The Low Budget DIY Bathroom Refurb

[DoubleSix]

BigTom85 said:

I'd say white sealant for certain.

I'm leaning that way but the white is VERY white and tends to 'pop', I'm not sure a glowing white line around the room is a good thing against the floor tiles...

[DoubleSix]

Gingerbread Man said:

Silicones not paintable. I think it would be a bad move. Chaulks paintable.

Good point.

So perhaps caulk along the painted wall, white sealant along tiled wall.

[DoubleSix]

MrJuice said:

Very smart looking job

If you're this good at DIY, how come you didn't buy somewhere that needed work? You mentioned that the bathroom was the only room that needed attention

I realise it all takes time but seriously, the work in the bathrooms suggests you'd be able to do other work or direct tradesmen in doing it correctly

Thanks for saying so!

I guess when we bought we did so for the buildings unique features and location, the state of repair was just a bonus.

Perhaps I'd be more open to taking a 'fixer upper' on in future but the real value is added if you can plumb in a whole heating system or rewire old electrics I expect.

Here's a few snaps for context that might be of interest (everyone loves a pic! ):

Edited by DoubleSix on Saturday 26th March 13:12

[DoubleSix]

bomma220 said:

Re the top joint on the skirting, I'd go with Gingerbread Man's suggestion of simply grouting it so it'll blend in rather than 'pop'.

Was hoping you'd pop in Bomma!

So I assume you mean the smoke grout or the white I used for the wall tiles?

[DoubleSix]

MrJuice said:

Lovely. Really suave taste

Do those windows leak a LOT of heat?

Thx!

Yes, fortunately there is secondary glazing on all the lead windows but even so with such a large expanse and solid walls the house takes some heating.

[DoubleSix]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

You are of course quite right TN. I'm just determined to get as professional a finish as possible or it will niggle at me.

I'm also conscious of other threads I've looked at before starting this one where it appears someone has waved a wand and three posts later "finito". Hence I'm sharing all my thoughts (some trivial) outloud in the hope this proves a more useful resource for others who are tempted to have a bash.

P.S. Do you have a thread of your current works running?

[DoubleSix]

Got the toilet back in today much to my other halfs relief (see what I did there?).

I've been dreading taking a drill to my newly laid floor but it went smoothly. Bought some cheap Erbauer tile bits and they did the job for a fraction of the cost of the diamond tipped stuff. Today I learnt that Porcelain is hard, very hard.

Also replaced/upgraded the waste connector and cistern internals. Glad I didn't splash on new sanitary wear now as it's perfectly fine and left something in the budget for some nice Grohe bits I've ordered...



Cheated a little by using a waste collar

[DoubleSix]

[DoubleSix]

Thanks TN!

Wow! Yours puts my little project into perspective. I look forward to have a good read of that.

Glad you approve of the tiles, I'm very happy with them too, seagrass is the colour so perhaps something aquatic about them that suits a bathroom.

RE: Window board, yes I plan to do as you suggest. Previous owner, or at least whoever they employed to do their bathroom obviously hacked into it in order to make their tiling easier - no respect for the place.

Question for you and Bomma; how do I determine what size basin tap I require? Some say 1/2" others nothing??

[DoubleSix]

Thanks fellas, appreciate the help.

I believe I've a high pressure set up (pump in attic).

Will take snap of basin tomorrow (it's outside). Its a single hole jobbie.

Thinking something like this:

https://www.plumb-warehouse.co.uk/shop/grohe/grohe...

or

https://www.plumb-warehouse.co.uk/shop/grohe/grohe...

Was about to order but noticed it said 'small version' and hit the brakes.

Edited by DoubleSix on Tuesday 29th March 23:23

Edited by DoubleSix on Tuesday 29th March 23:24

[DoubleSix]

Thx Bomma, Think I'm going for this as a shower/bath solution so aiming for taps to match.

Feel by not replacing sanitary wear I can justify some nice fittings - man maths at it's best.

https://www.plumb-warehouse.co.uk/shop/grohe/grohe...

[DoubleSix]

bomma220 said:

Can I just say mate - 'man maths' resulted in me buying a V12 XJS! No problem with your choice of taps though sir - spot on!

That's good to know, thought I was getting carried away for a second

[DoubleSix]

Shiny bits have arrived...

[DoubleSix]

Need another bit of help please fellas! I got the bath taps and shower fitted without too much trouble and am hoping to do basin tomorrow.

However I notice the flexi tails on the tap appear to be a smaller diameter (approx 15mm) than the copper pipe thread (approx 20mm) as per pics below:





Do I need some sort of adapter or something?

Edited by DoubleSix on Thursday 31st March 20:36

[DoubleSix]

Thanks mate, appreciate the links as I have a Scewfix nearby.

You do have to be 100% on what you're after though as the staff haven't a clue!

Edited by DoubleSix on Thursday 31st March 21:41

[DoubleSix]

Sure thing sir



A rule across the chrome fitting concurs with you: 3/4 inch

Edited by DoubleSix on Thursday 31st March 22:10

[DoubleSix]

Thx bomma!

Sorry if I'm being thick but that link says 1/2 inch, do I not need 3/4 then?

[DoubleSix]

Now I'm properly confused!

Does this help

[DoubleSix]

Okey Dokey!

Thanks to all for assistance, as I'm sure you've all gathered I'd be pretty stuck without the help so it's greatly appreciated.

[DoubleSix]

Plumb Warehouse were offering best prices when I sourced mine. Very helpful over phone too.

Properly chuffed with the quality of the Grohe stuff. Paid a bit more to get a shower rail with solid metal brackets and clamps as even Grohe have that horrible faux chrome plastic stuff on their cheapest lines.