Bathroom renovation in old home with no toilet

Correction: Please read "Open toilet 950 width" as Bathroom. Thanks

Hi @Justlucky2k2,

Welcome to Workshop. We're pleased to have you join the community and look forward to seeing how your bathroom renovation project progresses. Our community members love a good reno project so I'm sure you'll receive plenty of helpful advice.

Good job with sharing the floor plans. You might also like to take a couple of photos so members can see what you are working with. Could you also clarify if "Open toilet 950 width" actually meant "Open shower 950 width"?

Thanks again for joining in the discussion on Workshop and please let me know if you ever need help getting the most from the site, or have any feedback about how we can improve Workshop for you.

All the best,

Jason

Thanks Jason,

Yes it was a typo, I meant that open bathroom width as 950mm. I will share the pictures as the project make some progress.

No worries @Justlucky2k2. But that area is where you have proposed the shower goes?

I'd recommend you share some photos now as it will really help members to visualise the space that you are working with and make more informed suggestions.

Thanks again,

Jason

Thanks, I have added some photos

Fantastic, thanks @Justlucky2k2.

Let me tag @redracer01 as he might like to kick of the discussion for you.

Jason

I suggest tiles that look like timber. Where the walls are white I suggest white tiles 600 x 300 high gloss with minimum gaps with super white grout. The towel rail and shelves can be adjusted so that the swing of the door is avoided upon opening and closing. But I suggest maximize the length if possible. Highlight tiles on top of the toilet is optional it is a personal choice. There is not enough room for a 750 vanity, unless you want your shoulders hitting the vanity every time you sit on the dunny. I suggest 600 but not smaller. A nice bright LED light to replace the light in the bathroom and one above the mirror which I forgot to draw in. Above all a 3 in 1 heat, light and fan combo to remove all the moisture.

I strongly suggest a plinth at the entrance of your walk in shower. It does not have to be that high. It can be just 50mm high by 50mm thick, running the full length of your shower. It is to prevent excess water from traveling out of the shower area. It is an old fashioned idea, but cannot be faulted for its effectiveness and usefulness. Just mind the step. It also helps to keep the bottom of your shower glass panel from being constantly wet and slows down mold growth on the glass. Tiles are easier to clean.

Enjoy the drawings and drop me a line if you have any questions.

That window must be thorougly sealed with bondo to prevent water damage. Oil based paint is highly recommended just for this particular window.Layout is based on 2300 x 1600 all apliances are measured to actual live products. These are common sizes but not absolute, please refer to manufacturers specs upon purchase.Shampoo, soap and all the lotions and potions that may need space.I missed drawing the light for the mirror, I also missed the indented shampoo cavity inside the shower. don't forget it when you have it tiled or you will reaching for the shampoo on the floor!Here is a nice chalk render makes it easy on the eyes and is not so harsh.

Great use of limited space @redracer01. Well done!

What do you think @Justlucky2k2?

Jason

@redracer01 Thank you so much, this is indeed a great design. I will start working on the same and keep posting the progress with pictures. We will install the tiles of bit different colors as we saw a friend's bathroom and wife liked the patterns.

I have taken your suggestion and decided to install 600mm vanity. I have 1 question, instead of plinth, can we keep the tiling of shower area down by 20mm from rest of the floor. This will help to keep the water inside and from outside of the bathroom, it would look good aesthetically.

If the area is suitable then yes having the actual wet area lower would be a much more streamlined look. Plus it will be so much more pleasing to the eye! Goodluck on your renovation!

KathF

Hi, Budding Reno Just Lucky, looks like my old bathroom. For what its worth see my suggested design. Good luck with all your renovations and hope it all works well for you,

cheers, KathF

Wow @KathF, what a fantastic first post! I'm sure @Justlucky2k2 really appreciates your input. Thanks so much for sharing your experience. We are looking forward to reading more of your posts soon as it seems like you have a lot of value to offer other community members. We trust in return you'll get loads of helpful advice, information and inspiration for your projects. Our members are sharing amazing stuff every day.

Please let me know if you ever need a hand getting the most from the site or have any feedback about how we can improve Workshop for you.

Thanks again,

Jason

Thanks guy, it was indeed helpful. I have started demotion work as you can see in recent uploaded pictures

I have take out the the and ripped the wall where the new plumbing will be.

I have some concerns, now that the tub is out there is a screen which is not at the same level as the other floor tiles. should i use auto leveler first and then apply membrane or I should apply membrane first and then use auto level screed. suggestions welcome.

I am thinking to use tile over tile as the existing tiles are very strong and stable. I will use tile over primer from bunnings. Regarding membrane over this. What is best way to apply. use primer first, then membrane?

the tile i cut on the wall for installation of plumbing are approx 9mm including previous villaboard and the gyprock aquachek drywall is 10mm. will it make any different or i can cover this 1mm gap by applying extra adhesive while tiling?

I tried sanding the tiles but i dont know if its worth the efforts as area is big and i dont see much plain surface on the tiles after sanding.

Mathy

Hi @Justlucky2k2 - coincidentally I’m in the process of starting exactly the same idea - remove bath and put shower in that space.

Before you go any further, you may wish to consult a plumber. I discovered via my plumber that a shower needs a larger drain than what is generally provided for a bath. I was kind of annoyed, because I didn’t want to pull up the screed in the floor of my bathroom, I was just going to remove the tiles and redo them. However, it is what it is. We’re going to replace the bath drain with the correct size and connect via the “right sized” existing floor trap in the bathroom. When you speak with a plumber, they can inform you about how to get your shower floor at the correct height, and what order screed and membrane should go in.

Regarding tiling over tiles - I was also going to do this until I looked at the issues of dealing with door architraves and the ceiling cornice. Making the tiles thicker (existing tiles plus tile adhesive and new tile) means that you pretty much need to remove architraves and ceiling cornice. I decided that I might as well remove the old wall tiles hope this is helpful, cheers Deb 🙂

Mathy

Sorry @Justlucky2k2 - just read your comment about the 1mm difference. It reads like your gyprock aquacheck is 1mm thicker than the previous arrangement. You should be able to manage this with tile adhesive by using a slightly smaller notch adhesive spreader. If it’s the reverse, then yes you can increase by 1mm when applying the tiles 🙂

Thanks Deb,

Fortunately I already planned to use bigger drain pipe than bath.Regarding the rescreeding your floor after making bigger space for drain channel. Will you use self leveling mix. Is there any recommendations that how long we need to wait for it to dry. or there are solutions available which we can tile after waiting few hours or a day? Another question how the waterproofing will be done, before the screeding is done or after that. Thanks

Let me also tag @redracer01 and @ProjectPete who might like to share their renovation experience with you before you proceed @Justlucky2k2.

Jason

Using self levelling compounds should be ideal to make up for the 1 mm difference and make everything nice and flat. Just a reminder to put in your fall while tilling to the waste. Depending on current weather conditions and location of bathroom and amount of air and sunlight it gets most levelling compounds say 24 hours. Please read product recommendations at the back of the bag. Once it is totally dry then you can begin water proofing.

@redracer01 Thanks for all the help, I tried to find Bondo for window seal as you suggested , however I could not find it in bunning. Is there any other specific name for this one?

This the product I meant. Use it all over your window and make sure it goes in the timber pores and all the cracks and break.

Hi All, Thanks for your help and suggestion. Finally I have finished the renovation. I did all the job myself except plumbing installation and electrical wire movement. Final pics attached

Wow, congratulations and very well done @Justlucky2k2. You must be thrilled with the final result.

I'm sure all your hard work will also inspire many Workshop members and visitors. Thanks for sharing the final pictures.

We are looking forward to seeing what you tackle next!

Jason

netta1990

Hi just wondering what design tool you used for these pictures. Thanx.