Ensuite renovation, first time for every single thing needing done

[TheLoraxxZeus]

Hello all!

I'm about to embark on a renovation of my ensuite bathroom and would like to share some pictures of my ensuite as it is and get some advice.

A little bit of backstory as to why I'm doing this. It basically comes down to a leak, there was a small leak from my showers wastepipe under the shower tray and because the area is tiled, I had to rip out the bottom tiles to remove the tray and replace the wastepipe seal. While removing the tiles, a few of them broke/chipped and to no ones surprise the tiles are discontinued. So rather than patching it with a tile that is as close as possible, why not just rip it all out and start fresh?

Here is the space I'm working with:

As you can see it's a fairly small, typical ensuite you would find in your house built in the past 20 years. We practically hate everything about this space. We have never liked the tiles, the lino floor, the shower enclosuer, the basin, the radiator...literally nothing about it.

So here is my plan:

1. Rip out the tiles
2. Remove lino floor
3. Remove toilet
4. Remove sink
5. Remove radiator
6. Seal off toilet waste pipe

So, empty room I guess. Then:

1. Tile all the walls, top to bottom
2. Tile the floor
3. Replace the shower with a simple "wet room" style shower, with only a glass pane going from right to left, like below, but build a small shelf along the wall so wife has somewhere to put her 50 variations of shampoo and conditioner

4. Fit a basic on cabinet style sink so we have some undersink storage
5. Replace the radiator with a nice heated towel rack
6. Fit a damn outlet for a toothbrush charger (why do we not like sockets in bathrooms here?!?!)

List is not exhaustive, but that's the general idea.

Now I've never tiled, I'm not a plumber, I've only done basic wiring in the home (adding outlets to garage, replacing socket faces etc etc) so this is going to be a bit of a wild ride. If anyone has any wisdom to share with me now would be the time lol.

I believe this will alter the houses value negatively, as an ensuite bathroom is more desirable than a shower room however we are here for at least another 10 years. I'm going to put the house in a way that we can enjoy, in 10 years time I'm not going to care if my house is worth 10-20k less. We have no kids, will not be having kids so I'm sure we will survive by taking a dump in the upstairs toilet or downstairs toilet.

 

[drives]

When you say wet room style shower, do you mean you just want a wet room?

There is a big difference between this and a tray/enclosure. I’d start off by researching what is involved in the former perhaps if you haven’t already, as it definitely isn’t simple. Personally Id be looking at tray options- plenty of seamless options but would give you a defined shower/wet area.

 

[nero44]

Not a plumber, but we had 2 bathrooms done in last two years. Thoughts that come to mind:

3. Replace the shower with a simple "wet room" style shower, with only a glass pane going from right to left, like below, but build a small shelf along the wall so wife has somewhere to put her 50 variations of shampoo and conditioner

We thought about such a "wet room" style shower area as well, but it is quite a bit more complex/costly than anticipated. You want to match the floor tiles, and they have to have the perfect fall for the water to run the right way. I would definitely pay someone to do this properly. Also, being too "open" we thought water will splash anywhere and therefore it increases the cleaning required of the entire bathroom. So we opted for more of a walk in shower, where there is a defined wet area with tray. We installed this, but for us it fit perfectly in the short end of the bathroom, so it kinda perfectly enclosed. I do like that it is one simple sheet of glass (we did not bother installing the small return panel) as it makes cleaning simple.

Second point on this, since you are redoing, I would definitely build a niche into the wall instead of a small shelf! Massive space saver and make sure to make it high enough. We had one build too low and some larger shampoo bottles won't fit (your wife will hate this!)

4. Fit a basic on cabinet style sink so we have some undersink storage

Definitely, this should be simple. We have done this ourselves.

6. Fit a damn outlet for a toothbrush charger (why do we not like sockets in bathrooms here?!?!)

Good idea. Make sure you are aware of zones and wiring regs.

 

[StephenStephen]

Speaking as an amateur who has installed a wetroom, something to consider when changing from an enclosure to a wetroom is whether the current connection from the shower outlet to the drain is low enough.

Otherwise it can involve finding a way to connect to the drain lower down, which can involve navigating the floor joists or opening the ceiling below...

 

[johnny2007]

wife has somewhere to put her 50 variations of shampoo and conditioner

If you ever get an answer about why there are so many products in the shower, please let me know...
My boss keeps telling me that men can't understand such things...

 

[drives]

I've done all of our 3 bathrooms so I wouldn't be put off DIYing any of it. There is a lot to it though so your 6 point to do list will be more like 20 or 30. Just consider everything you are putting in, so what materials you are using (so if you do go with tray, what type/material. If grout, what type of grout are you using. That sort of thing), how you are making everything water tight, potential access options for maintenance if needed. All of it is straighforward enough, albeit I've spent 5 to 6 months doing each of ours, in between a FT job. It's also been expensive, and I've spent between 5.5 and 7k just on materials for each one for mid range fixtures and fittings. That for is everything though, including boards, fixings, electrics etc.

 

[TheLoraxxZeus]

When you say wet room style shower, do you mean you just want a wet room?

There is a big difference between this and a tray/enclosure. I’d start off by researching what is involved in the former perhaps if you haven’t already, as it definitely isn’t simple. Personally Id be looking at tray options- plenty of seamless options but would give you a defined shower/wet area.

Yeah sorry I'm not sure what the terminology is. Wife has said she does not want a tray and it stems from her hatred of the current one which has nooks you can't clean in, I'm not sure if tray design in general is poor for access to cleaning or if it's just ours. So we would like only a bit of glass to reduce spray.

Not a plumber, but we had 2 bathrooms done in last two years. Thoughts that come to mind:


We thought about such a "wet room" style shower area as well, but it is quite a bit more complex/costly than anticipated. You want to match the floor tiles, and they have to have the perfect fall for the water to run the right way. I would definitely pay someone to do this properly. Also, being too "open" we thought water will splash anywhere and therefore it increases the cleaning required of the entire bathroom. So we opted for more of a walk in shower, where there is a defined wet area with tray. We installed this, but for us it fit perfectly in the short end of the bathroom, so it kinda perfectly enclosed. I do like that it is one simple sheet of glass (we did not bother installing the small return panel) as it makes cleaning simple.

Second point on this, since you are redoing, I would definitely build a niche into the wall instead of a small shelf! Massive space saver and make sure to make it high enough. We had one build too low and some larger shampoo bottles won't fit (your wife will hate this!)

Definitely, this should be simple. We have done this ourselves.

Good idea. Make sure you are aware of zones and wiring regs.

Thanks for sharing your experience. As said above my terminology is wrong, we would still have an enclosure but it would simply be a bit of glass, no tray. I wanted to build a niche, we have the space for it but it would offset the window from center by however deep the niche is, that was my main concern, might not sound like a problem but if I have to look at a window thats 15-20cm off center it will literally destroy me.

I'll be hiring a sparky to do the plugs, as we will need 1 for the heated towel radiator and toothbrush, toothbrush one is fine as I can tap into the wires on the opposite side where the lightswitch is but the tower radiator would require running cables that don't exist.

 

[TheLoraxxZeus]

I've done all of our 3 bathrooms so I wouldn't be put off DIYing any of it. There is a lot to it though so your 6 point to do list will be more like 20 or 30. Just consider everything you are putting in, so what materials you are using (so if you do go with tray, what type/material. If grout, what type of grout are you using. That sort of thing), how you are making everything water tight, potential access options for maintenance if needed. All of it is straighforward enough, albeit I've spent 5 to 6 months doing each of ours, in between a FT job. It's also been expensive, and I've spent between 5.5 and 7k just on materials for each one for mid range fixtures and fittings. That for is everything though, including boards, fixings, electrics etc.

Nice, good job!

Yeah my list is pretty barebones, more of an overview. Will make a proper checklist to ensure everything is accounted for.

The good news is (I guess?) is that I've been made redundant just 2 weeks ago, the ensuit has been like the above pictures for 5 months because I had been doing some contract work. So I am at this very odd and very rare place where time and money are both available haha.

 

[nero44]

I wanted to build a niche, we have the space for it but it would offset the window from center by however deep the niche is, that was my main concern, might not sound like a problem but if I have to look at a window thats 15-20cm off center it will literally destroy me.

Oh I see. So you'd not move the toilet, but fully remove it and have the shower go all along that side where on the left (presumably where you enter) the window in the way? Can you move the plumbing over to the right wall and have the niche along the "long" side? That's pretty much the setup we have (including the window in the way) and it does not look bad. Works well IMO.

FYI, I've also had the problem mentioned by Stephen. As our bathroom had a tub and we replaced it with a a walk in shower. So we had to reroute drain lower and cut a new hole (shower drains to exterior). But can be all resolved. Get at it!

 

[TheLoraxxZeus]

Oh I see. So you'd not move the toilet, but fully remove it and have the shower go all along that side where on the left (presumably where you enter) the window in the way? Can you move the plumbing over to the right wall and have the niche along the "long" side? That's pretty much the setup we have (including the window in the way) and it does not look bad. Works well IMO.

Yes exactly! We do not need the toilet and to be honest the flushing it at night wakes us up.

I would be looking to move the piping to the wall on the right.

FYI, I've also had the problem mentioned by Stephen. As our bathroom had a tub and we replaced it with a a walk in shower. So we had to reroute drain lower and cut a new hole (shower drains to exterior). But can be all resolved. Get at it!

Do you have a picture? So is your drain a bit lower so you can have a small angle on the tiles to encourage drainage? I can't envision how I would do that, perhaps I'm getting it wrong in my head.

 

[nero44]

The drainage itself is not the main issue. It's the run of the waste pipe underneath. With my old tub, the waste just ran over the floor as the tub was raised and all boxed in. Now with a floor level shower tray, the pipe actually had to go under the floorboards. And to keep a fall for natural flow, we had to drill a new hole through to the outside wall.

This is what it looks like now and we are very happy with it. Make sure to plan a nice looking tile layout with good center lines. As opposed to just starting with a full length tile on one side. All depends on your individual layout.

 

[TheLoraxxZeus]

The drainage itself is not the main issue. It's the run of the waste pipe underneath. With my old tub, the waste just ran over the floor as the tub was raised and all boxed in. Now with a floor level shower tray, the pipe actually had to go under the floorboards. And to keep a fall for natural flow, we had to drill a new hole through to the outside wall.

This is what it looks like now and we are very happy with it. Make sure to plan a nice looking tile layout with good center lines. As opposed to just starting with a full length tile on one side. All depends on your individual layout.
View attachment 390951

Ohhh that looks pretty darn close to what I had in my head! Luckily enough my drain is actually below the floorboards so I shouldn't have an issue there.

 

[drives]

Yeah sorry I'm not sure what the terminology is. Wife has said she does not want a tray and it stems from her hatred of the current one which has nooks you can't clean in, I'm not sure if tray design in general is poor for access to cleaning or if it's just ours. So we would like only a bit of glass to reduce spray.

Ok. I wouldn't completely discount tray options simply on this basis then.

As per above...nero's looks very nice. I installed a Bette tray in our last shower room. Ours is in a niche, but the style you want would be something along these lines:

https://www.bathroomsuppliesonline.com/betteultra-space-1400-x-800mm-rectangular-shower-tray-white/

Not cheap, and we had to go with Bette as they were the only make that did the size we specifically needed, but hopefully gives you an idea of what can be achieved with a tray at least. They do loads of different colours as well. I've installed a stone resin tray in our upstairs bathroom and having put the Bette in if I could do it all again I'd be looking at steel options first. No risk of cracking, quite easy to install (once subfloor is prepped). Seems to stay cleaner as well, and finished surface is just a bit nicer than our stone resin one.

 

[TheLoraxxZeus]

Right folks here we are after a month. Unfortuntely due to the lovely weather I've was putting my time into building a pergola/decking area for next spring/summer. I'm just revisiting this now and been working on a materials list/task list.

Firstly, we recently visited a friends house who just had their bathroom done and they have an infloor, completely flush and tiled "tray". Which basically makes the bathroom a wetroom with a glass panel to reduce spray. Wife loved it, so now that's what we are doing and I have not much say in the matter

I have some questions if one would be so kind to answer.

Boards behind tiles​

I'm getting mixed results from looking into this. I have half tiles all the way around, with full tiles in the shower. I suspect majority of the backing board (which is plasterboard) is going to get destroyed in the tile removal process. So with that in mind, I'm just going to rip it all off and replace anyway.

Should I buy boards like Aquapanels, or go with a moisture resistant plasterboard and tank it?

Existing piping​

We are completely removing the toilet. I was just going to shut off the water inlet at the pipe and cut the top of the pipe away then fold it under the floor. Should I be removing this further down and adding a more robust valve/cap off?

 

[Mottie]

to be honest the flushing it at night wakes us up.

We used to have that problem - it woke the kids up when it was gravity fed because the noise of the tank filling up in the loft was quite loud so we had a no-flush rule at night. We did away with the loft tank 10 years ago so the wc is mains fed, our kids are now 37 and 39 and have long left home but we still abide by the no-flush rule! Just habit I suppose.,