Tiling a bathroom

I'm about to retile the bathroom. I'm planning on stripping the existing tiles out and simply retiling over the surface underneath them (which on three sides should be concrete or brick, coated with plaster and old tile adhesive, and on the other side will be plasterboard). I would normally have considered tiling over the existing tiles, at least on the plasterboard surface, to avoid having to make good anywhere, but there are one or two decent sized running cracks in the existing tiles. Does this sound sensible?

One other question - if I fix the new tiles into place, I'm meant to allow 24-72 hours for the adhesive to dry before grouting. The problem is, what do you do in the meantime?? I can't just avoid showing for a couple of days, as I need to be clean, but equally I can't shower in a bathroom with ungrouted tiles everywhere, as it'll just dampen the adhesive again and make the tiles come off the wall. Any suggestions?

I would agree that taking the old tiles off is always the best option as you don't know how well the are fixed on, also I think you will find that the adhesive will require much longer to dry on the water proof surface of the old tiles, this will make it probably days before you should consider grouting.

Tile on the moisture absorbent plaster or plaster board, this will be dry enough to grout in a day, so having completed the tiles, treat yourself to a swim at the local sports centre where you can have a shower!

Shower at your local gym-or your mums

When I started my bathroom I just told my friends I was compiling the Michelin guide to showers in Hertfordshire. Don't think they believed me but they didn't mind me using their bathrooms in the meantime.

Now I am at a stage where I have everything in except tiles and the shower. So, I am having to bathe instead. It isn't so great as having a shower I agree, and it does take a little longer. But, any port in a storm.

i ripped my old tiles off when idid my bathroom and where there was really old crumbling plaster it came off with the tiles leaving a big crater but i was luck that it was only 1 wall which was poor and the old tiles were only 2 up. had to replaster/skim the bad wall before i could tile.

When I did mine I just taped up some plastic sheeting (assuming the shower / bath tray is still intact!). this worked fine

I ripped my tiles off and made good where the plaster came off, going over the old tiled wall with a skim of plaster.