New bathroom

[Tiggie]

I'm taking some time off work in a couple of weeks to remodel our bathroom and seperate toilet so once again my dining room has become a storage area

 

 

 

Not doing anything too fancy, just a straight rip out and replace of everything and new tiles/floor. The toilet and bathroom are seperate but adjoining, Wife really wanted me to knock wall down and combine the two but it would be a ballache and with us only having the one toilet I prefer to keep separate so I don't get banging on the door to hurry up when I'm having a shower 

 

Thought I'd start a thread on here to see if anyone has any hard earned lessons they can pass on or things they wish they had done but didn't when doing their own. 

[husoi]

Get plenty of PTFE tape for the pipework.

You can't ever have too much PTFE tape  

You know the saying, measure 10 times and cut once.

Another thing you want to consider for the tiling is a very good grout.

Better the grout less mould it will create.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

I did our bathroom in our last house and the only thing I regretted was buying the best grout I could find. It was Mapei grout which set very very quickly and very very hard. It was a pain to work with.

 

Afterwards a friend had a contractor doing her bathroom she provided him with the same grout which he refused to use.

 

So test it on a small area before you do the actual job. When I did our daughter's bathroom I used a different grout and it was lovely to work with.

 

An electric tile cutter is an absolute must have.

[Tiggie]

Annoyingly I can't find the grout I used when doing my kitchen. Must of changed its name or something, was nice and easy to work with. I was looking at Mapei stuff so might see what else is about look at reviews etc @Mississippi Bullfrog 

 

@husoi I've used PTFE tape for years but have only just recently learned you should always wrap it clockwise so it doesn't unravel while screwing on. I'm guessing I got it right most times by luck 

[husoi]

Just now, Tiggie said:

Annoyingly I can't find the grout I used when doing my kitchen. Must of changed its name or something, was nice and easy to work with. I was looking at Mapei stuff so might see what else is about look at reviews etc @Mississippi Bullfrog 

 

@husoi I've used PTFE tape for years but have only just recently learned you should always wrap it clockwise so it doesn't unravel while screwing on. I'm guessing I got it right most times by luck 

Yes, and make sure you apply it with the tape coming out from the bottom so it tightens as you roll it out.

The other way you will risk to have it loose and I can assure you the roll will try to run from you.  

 

For the grout, something like this:

https://www.tilemountain.co.uk/anti-mould-grout.html

 

[Steve_M]

We finished a bathroom a couple of weeks ago. It’ll be our fifth in as many years.

 

1). Prepare (the six P’s spring to mind). I think it was Eisenhower who said “Plans are worthless but planning is everything”. E.G. list everything that you need to do, double check that the products you’re using are the right ones and you have enough materials. Finding yourself in need of a particular specialist item just after the shops have closed and the toilet isn’t working...

2). Have the right tools and materials for the job. It makes life so much easier than workarounds.
3). Delegate those tasks that need specialist skills. For me that’s anything electrical, and tiling. I pay a sparky, my good lady is an expert with tiles.

4). Measure twice, thrice, as many times as you need before cutting any material. 
5). Allow at least 30% more budget and time to complete than you first thought. 
6). Review plans and lists regularly.

 

 

Postscript. Rest / take a break when you need it. Working tired leads to mistakes. Sometimes stopping for a cuppa to consider if what you’re doing is right can save a lot of grief.

Edited February 9, 2021 by Steve_M

[Fozzie]

If you're fitting a new mixer for the bath/shower taps, the usual ones have something like 150mm (IIRC) between centres of the pipes. But if you are upgrading to a higher flow mixer like I did (8 litres a min to 12 litres), then watch the pipe fitting, as mine only had about 50mm between centres, and it had to be *absolutely* dead on. Loads of reports of leaking, and only being a mm or 2 out. I used two pieces of wood with holes drilled precisely to hold them exactly apart and straight while I secured the pipes. 

 

The more regular fittings, I'm told you can be out a bit and the thicker gaskets are more forgiving. 

 

Also, if you have to plaster board again (tiles might tear the old ones off), if onto a brick wall, the orange board glue says you only need to hold it for 5 minutes, but this wasn't even vaguely true. You let go, and 2 minutes later you saw it had dropped a few cm. Have supports ready to hold it in place if it's not on the floor directly for about 10-15 minutes. 

[Steve_M]

46 minutes ago, Fozzie said:

If you're fitting a new mixer for the bath/shower taps, the usual ones have something like 150mm (IIRC) between centres of the pipes. But if you are upgrading to a higher flow mixer like I did (8 litres a min to 12 litres), then watch the pipe fitting, as mine only had about 50mm between centres, and it had to be *absolutely* dead on. Loads of reports of leaking, and only being a mm or 2 out. I used two pieces of wood with holes drilled precisely to hold them exactly apart and straight while I secured the pipes. 

 

The more regular fittings, I'm told you can be out a bit and the thicker gaskets are more forgiving. 

 

Also, if you have to plaster board again (tiles might tear the old ones off), if onto a brick wall, the orange board glue says you only need to hold it for 5 minutes, but this wasn't even vaguely true. You let go, and 2 minutes later you saw it had dropped a few cm. Have supports ready to hold it in place if it's not on the floor directly for about 10-15 minutes. 

We used Knauf aqua board rather than plasterboard. Primed to improve its moisture resistance. Slightly more expensive but a better product. 
 

We always put support battens in to support the first row of tiles. My good lady will spend many hours measuring to ensure the best possible layout of tiles(so no nasty 10mm strips in odd corners). 

[Pie man]

If you haven't got them already - isolation valves and don't use cheap flexi connectors. 

[Fozzie]

45 minutes ago, Steve_M said:

We used Knauf aqua board rather than plasterboard. Primed to improve its moisture resistance. Slightly more expensive but a better product. 
 

We always put support battens in to support the first row of tiles. My good lady will spend many hours measuring to ensure the best possible layout of tiles(so no nasty 10mm strips in odd corners). 

 

I considered that, but I opted to use regular plasterboard and then got a tanking kit. I applied 3 coats to be overkill, but it should be completely waterproof. Wickes had an offer on the 2.4m plasterboards, so had them for £4.50 a sheet at the time.

 

Tiling went ok, but I've noticed if you look closely, it ever so slightly bows in the middle of the wall. I worked out where I've stuck the plasterboard onto the wall, I've pressed too hard in the middle and compressed it, then didn't compensate for it with the tile adhesive. My girlfriend says she can't see it unless she really looks hard, and from the right angle, but I know for next time

 

 

 

 

[Tiggie]

@Pie man there isn't any iso valves and that is going to be one of the first jobs!!   I won't feel the need to rush things like I would if I had all the water switched off in house.

 

While on the subject i'm half tempted to fit one of these while i'm there. Our stop cock is situated in the bathroom at the bottom of a cupboard and is an arse to get to when needed. 

 

 

[Steve_M]

10 minutes ago, Tiggie said:

@Pie man there isn't any iso valves and that is going to be one of the first jobs!!   I won't feel the need to rush things like I would if I had all the water switched off in house.

 

While on the subject i'm half tempted to fit one of these while i'm there. Our stop cock is situated in the bathroom at the bottom of a cupboard and is an arse to get to when needed. 

 

 

Ooh. Nice idea. I still haven’t found the stop cock in the house. Bodgit and Scarper fixed up the house for a previous owner and we think it’s beneath a cupboard. The stop cock at the service from the main is 300m away and that’s proving to be a right royal pain in the 4rse. I put in temporary full bore  isolation valves so I could just turn off the water to the bathroom. Made life much simpler. I’ll do that with each toilet/bathroom as we work our way through the renovation. 

[Bender]

Speed fit one piece tap connectors if your going straight onto conventional 1/2 or 3/4 fittings, if taps come with flexi and they ain't comp use proper 1/2 male iron/comp with a flat end don't use a comp straight they just dig into the nut.

 

If your having a radiator ie decorative get the pipes in the wall and not surface mounted 

[Tiggie]

@Bender I don't know why but I had it in my head you would only ever recommend copper pipe and solder not speedfit 

 

I was preparing for an argument as I've used speedfit for years without any issue

[Steve_M]

2 minutes ago, Tiggie said:

@Bender I don't know why but I had it in my head you would only ever recommend copper pipe and solder not speedfit 

 

I was preparing for an argument as I've used speedfit for years without any issue

Mice!
 

We had our central heating replaced and the guy said it was the first all copper system he’d done in years, but he wouldn’t risk plastic pipes in our place as we do have mice intruders now and again (but not for long).

[Pie man]

44 minutes ago, Tiggie said:

@Pie man there isn't any iso valves and that is going to be one of the first jobs!!   I won't feel the need to rush things like I would if I had all the water switched off in house.

 

While on the subject i'm half tempted to fit one of these while i'm there. Our stop cock is situated in the bathroom at the bottom of a cupboard and is an arse to get to when needed. 

 

 

Good idea. Better to fit now rather than later. We use these on many of our Kitchen installs, stop tap usually tucked away under the sink and difficult to access, especially helpful for the elderly with arthritis.  

[Bender]

13 minutes ago, Steve_M said:

Mice!
 

We had our central heating replaced and the guy said it was the first all copper system he’d done in years, but he wouldn’t risk plastic pipes in our place as we do have mice intruders now and again (but not for long).

This is the problem with plastic, anything in a position to be chewed by mice and I use copper with tectite brass demountable push fit fittings, or solder just depends if it's for me or what the job is  

 

People are going to use plastic and mostly it all goes fine, makes plumbing easy and reliable for the masses, just mark the pipe so you know when it's fully in and use the correct inserts for the  correct pipe

 

You can now get 15mm pipe with an alloy layer so it keeps it shape in visible locations, not to be confused with gedrit 16mm pipe that has specific fittings which is going to cause nightmares for diy folk in the future  

[Pie man]

9 minutes ago, Steve_M said:

Mice!
 

We had our central heating replaced and the guy said it was the first all copper system he’d done in years, but he wouldn’t risk plastic pipes in our place as we do have mice intruders now and again (but not for long).

Don't use flexi pan connectors either!!! Our local authority have ceased baiting the main drains for the last two years, with the amount of rain we have had it has forced them pesky rats above ground, they have made their way up waste pipes and started to chew through the flexi pan connectors (the flexi pan connectors are now banned on our projects) 

[Steve_M]

1 hour ago, Pie man said:

Don't use flexi pan connectors either!!! Our local authority have ceased baiting the main drains for the last two years, with the amount of rain we have had it has forced them pesky rats above ground, they have made their way up waste pipes and started to chew through the flexi pan connectors (the flexi pan connectors are now banned on our projects) 

Ah, yes, the brother in law had that little challenge. Luckily he’d boxed the connector in so they didn’t get into the house proper. 

[Bender]

Big turds and bent flexies don't mix.

[Tiggie]

Started taking tiles off in toilet today. Some of them look to of been put on with no more nails glue!! 

 

Good news is I've never had tiles come off so easy, I pulled whole sections off by hand.

 

For the rest I used my new toy, an 80mm cranked chisel bit for an SDS drill, I'd definitely recommend anyone taking tiles off to use one if possible, so easy to do.

 

 

[Pie man]

15 minutes ago, Tiggie said:

Started taking tiles off in toilet today. Some of them look to of been put on with no more nails glue!! 

 

Good news is I've never had tiles come off so easy, I pulled whole sections off by hand.

 

For the rest I used my new toy, an 80mm cranked chisel bit for an SDS drill, I'd definitely recommend anyone taking tiles off to use one if possible, so easy to do.

 

 

Top job, it looks like it has certainly made the job easier. Are those safety slippers by any chance 

[Tiggie]

I was waiting for a slippers comment 

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

Your going to need a warning on the door- ‘large vehicles must reverse in’ or perhaps a standard ‘max width’ sign would do 

[Bender]

1 hour ago, Slowlycatchymonkey said:

Your going to need a warning on the door- ‘large vehicles must reverse in’ or perhaps a standard ‘max width’ sign would do 

You saying Tiggie is fat  

 

Yes sds is way you go, I've a kitchen and bathroom to de tile, I put the bloody things on though so I know they ain't falling off.