What can I do with this bathroom?

[Spudlover]

Apart from rip it out!

We are planning on doing some building work in 2-3 years which would mean losing part of the room and just having a smaller downstairs shower room, so I don’t want to replace it completely at the moment.

The shower is on its way out though and I’d like to replace it with a proper mixer shower rather than electric, so I do need to do something.

The floor is multi level, the tiles are embossed, the shower cubicle and screen are covered in thick limescale and obviously the pipes are dirty and exposed.

I’d like to do a bit of a makeover on it so it’s nicer but not so I’m throwing money at something to rip out in a couple of years.

Would tile stickers and boxing in pipes work do you think? And any recommendations for limescale remover that actually works would be appreciated!

I'd just clean it really well and replace the shower.

And full fat coke is a great limescale remover - leave it on to work.

I don't think I would bother doing anything. To me fiddling round the edges would just be a waste of time and money and is unlikely to improve it. I would aim to start building work in 2 years rather than 3 and just live with it - although I can understand that is easy for me to say because I don't have to see it everyday!
My sympathies are with you.

descale in a spray bottle... mix with water roughly 25:75 descale to water..

spray on leave 15 mins then wipe off.
if tiles or surface is flat you can also use a hob scraper.

make sure you have good ventilation and wear gloves

I personally would try and live with it, however if you want a cost effective fix, so long as you're able to do it yourself, obviously cladding is a good choose. You can out batons on the wall and clad direct over the tiles. We did it in ours and honestly it looks like tiles unless you know or inspect it closely.

I quite like it!

You could maybe replace the lino round the bath and perhaps bring same down onto main floor.

The tiling looks okay. It's just the border at the top that is dating it. You could paint just that strip perhaps then it would only be a small amount or regrouping. Covering the pipes would give a better finish. You get some good uPVC products that are easy enough to do yourself

Thanks all, I think you’re right in that there isn’t much I can do. I could paint the tiles still I suppose, even if they are embossed.

I’ll see what there is in the way of PVC to box in pipes.

I was looking for the pipes that you want to box in and noticed... it's YOU who has all the toilet rolls!

(I wouldn't bother boxing in the pipes, I think that can look just as ugly)

I’d just been shopping!

They would definitely look better sanded and painted at least.

It doesn’t help that the previous owner was an enthusiastic DIYer and fitted it all himself. This is the reason for the multi level floor. Also, the bit behind the loo with the toilet rolls on, he built that up so he could fit the toilet in that space. If you look, the wall behind it is the wrong angle so he has brought it all forward.

If you have to live with it for 3 years, I would get the shower working well, and retile that corner (or part of it) if necessary, change the bath for a normal shaped one (even if shorter), change the shower doors, paint the tiles and walls and then lay a cheap vinyl floor (maybe a tile pattern). The main thing is to get the shower working well though, you can forgive a lot after that. I think you could do all of that for about 1k, maybe less if you’re savvy and I think it would make quite a difference.