Is it possible to fit a bathroom yourself?

Section62

Ebe_Scrooge said:

Oh, one other top tip.  When fitting the new stuff, make sure you put a service valve on every water pipe in the room.  They cost peanuts, and make life so much easier in the future.  Means you can isolate a single tap, or the toilet, if you every need to fix a leak or change a washer or whatever, without having to turn the mains off.  Beats me why there's so many places I've seen where they're not fitted as standard, to be honest.

Possibly, in part, because there are a lot of cheap poor quality service valves installed which start leaking the moment you put a screwdriver near them.

It's got to the point where I would ignore them and just turn the supply off at the mains - because that takes less time and effort than fitting a new service valve and clearing up the mess after one has done a half-decent impression of Niagara falls.

The theory is good, but the practical application is often so poor that (but for compliance with the regs) it would be better if they didn't exist at all.

Demountable push-fit also means that temporary isolation can be quickly (and reusably) achieved with stop ends if the job is likely to take longer than acceptable to have the mains off.

Grenage

Section62 said:

Ebe_Scrooge said:

Oh, one other top tip.  When fitting the new stuff, make sure you put a service valve on every water pipe in the room.  They cost peanuts, and make life so much easier in the future.  Means you can isolate a single tap, or the toilet, if you every need to fix a leak or change a washer or whatever, without having to turn the mains off.  Beats me why there's so many places I've seen where they're not fitted as standard, to be honest.

Possibly, in part, because there are a lot of cheap poor quality service valves installed which start leaking the moment you put a screwdriver near them.

It's got to the point where I would ignore them and just turn the supply off at the mains - because that takes less time and effort than fitting a new service valve and clearing up the mess after one has done a half-decent impression of Niagara falls.

The theory is good, but the practical application is often so poor that (but for compliance with the regs) it would be better if they didn't exist at all.

Demountable push-fit also means that temporary isolation can be quickly (and reusably) achieved with stop ends if the job is likely to take longer than acceptable to have the mains off.

That mirrors my experience with those small isolators; I generally swap them for full-bore level valves as and when I do any work.

donemedosh

every single DIYer has to start with thier first project. Youtube can give you great information just take your time & make sure each step of the overhaul is done to the best of your ability. Builders & plumbers are faster but not always better as it is a job not thier home. Best of luck

Rosa_Damascena

donemedosh said:

every single DIYer has to start with thier first project. Youtube can give you great information just take your time & make sure each step of the overhaul is done to the best of your ability. Builders & plumbers are faster but not always better as it is a job not thier home. Best of luck

Kudos to those who claim to love DIY! A weekend of it fills me with dread in anticipation, I can think of much nicer ways to spend my time.

danrv

Rosa_Damascena said:

donemedosh said:

every single DIYer has to start with thier first project. Youtube can give you great information just take your time & make sure each step of the overhaul is done to the best of your ability. Builders & plumbers are faster but not always better as it is a job not thier home. Best of luck

Kudos to those who claim to love DIY! A weekend of it fills me with dread in anticipation, I can think of much nicer ways to spend my time.

Yes, I’d rather be doing other stuff but I've got to have a bathroom.