DIY bathroom - lessons learned, please.

[PerspicaciaTick]

We've finally decided to rip out the family bathroom and start afresh. DH, in his wisdom, will be doing the work himself.
So what lessons have you learnt through bitter experience, which might save us heartache, money and possibly our marriage?

With thanks and much

[CrapBag]

We did our bathroom in our new house last year. I kept the big cupboard in favour of storage over a separate shower cubicle. Part of me regrets it because the original cupboard is crap and needs properly sorting out but we also have a downstairs shower room as well so a shower cubicle wasn't needed. I don't actually use the bath or the shower over it, I go for the shower cubicle every time. Think about what you and the people in your house actually use and prioritise that.

We got a lovely P shaped bath because I wanted a bigger area where the shower is and it is good, but it takes a stupid amount of water to fill a bath (they aren't frequent here anyway so not too much of an issue).

I like my glass shower screen with a towel rail on it.

My toilet is a back to wall toilet because the horrible pipe at the back that gets really dusty is hidden. If you get one of these check the toilet seat fittings! We have one from Victoria Plumb, had a useless plumber who fitted it, then told us after it was probably the wrong size seat (it definitely is) and he hasn't fitted it tight so it wobbles about. The issue is the sodding seat doesn't unclip like most of them, the fittings are underneath and to change the seat would mean the whole unit having to come out so I am just living with it, but it does annoy the crap out of me.

We tiled around the bath to the ceiling and around the sink and toilet. We have built in units, a back to wall toilet next to a sink with a cupboard underneath then another slim cupboard with a drawer next to it. It looks really tidy and everyone has commented on it. All bottles and bathroom crap is put away.

We have white tiles, medium size and very slightly bumpy to give a bit of texture, the grout is a light grey and looks so much better than white. We also have a line of turquoise mosaic tiles in the middle to break up all the white, they actually worked out cheaper than the little border tiles I was going to have. The walls are then painted a light blue. It's all blue and white with nautical accessories and the floor is vinyl and looks like wooden slats and they are textured so it looks like real wood. I love my bathroom even if it wouldn't be considered fashionable (I don't know if it would, I just go for what I like).

[CQ]

Snozz

Oh and on the subject of tall DHs, also don't let them hang the mirror until you've checked the height of it.

Standing on tiptoe to apply make-up every day is a pain in the arse. But never mind, it's the perfect height for him to shave in

[SnozzberryPie]

Cq snap, except I was in early pregnancy so suffering from morning sickness, with a potty training toddler, and I also went to stay with my parents

If we were doing it again I would insist we got someone in to do the tiling as it took forever.

If your dh is a foot taller than you, don't let him fit the shower head so that the lowest setting is too high for you.

Our bathroom is tiny and we tiled around the bath and shower up to the ceiling, and a splash back behind the sink. The rest is painted. We went for neutral tiles and colourful paint so it would be easy to change the colour scheme in future without retiling.

[BackforGood]

This is really helpful for me - lots to think about.
Thanks all

[TheUnwillingNarcheska]

Buy a toilet that is easy to clean.

I am also a fan of a back to wall toilet with all the pipework hidden inside the cabinet. We fitted this in our last house and in our downstairs loo at this house. The current bathroom and en-suite are normal toilets meaning every time I clean the top of the soil pipe I curse it.

Have somewhere to put all the shampoo/shower gel when you are in the shower, it is easier to clean a shower/bath if there are not bottles on the floor or bath ledge.

We have done the DIY route a few times now. Dh fitted the electric shower then the electrician connects it up and signs off on it.

Plan the tiling well, look for the best way to do the least number of cuts and no teeny slivers of tile either. Tank the walls around the bath/shower.

[Forestdreams]

Ooh yes, that reminds me. We bought one basic loo from the plumbers' merchant and another that was ideal standard and about 3 times the price. They both use the same amount of water but the flush on the ideal standard is so much better, and as a result it's much easier to keep clean.

Obviously I can't speak for all cheap loos, maybe we just got unlucky, but I would buy the ideal standard again next time.

[Mrscog]

Our tiny bathroom (1.8mx1.6m) is tiled all over with white tiles and white grouting. Even though it's super neutral I hate it. It makes it feel smaller and a bit like a prison. Can't wait to rip all the tiles off one day and only have tiles where absolutely necessary.

[CQ]

Oh god yes, you need a hair trap with teenagers. Yuk.

[MumOfTheMoment]

Don't buy a toilet unless you have seen it in person and sat on it.

Grey grout doesn't show the mould. I assume it still exists but it isn't visible! If you like the look of grey, obviously.

The plug/hair trap/waste bit on our shower is impossible to clean as it doesn't all come apart - so check that out too before buying.

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

If you have baths elsewhere do you need one?
Storage is a must under the sink led mirrors can also be a cupboard.
Have you thought of lighting?

[PerspicaciaTick]

CQ, that sounds hellish. DH isn't a procrastinator, but he is a perfectionist which can feel the same.
Luckily, we have two other toilets and an ensuite with shower (and sinks) and he is taking annual leave to take a clear run at it. And I live near my parents...

The main aim is to squeeze a stand up shower in the family bathroom now our DCs are getting bigger and smellier. Everything else is just nice to have.

[CQ]

If your DH is a procrastinator, and you only have the one bathroom with no other loo in the house, and you are 30 weeks pregnant, and the work goes on over many weekends and evenings, and you end up with no flushing toilet but that's ok because you just need to fill this bucket up with water from the kitchen sink, carry it upstairs and chuck it down the pan, then please get professionals in.



It's the only time in our 21 year marriage that I have walked out on him. I went to live at my mum's and told him I'd be back when the bloody toilet flushed. Not unreasonable, I think

It was done that very week.

[specialsubject]

there are rules with showers, and an electronics engineer is not necessarily familiar with domestic electrics.

remember that the bath needs to be fitted, properly supported (not just the supplied legs), properly levelled, filled with water, sealed, left for 24 hours.

2 sinks or live with someone who does some cleaning? I know which I'd choose.

took us 2 weeks and nobody here has to go out to work. Be aware.

[PerspicaciaTick]

OK...
Taps and water pressure - our water is mains pressure so probably important.
I like the idea of simple tiles and paint for colour.
Will look at LED units - thanks.
Will look again at vinyl floors, I did see some nice designs but was worried it might end up looking tatty...but better than cracked tiles.
Thanks again...starting to feel excited about it now.

[bookbook]

Sounds odd, but insulate the bath ( behind the panel obvs! ) - it keeps the water hotter for longer . We did this in our last refit 2 years ago, made such a difference .
And yy to the taps and water pressure (bitter experience)
We half tiled all around ours,with paint above it made it look bigger ,and less 'bitty'

[Forestdreams]

Love the planning sessions!

The amount you tile is personal choice, we just did around the bath and the side panel next to the loo. All tiles is more 'in' these days I think, but we are using the walls to bring a bit of cheap, easily changed colour. All tiles is expensive, a lot more work, and it'll wreck the walls for next time. You can always add more tiling but it is difficult to get more wall back afterwards.

We've never had a floor tile crack and we've had DIY tiled floors for 12 years now. DH does a really solid job of putting good quality plyboard (I think) underneath.

Take care that you buy taps suitable for your water pressures.

Medium sized tiles are easier to get flat than either very big or very small ones. Mosaics look pretty but are an absolute pain to grout.

[Anastasie]

I tiled the whole of ours, walls etc then got in a chap to do the floor as it had four whole (large) tiles and the rest were cuts (weird little room)

and my cutter wouldn't manage the big tiles. I did all the prep (ply etc). I did it very well.

One of the small tiles behind the toilet cracked after a month or two. I have no idea how or why.

[nilbyname]

Don't tile a floor yourself. It WILL crack and the grout DOES disintegrate and the whole thing looks shabby!

Have some good shelving to keep all your crap.

[Bearbehind]

lol at 'I'll raise them at the next planning session'

You're right though- treating it as a business arrangement is a good plan otherwise IME it might lead to divorce/ murder!

I'd second the LED unit, mine's a mirrored cupboard and it's great for nighttime wees as the main lights turn on the extractor fans too.

Also big tiles so less grout to discolour.

[Anastasie]

Well not until you need to access a leaky pipe

I know it's a bit retentive, but I'd rather be taking up and replacing vinyl in a situation like that than a tiled floor.

If you are confident in your house and know it's all fine to be left permanently then that's great. I don't have that sort of confidence here!

[gingerdad]

Had no problems in either of ours floor wise both titled over floorboards.

[gingerdad]

One of our best features is one of those led mirrors. Two reasons one if you want a wee in the night you can just switch that on and not the main light. Second ours is heated so always clear.

We have both bathrooms tiled floor to celling all round. One issue we had was the tiles we picked for the walls where dual purpose floor and wall which meant they're very hard to drill.

[Anastasie]

I would tile to ceiling or near around the bath/shower, and a bit over half way up for the rest of it, unless you do plain white (I am a bit retro in my tastes!) and do a tile border (I mean thin pencil tiles, not decorated ones) not plastic tile trim which is horrible.

Also don't try and tile an upstairs floor. It is seriously labour intensive and they still crack even if you do all the prep (12mm WPB all over, screwed down every 3 inches in every direction)

Mark every pipe and cable at all times so you know where to drill.

[BackforGood]

Marking place to collect ideas - are planning a refit ourselves although will not be letting dh near it

[PerspicaciaTick]

He does know what he is doing, his day job is pissing about with water and electronics - just not bathrooms.
Thanks for the ideas, I'll raise them at the next planning session. Especially the showerhead...I hadn't thought of that. I'd love a separate shower, but suspect it would only fit in if we lost the toilet.
It is a small room, do you think we should be tiling it all to ceiling height, or just the area around the bath/shower? Also I've heard decorated tiles are making a comeback - but that feels quite scary as we could be stuck with it for another 15years.