for a complete plastering job he might concede. It will cause another row, I know that, but it will be worth it. I'm sure a novice should NOT be installing a bathroom suite and power shower.

wallbash

I'm sure a novice should NOT be installing a bathroom suite and power shower.

If the w/c and bath are going to be in the same place , which in a small bathroom is very likely. installing is an option.
Power showers come with good installation instructions.

paddy's_mum

Oh, that's easily scuppered!

Just get him to google Part P of the Building Regulations and ask him to explain how you'll get round the solicitor's requirement for appropriate documentation when you eventually come to sell.

phill99

The 2 rooms that cost the most and are prone to cockups by 'have a go' homeowners are bathrooms and kitchens. If the amateur installer gets it wrong, you have to live with it and it will cost you a lot to put it right. if you get someone in and there is a cockup, a decent tradesman will put it right at his cost. Remember, a cheap bathroom suite and cheap tiles can look a million dollars if put in by a good professional. An expensive suite and expensive tiles can be ruined and look sh*te for years if put in by a muppet. And in terms of selling, a poorly installed bathroom / kitchen can put buyers off or devalue the property because buyers realise they will have to start spending money as soon as they move in as they will have to fix the previous owners mess up.

tanith

Just an observation , we had our bathroom done 3yrs ago and I really did not want the whole room tiled but was persuaded and I really think it was the best thing in the world as there is no redecorating , and the tiles are neutral I just change the colour of the towels, mats and accessories now and then.. and its wayyyyyyyyyy easier to clean with all the tiles.. oh!! and don't get shiny tiles as they show every splash , the matt ones we have are brilliant as even when they are splashed and grubby it doesn't show.. no having to polish up the tiles to get rid of smears, just clean and go..
P.S. I think you are dead right that an amateur should not be tackling a job like that.. its not quite that simple...:eek:

Mojisola

tanith wrote: »

Just an observation , we had our bathroom done 3yrs ago and I really did not want the whole room tiled but was persuaded and I really think it was the best thing in the world as there is no redecorating , and the tiles are neutral I just change the colour of the towels, mats and accessories now and then.. and its wayyyyyyyyyy easier to clean with all the tiles.. oh!! and don't get shiny tiles as they show every splash , the matt ones we have are brilliant as even when they are splashed and grubby it doesn't show.. no having to polish up the tiles to get rid of smears, just clean and go..
P.S. I think you are dead right that an amateur should not be tackling a job like that.. its not quite that simple...:eek:

These were my reasons for tiling all the walls but we've gone for three neutral walls and one "wow factor" wall.

Our walls were awful when the old tiles came off but we had planned for dry lining anyway so we were prepared for it. The new plasterboard was put in straight and vertical and the tiles went on very easily as a result. It also made it very easy to fit the shower cubicle.

I think your OH is being extremely unrealistic in thinking he can do the bathroom himself! Bad tiling alone looks awful and there's such a lot of stuff that he won't know that he doesn't know (unknown unknowns!) that you could be without a bathroom for months and you'll still end up paying someone to do the work.