Has anyone redone a bathroom themselves?

[looseleaf]

I just borrowed a book from the library which explains in detail how to re-tile a bathroom for example and ours is so outdated it got me thinking.
Has anyone tackled this? Or even if you haven't have you found any tiles you've had put in and loved?

Our current tiles are white and navy which sounds harmless but the grout is grey and it all just looks old as a result.
I don't give up on things eg I re-upholstered our old sofa beautifully (though i say so myself ) from a book I ordered but the bathroom is more daunting despite being small as would be so messy and so vital to our small flat!

Taking tiles off is easier than putting them on. I have done a small amount above a sink in a wc requiring no cuts and know I am not skilled enough to do a bathroom and it look good.

Did ours years ago, it wasn't hard. It was big tiles mind you which maybe helps as it's probably easier to keep straight.

My DH did ours, and the en suite with no previous experience. They look fab. Go for it!

Why don't you just take out the old grey grout and replace?

Have you tried bleaching the grout first?

Yep. DH and I refitted our entire ensuite and bathroom ourselves.

Ensuite was hard work because we decided to go wet room style and tile the lot.

We did less in the bathroom by painting some bits and it was much easier. Get / hire an electric tile cutter though. Doing it by hand would be hard, hard work.

Go for it .. it's easy. I've retiled 2 bathrooms.
Take the old grout out with a dremel ? That would take a lifetime and still look shit !

I have tiled every house I have moved to, and recently my fil's and my dm's.
Use spacers, take your time, if you feel yourself getting frustrated with it walk away and have a cuppa or a breather. If you have pipes and things to fit around buyor hire a cutter and buy a tile saw, this made it easier to cut around pipes.

Yes, although I hate tiles, so did most of it in tongue and groove panelling with just a splash back around the sink. Put a big circular shower rail in (I actually made it using chromed copper piping, but only because I was feeling cheap) so that the shower didn't splash on the walls too much. Bathroom paint above the t and g. I think I've mentioned elsewhere that I panelled to boob level...

Thank you all so much, this is mostly very encouraging!

There are tiles on the floor and wall at the moment but I don't know whether vinyl would be better on the floor as certainly sounds easier especially cutting round the loo and basin? Though i can hire a tile cutter etc locally I still have no idea what look to go for. Big tiles sounds a good idea for the wall!

bunchoffives I did try all sorts of grout cleaners including bleaching ones but it didn't impact much.

I've tiled a few bathrooms (and our kitchen).

Try to get something to give you a good straight line. I'm lazy so use a laser level, but you could use a level gauge and draw the lines for yourself.

Yy to an electric tile cutter.

The main thing is whether your walls/floor are straight and square. If they are, you are laughing, if not, be prepared for a bunch of fiddly cuts.

But all in all, one of the easier diy jobs to attempt.

I've done 3 bathrooms and a couple of kitchens.

My tips: definitely use a baton which is spaced about 2/3 of 4/5 tile size off the floor. Tile up from there and tile into a corner aiming to cut a bit off. Not many walls are straight and cutting small bits off tiles is an arse job so again plan it so you trim at least 3cm?

I like a traditional tile cutter for most straight cuts but have a slightly more expensive one that your bog standard diy store one.

I also have pincer snippers (ancient rusty tool) which nips little bits off by crumbling them - great for small adjustments

I do have a disc cutter and that's useful for making right angle cuts but I do one cut with disc cutter and the 2nd right angle cut by scoring and snapping

PLAN plan plan so you know where your tile cuts are needed. That makes for easiest and neatest job.

Don't use too much tile adhesive The ridges in glue application give flex and mean the tiles can be squiggled flat against an uneven wall.

Large tiles …great but can make it harder on a very uneven wall as they might balance on a rough bit and not sit flat

I am slow...

Have you seen the splash backs for showers. A friend used one in the shower and tiles elsewhere - stunning

Yes, I did the bathroom in my last house. Best tips, buy a good wet tile cutter, use spacers and take your time.

I've just tried to look up splashbacks but can't really picture it, are they a big glass sheet? Thanks for the idea as am getting very enthusiastic thinking about possible new looks!

I've not used them but have seen them used to stunning effect

here are some images. I don't think that's necessarily great examples but gives an idea. Used a lot in kitchens now