DIY ensuite bathroom replacement - build log

This evening I

- Cut the shower waste hole in the ply
- Wiped old and new flux off the copper pipes
- Lagged the pipes (or most of them - I ran out so back to Screwfix tmrw...again)
- Tried out some tile samples
- Pressure tested the Grohe valve

ldyar7jh.jpeg


Jch5Qn9h.jpeg


0UvvmgNh.jpeg
 
-Ad- said:
Looking good. Tike Mountain sample?
Click to expand...
Yes indeed. As you may be able to tell, our tastes are not very exciting! Have found previously with "designer" statements that you can go off them, so we're playing it safe for longevity.

Seems a good place though prices wise, although 3 out of 4 of the samples were chipped, which doesn't bode well for the full order.
 
Participant said:
Finished the water supply and heating pipes first fix today. Just the shower drain to be done now, in terms of under the floor plumbing.

I've found my first mistake (that I'm aware of lol). I test fitted the shower head today to check it was high enough and realised that the LED light over the shower is positioned directly over where the shower head will be, casting an annoying shadow.

Not sure what to do but I'm currently minded to move it laterally and add another downlight (which requires buying another pack of 6!).

cYxNtAoh.jpeg


New pipes plumbed for towel rad and pipes all clipped and protected with plates when running across top of joists.

rSGHNE3h.jpeg


Need to get some pipe insulation (dirt cheap) tomorrow and will also put down loft-style insulation in the void.

Ready to trial fit the shower tray (on the 18mm structural ply) to get the waste positioned correctly:

QC8dj3Wh.jpeg
Click to expand...

Not sure if too late..

Blank off that one and add an extractor that has a built in light, which is what I did and it works fine in a similar position to where yours is located.

Linky
 
Last edited:
Today has been pretty productive, albeit a little slow as ever as I procrastinate far too much to try and avoid any mistakes.

- Plumbed shower trap and valve
- Test fitted and leak / pressure tested shower trap, tray, and valve
- Insulated remaining pipes and floor
- Glued (with mega-strength PU adhesive) and screwed half the ply down - no going back now if there are any leaks under that section! Or at least it would be a giant PITA.
- Burnt my hand when a gob of solder was spat out of one of the fittings. Was lucky it didn't hit me in the eye...safety glasses for soldering from now on.

Shower valve plumbing:

Oo9Cbn6h.jpeg


Floor insulation:

7MPrry4h.jpeg


Checking what I need the depth of the tray mortar bed to be for a flush fit once UFH and SLC is installed:

u3x13Fbh.jpeg


Shower waste trap (McAlpine 40mm) installed:

GjpTmQSh.jpeg


Half the floor now fixed definitively!

xsp9cVzh.jpeg


P.S. one of the studs was bowing out significantly so I started planing it with my hand planer, then realised it was going to take all day and went to ScrewFix and got their £40 Titan electric planer. Absolutely fantastic!

aVdub said:
Not sure if too late..

Blank off that one and add an extractor that has a built in light, which is what I did and it works fine in a similar position to where yours is located.

Linky
Click to expand...
Appreciate the idea; I've already fitted a Manrose MF100T inline fan before I even started the rip out, which has really good extraction rates and is very quiet, so if it's an issue once everything is fitted, it'll have to be another solution.
 
Last edited:
Participant said:
Yes indeed. As you may be able to tell, our tastes are not very exciting! Have found previously with "designer" statements that you can go off them, so we're playing it safe for longevity.

Seems a good place though prices wise, although 3 out of 4 of the samples were chipped, which doesn't bode well for the full order.
Click to expand...

Agreed, tile mountain offer a great selection at fantastic prices. I've found the same tile before with them that the local tile stores were selling at twice the price.

If you haven't already heard, I'd look at classic seal tape for sealing the sides of your shower tray against the backer boards on the wall. Skills builder did a video on it.

I'm going to be using that after doing a full waterproofing coating on the tile backer boards joins and corner in the shower area. Proper belt and braces.
 
-Ad- said:
Agreed, tile mountain offer a great selection at fantastic prices. I've found the same tile before with them that the local tile stores were selling at twice the price.

If you haven't already heard, I'd look at classic seal tape for sealing the sides of your shower tray against the backer boards on the wall. Skills builder did a video on it.

I'm going to be using that after doing a full waterproofing coating on the tile backer boards joins and corner in the shower area. Proper belt and braces.
Click to expand...
Ha yes I think I've watched all of Roger Bisby's relating to bathrooms. They're very good.

I got an Abacus No More Leaks shower sealing kit from Rubber Duck. I preferred it to the classiseal because from what I can tell, it forms an upstand rather than going behind the tray, which I thought sounded better.

Also got a full tanking kit with tape etc. from Nassboard.
 
Last edited:
All I managed today was to create some bog-roll storage boxes next to the john.

R2J6L8Lh.jpeg


Not sure why I'm so slow with everything. Don't know where the time goes as it doesn't feel like I'm farting about much when I'm doing it.
 
Just realised that bottom shelf won't work at its current size and position, because the floor build up will leave a tiny wall-tile cut at the bottom. Doh.

Need to either adjust both boxes to make them even, or build up the lower shelf and accept that they'll be different heights. Another classic example of 'a pro would have spotted that'!
 
Last edited:
Participant said:
Just realised that bottom shelf won't work at its current size and position, because the floor build up will leave a tiny wall-tile cut at the bottom. Doh.

Need to either adjust both boxes to make them even, or build up the lower shelf and accept that they'll be different heights. Another classic example of 'a pro would have spotted that'!
Click to expand...
I saw it I just didn't want to tell you*

(*also not a pro and didn't spot it)
 
dlockers said:
I saw it I just didn't want to tell you*

(*also not a pro and didn't spot it)
Click to expand...
Not like you to spot any dimensional non conformoties with a niche though? :D


Now you raise it it makes sense. You could just pack a few boards back over to raise the existing one? I actually have some odd off cuts in Stratford I'm getting rid of if required.
 
Probably too late, but for the light above the shower head, presuming your other opening to the right in the photo is your extraction point, I'd combine the two and get a lit extraction cover:

Along the lines of this, but you get a wide range, depending on the aesthetic (some are more closed in/vent looking) and airflow you want..

iazplULt.jpg


It's perfect for us, really looks neat and combines the two in one, plus ones with standard bulbs allows you to get the colour temp/brightness you want..
 
Last edited:
Buffman said:
Not like you to spot any dimensional non conformoties with a niche though? :D


Now you raise it it makes sense. You could just pack a few boards back over to raise the existing one? I actually have some odd off cuts in Stratford I'm getting rid of if required.
Click to expand...

Very kind of you, I'm not in the UK for a couple of weeks but if you still have them when I get back, I might take them off your hands.

Demon said:
Probably too late, but for the light above the shower head, presuming your other opening to the right in the photo is your extraction point, I'd combine the two and get a lit extraction cover:

Along the lines of this, but you get a wide range, depending on the aesthetic (some are more closed in/vent looking) and airflow you want..

iazplULt.jpg


It's perfect for us, really looks neat and combines the two in one, plus ones with standard bulbs allows you to get the colour temp/brightness you want..
Click to expand...
I didn't realise you could get those, I thought they all came as part of a ceiling extractor fan. Will look into that thanks. Think someone previously suggested something similar above and it went over my head, if they meant the same thing.
 
also, are you tiling across the top of the boxed section into the window ledge (I have that) - are those levels good so you don't impinge on window after any backing boards are layed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom