High maintenance bathrooms - let me learn from your mistakes

[AllBuggiedOut]

There's so much good advice on the kitchens thread I need you to tell me about your bathrooms too! The one we're refitting is the family bathroom but v small, has no windows and has the airing cupboard door in it. Also we're in a very hard water area and so are considering getting a water softner - any advice please?

Thanks all!

Bran - I don't see why not but perhaps should check with manufacturer - its very warm on the feet anyway

You can have rubber flooring with underfloor heating (have had some in our Swiss kitchen) . May have to be specialised to enable the heat to conduct effectively. Things still break easily if dropped on it though.

We have a tiny bathroon but have one complete wall (above sink) fitted with custom made mirror end to end - also go for a tall shallow larder type storage cupboard...ours is floor to ceiling, about 20cm deep and 30cm wide...I hate stuff (shampoo etc) on show...keep spare loo rolls there and cleaning stuff. Think under sink ones are awkward. Would have liked a wetroom style floor even for bathroom

Don't have tiles. Use wall panels, they're warm, attractive and have no grout to discolour and ruin the investment of your new bathroom. There are many choices of waterproof wall panels e.g. Fibo from Norway. They might be a bit expensive but loads of money is saved on installation, plus subsequent cleaning time. Life is too short to spend hours scrubbing with a toothbrush only to find grout stains don't come off, then have to hack it all out and regrout. Research easy clean glass for the shower screen - that is a real bugger to clean as well. Check on the stain resistance of a acrylic or fibreglass bath - I have damaged mine with essential oils.

That's net resting, we are about to do our bathroom and the plumber has suggested we get the panels instead of tiles but I haven't seen any in situ so wasn't sure

Interesting

Look at the Fibo website, they have loads of choices of wall panels, even ones which look like tiles. I chose the 'Cracked Cement' one which I thought was cool; also 'Shabby Chic' and 'Concrete' are great and the brick tiles are good.

My pil have a great finish in their wet room - it's a Moroccan plaster thing. Needs buffing with a wax sealant a couple of times a year but is lovely and removes problems re:grout, dirt etc. Sorry I can't remember the name but a bit of clever googling should fib it!

This is it! Amazing, smooth waterproof walls, no grout, different pigments.

(Doubt they used this company, but this is the technique!)

Ffs...

www.tadelaktlondon.co.uk/

ZOMBIE ZOMBIE ZOMBIE ZOMBIE ZOMBIE

FUCKING ZOMBIE THREAD!

And not an interesting one at that!

Oh fuck. And there I was thinking I was at least being useful.

When we re-did small bathroom (almost ensuite) we had matt black times on floor, dark grey tiles on shower walls.

Because it's only 2 adults using it, and our builder recommended, we don't have tiles on the 3 walls outside the shower. We have the floor tiles and then a shallow strip of them acting like a skirting board and that's it, bathroom paint for the rest of it.

3 years old now and looking fine.

Also, get the biggest shower unit you can. Ours is a 900 and the one in the other bathroom is 800 and the difference is quite meaningful when you're actually in the shower, less bumping of elbows, IYSWIM.

We also decided to get biggish rectangular sinks with vanity units underneath. Clean, modern lines and fits in all cleaning products, loo roll, small bin etc. Also drawer for sanitary products, spare toothpaste, razor etc so it should be is tidy!!

Zombie or not laura very helpful thank you x

Never have a curved shower cubicle/screen, they are bastards to clean.

Choose the shape of your shower to suit your bathroom. Curved or straight glass - it makes no difference - shower screens are hard to clean, especially in a hard water area. Choose easy clean glass.

Thanks for resurrecting the thread, its useful for me to read these hints and tips.

Meant to add earlier (hadn't realised it was a zombie at the time!) that I recommend water softener systems.

Me and my daughter suffer from skin issues, mainly eczema and I'm sure this has helped.

If you're in a hard water area do not get waterfall taps unless you will clean them all the time!

I agree with waterfall taps being a problem in hard water areas. I really wanted one, but was told that if I kept on using Limelite, Viakal or Cillit Bang limescale cleaner as often as would be needed, then the chrome would come off the tap after a year or two. I wish I could afford a water softener - it would also save on shampoos etc..

Don't bother with tiles. All that grouting is a nightmare.
I have glass panels from www.opticolour.co.uk and they are honestly the best decision I made in terms of minimising cleaning. I've got one shower with tiles in still and it just looks tired compared to the glass ones - all installed ten years ago.

Grouting isn't so much of an issue now there are so many colours you can choose. Doesn't have to be white! I haven't noticed any issues with ours getting manky...

With grout it's not just the very real probability of it getting stained, and being impossible to clean even if you scrub with a toothbrush with all manner of products, it's also the likelihood of cracks appearing in the grout. Leaks through hairline cracks can destroy plaster, floors and shower cubicles, all in secret before you know it has happened. Wall panels are so much safer, easier to clean and look great as well. They can even look like tiles if you like.

We have Nuance wall panels by Bushboard in the family bathroom and they still look like new years later. Easy clean, no grout. Just about to do our ensuite in the same stuff but in silver travertine colour. Nuance is somehow water proof all the way through and most show rooms will have an offcut sitting in a bucket to prove it. Sone wall panels are not.
I don't think I will ever buy another tile in my life now I have shower walls and splashbacks.