Bathroom renovation - keep existing suite?

batman2000

Help! I’m going round in circles. I have a functional bathroom that is totally outdated. It was built to a high standard in the 80s but is in need of renovation, including ceiling (currently polystyrene tiles 😬) and tiles to three walls (many have crazed). 

The problem is the bathroom suite… I love it! Armitage Shanks, retro pampas colour, vintage… great quality. No chips, dings or scratches, excellent flush on the toilet (important!), wide bath with shower above.

Is it possible to renovate around the suite, or does it have to be removed and then replaced? Is it worth the hassle? I’ve had bathroom quotes from independents and B&Q ranging from £12k to £20k 😱, including suites. It’s not a huge bathroom but I can’t afford to make any mistakes!

Note: I can’t do any of this work myself, and will have to rely on trades people. Don’t want to get ripped off though.

Mark_d

Companies like B&Q make their money from selling the bathroom suite.  Since you're happy with yours, I'd go to independent contractors who can quote you  for just doing the things you want.  It won't be cheap though - I often find tiling to be surprisingly expensive.

As it happens, my 20 year old en-suite bathroom could do with a renovation.  But as the faults are fairly small, I'm going to delay renovation as long as possible because currently the renovation cost would far outweigh any benefit I'd get.

batman2000

Thanks! It’s tricky isn’t it? So you think I should be able to sort out the ceiling and tiles while leaving the suite in place? Tiling seems to be a sticking point locally, with most of them working for the bigger companies (not independently). 

Any advice on where to start would be appreciated. I’m inclined to think ceiling first. Tiles off, electrics/plumbing, tiles on… then floor. 

twopenny

Yes it would have to come out because the tiles will need to go down the side of the bath for good waterproofing, behind the shower attachment and so on.

I don't think you're daft, you want what you want and it's nice to be individual.

But the bathroom ware will have to be stored while the job is going on so a week or two. I used to have a local plumber who had a storage garage so that may be what you need to look at unless you have a garage that would do, even better.

If you have ceramic tiles and you want them off and replaced then that probably means a lot of prep then replastering. Plaster to dry before tiling, floor laying then fittings put back last.

It's going to be tough finding someone who would do it because they won't be making anything on top of labour but worth it to get what you want.

Took me 4yrs to get mine - ok there was a pandemic - so maybe 2yrs and it reduced me to weeping with the nice people who came and I never heard from again.

Eventually it was a guy who ran a small gang of trades so could organise them all to come at the appropriate time.

Had an offer from a guy who did kitchen and bathroom Renovations.

One tip would be to have it all drawn up (do you know someone who'd do that) as a picture more than a plan. Use a photo of the current one to copy from and draw up what you expect.

That got me the most attention because there was no doubt about how I wanted it when  finished and the boss, the plumber, the tiler could all see exactly where they were going without explanation or confusion.

Make a list of exactly what you want re tiles, towel rails, taps and such so there is no pfaffing around. You may have to change things as they are out of stock over time. Be prepared.

Simple is better, no wildly creative tiling

batman2000

Thank you @twopenny for your detailed reply. I’d been hoping to avoid coordinating different trades but I’m just not getting any joy from the bathroom places I’ve been to so far. It makes me feel very fussy! But then I see the suites that the renovators are trying to sell me and the bad reviews for them online 😬. 

I do know a builder so might start there. Trades people know other trades people after all.

I’m hoping it’ll be relatively straightforward since I won’t be moving things around.

I feel your pain about people coming to quote and never seeing them again. It took me two years to find people to sand my hall floor (just been done!) and three sets of decorators before finding one to paint my kitchen. They are in high demand I guess.

Albermarle

It's going to be tough finding someone who would do it because they won't be making anything on top of labour but worth it to get what you want.

When we had ours done, we used an independent bathroom fitter. He did everything himself and we bought most of the fittings, tiles, flooring etc ourselves, so most of the charge was labour. So if the OP can find someone like that it would be good.

If you have ceramic tiles and you want them off and replaced then that probably means a lot of prep then replastering.

It is possible they will just come off cleanly, but you do not know until it happens.
OP - Tiling only the bottom half of the wall is quite popular and saves money ( not around the bath and shower though obviously) 

FreeBear

twopenny said: If you have ceramic tiles and you want them off and replaced then that probably means a lot of prep then replastering. Plaster to dry before tiling, floor laying then fittings put back last.

If the walls are being stripped of tiles, it would be worthwhile using a Marmox type backer board to tile on to. The insulated core will help to keep the surface temperature up  little and reduce condensation.

Bigphil1474

OP, we redid the decor in the bathroom in our old house completely including re-plastering the over bath shower wall where most of the old plaster came off with the tiles - this was quite a few years ago, but we kept the bathroom suite because it was one we really liked. It was still there when we left last year after 20 odd years. The bath was disconnected and moved out of the way for the plasterer, but the sink and toilet were left in situ. There's no need to tile the wall below the bath level unless it's some sort of free standing bath. I've never done it like that, you usually tile up from the bath then sealant between wall and bath. I only tiled up to the ceiling on the two areas where the bath was, the rest was papered. With hindsight, I would have put more tiles on and painted top half - no wallpaper. 

We were lucky in that we had a plumber in the family who could sort out the bath issue, and I did the tiling myself, but if there is a local handy person they might be able to do most of it for you. Tiling to a decent standard isn't difficult, depends what standard you need. I'd just be asking the local FB group for recommendations. 

batman2000

Thanks @Bigphil1474, this is really useful info and similar to what I want to do! I actually have a builder/bathroom fitter coming round to look this morning and have worked with him before. So he knows my house and my tastes. I’m currently thinking wet wall, but if I can find a local tiler that would probably be better. I’m pretty sure the bath doesn’t have tiles behind it at the moment, I’ve just always made sure that the sealant is in good shape.

danrv

batman2000 said:

I’m currently thinking wet wall

Nothing wrong with that as an easier to fit tile alternative. Multipanel or similar.
I fitted PVC panelling for my bath/shower area. Perfectly functional and looks smart.
As mentioned, no need for tiles/panelling to extend below the bath. 

This would need to come out for ease of working. If it's just the top floor that needs replacing, it may be possible to work around the rest of the suite. Ideally, loo and basin would sit on top of it.
Subfloor replacement obviously would mean everything out and same if a complete replaster is needed.

Handy if you know of a good fitter/plumber than can do the suite removal. They probably would know other trades too. 
Can take a while depending on their availability. A second loo as a minimum makes things a lot easier. 

silvercar

batman2000 said:

Thank you @twopenny for your detailed reply. I’d been hoping to avoid coordinating different trades but I’m just not getting any joy from the bathroom places I’ve been to so far. It makes me feel very fussy! But then I see the suites that the renovators are trying to sell me and the bad reviews for them online 😬. 

I do know a builder so might start there. Trades people know other trades people after all.

I’m hoping it’ll be relatively straightforward since I won’t be moving things around.

I feel your pain about people coming to quote and never seeing them again. It took me two years to find people to sand my hall floor (just been done!) and three sets of decorators before finding one to paint my kitchen. They are in high demand I guess.

Sorry to jump on your thread, are you anywhere near Hertfordshire? I’m looking for a floor sander.