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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get just a shower .. not a whole new bathroom?

29 replies

Paulisexcluded · 11/04/2023 23:25

We have a pretty old avocado bathroom but the bath is quire nice as it's boxed in with tongue and groove and the tiles are okish

We need a shower, but funds are small.

Anyone had success with getting a builder to just rip a few tiles out, connect a basic shower, and put in a foldable screen type thing? I've asked a few people but obviously it isn't as lucrative as fitting an entire new bathroom.

OP posts:
Movinghouseatlast · 11/04/2023 23:31

Yes. I actually did this with an avocado suite. It was just tiling and fitting the shower. We had a shower curtain accross the bath as it was cheaper.

aibuaibuaibu · 11/04/2023 23:35

Can you upload pics?

Original poster
Paulisexcluded · 11/04/2023 23:47

Here it is.. @Movinghouseatlast did you have to ask many builders before you found one who could do it? Or did you do it yourself?

To get just a shower .. not a whole new bathroom?
OP posts:
Original poster
Paulisexcluded · 11/04/2023 23:48

Excuse the dead plant @aibuaibuaibu
I literally just took it as it is now.

OP posts:
Movinghouseatlast · 12/04/2023 06:01

We asked just one builder but he had done other work for us.

DalmationCalledStripe · 12/04/2023 06:36

My parents did similar, as in they kept most tiles. Theirs was ripping out the bath and making a wet room but the whole rest of the bathroom was fully tiled so everything stayed as was on the toilet/sink side of the room and just the bath side came out. I think you might have more success getting a good handyman rather than a bathroom fitter.

Senseofnopurpose · 12/04/2023 06:50

We did, cost £2.5k with good quality shower enclosure and new valve, and wall tiles.
We bought from a local plumbers merchant, who also recommended a couple of installers who were happy to do a single shower installation.

Oysterbabe · 12/04/2023 06:52

Yes you'll find a builder for that. We put small jobs on Trust a Trader and builders approached who were interested.

CalloohCallayFrabjousDay · 12/04/2023 07:20

If that's what you want... do it.

TinySaltLick · 12/04/2023 07:24

Yes fine, am sure you can find a person to do it - as a smaller job should be able to fit it around other work.

Only tricky part could be water supply - assume you will need to run new pipework up inside the wall behind the current taps?

You defo don't need to do the whole bathroom at once if you don't want to

BMXsummoner · 12/04/2023 07:30

I predict an avocado (aka green/khaki shades) for bathrooms within the next 2-4 years. Mark my words.

Pulipalaver · 12/04/2023 07:31

It's easy because of the extra area behind your taps.
There is space to fit the pipes and build a false section of wall up, and tile it.

BMXsummoner · 12/04/2023 07:32

*avocado comeback. Christ.

CremeEggComa · 12/04/2023 07:41

Like this sort of thing. I did it myself in a house where the only shower was accessible through a bedroom. I put this sort of tap in and created a bath/shower.

To get just a shower .. not a whole new bathroom?
Augend23 · 12/04/2023 07:47

We did something similar ourselves - put smart chrome pipes up the outside of the wall (so no retiling required). Just drilled a few bits into the wall. The plus side of using a proper shower instead of a mixer tap is that it has a thermostatic mixer, so no messy around with cold Vs hot.

I would be tempted to go with the replacement tap (which you could definitely fit yourself) and a shower curtain if you really want to minimise costs. It may even be the case that you can get a thermostatic mixer tap, I don't know.

CremeEggComa · 12/04/2023 08:23

Yes you can @Augend23, they are more expensive though. I put thermostatic taps with an anti scald mechanism built in because DC were under ten at the time.

Lcb123 · 12/04/2023 08:24

Yes we’ve had that. Much cheaper and also reduces waste if the bathroom units are still in good condition

aibuaibuaibu · 12/04/2023 12:42

@Paulisexcluded i think there could be an issue with the water going all over the tiles? Where would the shower head connect to?

Original poster
Paulisexcluded · 12/04/2023 20:10

Thanks so much for the replies, and photo @CremeEggComa looks gorgeous!

Good to have some ideas and even bethearts hear of people who have done thIs. Yes, I think getting that type of tap and then having the pipe on the outside of the tiles and just destrng a very small area of tiles to hold the shower head. Def want a proper screen rather than a curtain. Sorry about all these gaps, very hard to remove on my phone.

OP posts:
CremeEggComa · 13/04/2023 09:09

Photo courtesy of Screwfix 😂. It is a good solution for a cheap non electric shower install.

aibuaibuaibu · 13/04/2023 17:47

CremeEggComa · 12/04/2023 08:23

Yes you can @Augend23, they are more expensive though. I put thermostatic taps with an anti scald mechanism built in because DC were under ten at the time.

Can't you not turn down your water temp? Or I assume you have a hot water tank?

Augend23 · 13/04/2023 21:11

aibuaibuaibu · 13/04/2023 17:47

Can't you not turn down your water temp? Or I assume you have a hot water tank?

Show quote history

I'm pretty sure turning your water temperature down to a point where it couldn't scaled a child would be a risk for legionnaires?

aibuaibuaibu · 14/04/2023 00:20

@Augend23 only if you have a tank

JackiePlace · 14/04/2023 00:30

BMXsummoner · 12/04/2023 07:32

*avocado comeback. Christ.

Well if Magnolia could do it, why not Avocado? And let's throw in a Harvest Gold kitchen suite too, just for good measure.
They will all have new names, of course. The paint in our Magnolia hallway is apparently called "Gentle Fawn" now.