🖼️
The project:
My bathroom was due for a much-needed refresh after ongoing water leaks in the shower caused concerns about long-term damage. With the bathroom also looking dated, I took the opportunity to create a fresh, modern space that’s simple, functional, and built to last. The renovation focused on clean lines, timeless finishes, and improving both the look and practicality of one of the most-used rooms in our home.
- Materials:
Bunnings is a great one stop shop, where everything was available under one roof.
- Tools:
Some of the tools used on this project include:
- Step 1:
DEMO DAY!
The first step was stripping the bathroom back to its bare bones. I removed everything back to the timber studs, jack hammered the floor tiles down to the concrete slab, and removed the existing gyprock ceiling and cornice. Starting from a clean foundation allowed me to rebuild the space properly and create a fresh, modern bathroom from the ground up.
Underneath the Shower tiles. Is that black mould? YUCK
The water damage from the leaking shower. Timber completely rotten
- Step 2:
Planning the layout
After the bathroom was stripped back to its bare bones, the next step was planning the new layout. With the design changing, I needed to carefully map out where the new fixtures would sit and determine the new drainage locations. This ensured everything was positioned correctly before the rebuilding process began.
Waste relocation for the shower and bathroom floor.
New shower drain relocated by a Plumber. This shower will have a 1000mm strip drain across the back wall.
Running the waste for the basin up the wall for the wall hung vanity and moved the floor waste underneath the vanity which is a 1200mm long strip drain.
All points installed by a plumber, dowels drilled into existing slab with mesh tied in for strength.
All concreted in!
- Step 3:
Framing Repairs / Inbuilt Niche
With the new layout planned, the next step was preparing the structure for the new bathroom design. This involved framing in the shower niche, repairing damaged timber from previous water issues, and ensuring the existing framework was sound and ready for the next stages of the renovation.
Shower Niche framed in with blocking to prevent any movement.
Wall Repairs completed where existing water damaged timber was rotting away.
- Step 4:
Rough in of fixture points
With the framework repaired and the new layout established, the next step was working out where the fixtures need to go for the plumber to rough-in. This involved positioning the new shower mixer and fixture points to suit the updated design, ensuring everything was correctly located before the walls were closed in and waterproofing could begin.
Working out the height of the Hand held microphone shower head.
- Step 5:
Level and Gyprock the ceiling.
The next step was preparing the ceiling for a fresh finish. I installed the Rondo Key-Lock ceiling system to level out the existing structure, creating a level ceiling as this bathroom was going to be square set. This provided a clean foundation and ensured the finished bathroom would have a professional look.
Leveling the ceiling
Ceiling installed with 13mm Aquachek but had an oops moment. Don't worry, the painter will fix it.
Ceiling has been sheeted!
- Step 6:
PVC Corner Edging
The next step was installing PVC corner edging throughout the bathroom, including the wall junctions and internal corners. This provided additional protection in-case their was any water leaks.
The pvc corner angle was installed around the perimeter of the bathroom, bondcreted to the concrete and up the internal corners where the shower is. This PVC corner angle sits behind the 6mm Villaboard
- Step 7:
Insulation and Sheet the walls
The next step was insulating the walls before closing them in. Once the insulation was installed, the walls were sheeted with 6mm Villa board to create a solid, moisture-resistant surface ready for waterproofing and tiling.
I like to call it "Spicy Fairyfloss"
All sheeted, Ready for Tiling!
- Step 8:
Waterproofing and Screed
With the walls sheeted, the next step was waterproofing the wet areas to protect the bathroom from future moisture issues. Once the waterproofing was complete, the bathroom floor was screeded to create the correct fall towards the drain.
Certified waterproofer completing the waterproofing. Yes a water stop was installed!
Screed Completed!
- Step 9:
The homestretch. Tiling and Fit-off
The final stage was bringing everything together with tiling and the fit-off. The tiles were installed, grout completed, and the new fixtures, tap ware, shower fittings, shower screen and accessories were fitted to finish off the bathroom transformation.
