Help me transform old bathroom

[skuml]

Refurbishing bathroom (photo1) ! But haven't chosen basin, toilet, shower head, bath etc

Its a rental flat but I still want to do it in a way that it lasts 10-20+years!

Look wise, I know what I want to achieve - attaching a photo!

DIY Mirror I am planning to cut to size mirror and add strip light above mirror.Also want to install demister pad behind mirror- wondering how long will these will last? should I skip these?

TOILET : Not going for wall hung toilet - as very expensive and not sure how easy is it to replace one if needed in future. Normal toilet but which one would you suggest?

BASIN : Not going for basin with vanity cabinet. But not sure which basin should I buy?
Flat rectangular ones look great but not sure how practical they are. Will prefer to go for deep basin with chrome waste trap.

Towel rail : Might go for dual fuel towel rail. or should I just do electric. Bathroom doesnt has window that's why was thinking.

Tiles: same Tiles everywhere 60x60 cm. or should I leave one wall without tiles as in photo below?

Please share you best tips for redoing bathroom ! Any brands that you would recommend? Any hacks to save ££?

Exposed shower imo. The thermostatic valve went on mine after 20 years and I was able to buy the same shower - simple replacement.

I wouldn’t put a vanity unit in either. Hate the things and something to break/wear quicker than the sanitary ware.

It's debatable, but likely, that bum showers will become normal in the UK during the next 15 years. May as well install one since you're re-doing the room; tenants don't have to use it if they don't want to!

Very much in agreement with others about lighting, storage, and good ventilation.

Do not get anything flat or rectangular, water will never quite drain properly. You've mentioned the basin but looking at the photo that style of tap is also flat, avoid.

great points !
Yes good extractor is very imp as the bathroom doesnt have window!
but does have a extractor with ducts going out.

Which are good extractors? At the moment, even in my bathroom is very noisy! It works really well but noise is sometimes irritating

Yes, installing douche ! I think its planet friendly way - less use of toilet roll!

Yes, totally agree!! 100% !
Learnt big time when I installed a big Duravit Vero in my home !

Square ones look good but not at all functional especially for families with kids!

We asked about installing a bum washer in our new toilet - they are very expensive!! I think our loo can be converted at a later stage if we win the lottery!

I have no idea what extractor fan we got fitted but you can hardly hear it! It does turn off as soon as you turn the switch off too, which I actually prefer because our ancient bathroom one keeps on going for ages!

I loved the circular bowls that sit on a pedestal if you know the ones I mean? Was advised not to get one because the water goes everywhere apparently.

I wouldn't get an extractor fan that goes off with the light when you have no window, that's asking for mold. You need a super-silent one that has it's own electrical circuit and is linked to a humidity sensor, so it runs until the humidity drops.

Wondering anyone can suggest tiles -- should we go full tiling or half? I dont like half the wall tiles so either a skirting length next to toilet or full wall tiled in bathroom? And how about cloak room?? 🤔

Towel rail will on painted wall If I go skirting length - wondering if the bathroom paint will come off while taking off towels etc?

Which tiles - colour should I go? I like the idea what others suggested here - 60X60 tiles.

Been to several budget shop but didnt like tiles - thinking neutral mat tiles that hopefully wont age? same of wall and floor as its small bathroom
Which is good tile shop in London?

Need to make decision tomorrow!!

Help me out with cistern - cistern is going to be hidden behind the stud wall and I am making a worktop so that it can be repaired from top ( similar to one in photo).

Can experience of these cisterns? which ones are good?

Or shall I just go for Geberit cistern that can be fixed from front?
@pigletjohn might be able to help?

Also, shall I go tile like this? one wall left without tiling?
But the towel rail will come on that side? will it be ok?

I wanted so suggest Shower Gem for storage. No drilling. It was recommended on a previous mumsnet thread and has been on Dragons Den. I have been really pleased with the results on a recent refurbishment.

I don't approve of walled-in plumbing, especially if tiles have to be smashed out to replace it.

Plastic bath panels crack when your knees press against them wiping round the bath. Except reinforced ones like Carronite or Trojancast. Wooden ones are OK until water gets at them.

Don't put shelves or cupboards over basins, WCs or baths, because when a glass jar or bottle falls out, it will crack the porcelain or chip the enamel. One WILL fall out.

Don't get a novelty-shaped WC pan unless you have a novelty-shaped arse and don't mind paying a fortune for a replacement seat (which may be unobtainable in a few years).

If you insist on buying ceramic-disk mixer taps with joysticks, resign yourself to replacing them every few years when they drip.

Don't get pop-up wastes. They leak. And when they stop working they are tiresome to replace. Clacker wastes are less troublesome and easy to replace the mushroom if you don't know how to fit a new rubber ring. Nothing is a reliable or easy as a plug.

Fashionable modern WC's from foreign imports don't flush well. The hundred-year old British companies know how to make a bog that works. Including Twyfords, which is now owned by Geberit.

UK plumbing has lower water pressure than American or most European countries. UK made taps usually have a bigger bore to get adequate flow. You will notice the difference when filling a bath.

There are some good extractor fans that are practically inaudible and use negligible electricity, taking away the two excuses from people who dislike ventilation and so suffer from condensation and mould. Solar & Palau are the best I know (Also sold as Envirovent, same company)

Aqualisa round-bodied shower mixers are the best I know.

Many thanks!

Which cistern do you use?? Should I go for standard geberit type cistern? are they better ? easy to repair from front?

I have already bought toilet now cistern has to go behind the stud wall!
I asked tiler to make access panel using tiles - but he thinks tiles are too big 60x60 and heavy to make access panel. How do people do this?

Few more questions:

-Lighting : should I go for dimmer or normal on/off switch?

Should I have another switch for Strip LED light (or two spot light) in front of basin ( in stud wall)

-Dual fuel towel worth it? Wondering how easy is it to change the heating element? Plumber is suggesting not to install! shall I just install normal central heating ones?

-Exposed or conceal ed shower mixer for easy maintenance?? in a small shower area 76X90 cm.

-cistern - did you had any problem gerebit type cistern? Anyone made access for cistern using large tiles (60x60 porcelain) ?

Dimmer, central heating towel rail, access panel for all plumbing including cistern. altho I’ve never tried it with tiles that size. Ask your builder for how it can be done.

@NoIdeasForWittyNickname

"Basin - rectangular ones are totally fine, but wouldn't get something with a flat bottom, as they're very slow to drain (towards the end of the 'flash') and the gunk from toothpaste, beard shavings, etc. seems to stick around more (ask me how I know this 😫😄)"

I thought I was the only person who noticed this and thought the rest of the world had gone mad.

Nice to see I am not alone.

@GasPanic , I know, right? It's just crazy that those types of basins seem to be so popular 🙄We made a mistake a few years ago of getting one installed during the bathroom refurb, coped with it for a while (far too long if you ask me!) and in the end ripped it out. Fortunately, we managed to find a rectangular basin with the same footprint but with a concave 'recess', so it fitted perfectly onto the existing vanity unit and functioned so much better! We've now moved house and refurbed another bathroom, and somehow ended up with a rectangular basin again 😂 but made sure from the outset it's not a flat-bottomed one.

Wondering if anyone has duravit's compact 4.5 flush models?? how is the flush of duravit's compact back to wall toilet?

I bought normal back to wall however their project is a lot 58 cm!

Looking for compact one Duravit No 1 floor standing Or Duravit wall mounted compact ones ?? Considering wall mounted for cloack romm and No 1 floor standing for bathroom

Currently with normal duravit toilet - the distance between towel rail and end of toilet is only 33 cm in bathroom . Is it OK?? (I have already ordered towel rail (60x120 cm). Shall I go for smaller to towel rail too?

ps: trying to acheive similar look - only our basin is normal ones and toilet at the moment is floor standing.

@TizerorFizz

We have wall hung Duravit. If your distance to a towel rail is small be careful it’s not used as a hand rail. We do have quite a lot of space and have 400mm either side of loo. I think the compact loos are fine. Ours are not but we didn’t need them.

I've also never had an issue with a flat bottom sink. Just swill it round and they are fine. I’ve got lots of them!

As for the towel rail -unless you mean a heated one?

I've used horizontal stainless grab rails for this reason. They look very similar to (rather thick) towel rails but are securely screwed to the wall. As they have rounded return ends they have no sharp edges to bump into. They do not look hospital like the white ones.

Get quite a long one.

Example
https://www.screwfix.com/p/croydex-straight-doc-m-grab-bar-chrome-600mm/25992

By towel rail I meant like this one

there is 33 cm between between toilet seat and towel rail ! Towel rail is coming out 10 cm from the wall while toilet is 20 from wall. My husband think it is fine but I am still thinking!!!

I dont want to go for compact toilet and they has less flush 4.5 l apposed to regular one 6 litres. Duravit does only one compact back to wall toiler that is No1. Its not that modern looking too !

Confused !

Ah. Not much good as a handrail.

Incidentally, when I had a broken leg, I toppled over in the hospital, tried to grab a radiator, and ripped it off the wall, so I remember such things.

Hello all,
I just wanted to thank you all for your help, guidance!
My flat refurbishment is finished!
Bathroom and shower room are done to good standard! Happy with it! Chosen 60x60 tiles on your advice here - so happy with it!

Now my worry is - its a rental flat in a very hardwater area . I have install all nice taps and basin etc!

Should I consider water softener? There is big storage space on top of flat ( as we remove the water tank). It could easily go there.

I have not idea about which one to choose, which is easy to maintain? easy to fill salt ?

I live in the same block and I will consider getting one myself too! Fed up of cleaning limescale! Any guidance will be appreciated

THANKS again!

You'll have to carry sacks of salt (or blocks, which are much more expensive) to the softener. So put it downstairs, near an entry door. Near the indoor stopcock is a good place.

I used to get 25kg bags, but 10kg bags are easier to carry, lift and tip.

I use about 120kg per year. Have it delivered. Never carry it in your car as the smallest spill will eat a hole through steel.