umm... help?

[alikat]

hi - i'm ali - i have been doing search upon search all over the place regarding CHEAP bathroom reno solutions and i came across this site - having just spent 30mins checking it out - i think i've stumbled across the right place! :o

so, i just bought a place with a girlfriend, and the bathroom is rooted. the plumbing is fine - but we're broke and really need to step-by-step-how-to-guide-for-dummies on everything we need to do.

the bathroom is villaboard, except in the shower in which the owner builder used fibro underneath the tiles - that is being removed on he weekend - yuk.

i've looked at Hardiglaze, as it seems we can attach that straight to the frame (is that true? - does it not need lining?) for the rest of the room i'm thinking Aquatile over the existing villaboard... any thoughts?

so here are a few questions if anyone has time:
1. what waterproofing should we do behind the shower?
2. do we need to waterproof behind the Aquatile on the villaboard everywhere, or just in the splash areas?
3. what waterproofing do we need to do to the floor (we have left the old tiles there and are thinking maybe we should just use tilers cement over them and seal that?? i am aware we will need to change the height of the drainage if we do this... i think i'll leave that to the plumber...)
4. am i in over my head? (i think the answer to that might be yes, right now. anyone with another answer is quite welcome to put me straight!)

okay - if anyone has a to-do-list from go-to-woh on this subject, i'd REALLY appreciate a copy.

many thanks - first time poster, alikat

[ThePope]

Both products have tech manuals available, if you don't have them have a read as they should answer most of your questions.

http://www.jameshardie.co.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/techmanuals/pi_productid/24
http://www.gunnersens.com.au/products/aquatile.htm

"over your head"
if you're reasonable on the tools then you should get a good result, are plently of helpfull souls here to give advice so have a go :)

[Bushlander]

Time, Alikat, lots of time and patience is needed when renoing a bathroom. We are nearing the completion of ours and are so thankful it's nearly over. We've been working on it for two months, but only on the weekends. We've moved plumbing from one side of the room to the other, installed a new window, stripped the room right back to the studs and hung new tile underlay and plasterboard on the ceiling, then we just waterproofed the whole room (seeing as though it's only small) with a paint-on waterproofing agent and have just laid the floor tiles. One row of wall tiles is up and there's 6 more rows to go! I would have to say that the most important thing in the bathroom is taking the time to work out where your tiles are going to go. We spent the best part of last Sat in there drawing lines on the walls as to where the tiles were going to go and finally we got it right! I thought it was a waste of a day, but in the end it paid off for us as the layout is easy on the eyes and also lessens the cutting of the tiles. All I can say is, take your time and don't rush it.

[namtrak]

And how is the town on the $10 dollar note? I have a mate from Goolma.

Photos are handy, can you take any?

If (and thats a big if) the plumbing is fine (include drainage) then your not over your head.

[journeyman Mick]

Alikat,
it's not possible or advisable to do a cheap reno in a wet area. You can save some money, but cheap is not the way to go as any leaks will cost you lot$ of money in the future. It may be adviseable to leave the bathroom reno for a while so that you can:
do lots of research (do some searches on this site for bathroom renos and waterproof membranes)
build your skills on some non critical areas of renovation on th rest of your house.

Mick

[julianx]

I agree with mick you have started on the most difficult room in the house.
In my opinion there is only one way to do a bathroom and thats start from scratch. By that I mean rip all the tiles and sheeting off the walls ceiling and floor so you are right back to floor boards and framing then start fresh.Its the damage you can't see that can be the worst problem.
Before you start like mick said do your research most of the products you will be using have web sites
good luck

[Bin J]

Our bathroom in our house was 'rooted' too. The bottom cupboard of the old vanity was all kind of rotten and gross, the floor tile grout was FILTHY and it was a *itch to clean. We were going to do it up STRAIGHT away, as soon as we moved in, however, we realised that once we pulled out all the fittings and started again, we probably couldn't get away without spending about $5k - and even then it wouldn't be exactly what we wanted.

Do you have bigger plans for the house - ie, chances are, if the bathroom needs doing, then maybe other rooms need doing too? Does you bigger plan include wall removal / extensions etc?

We ended up riding it out for a few years (I didn't use that bottom cupboard - blah! :eek:, and we ended up painting the floor with tile paint) and now that we've saved up enough money, we are doing the renovation we want - with everything the way we want - not restricted by $$$$$.

So, ask yourself:
"Can I live with this bathroom, at least for a while" (if it's dangerous, then that's another matter).
"In a few years, once I've got a bit more money behind me, would I probably rip out the cheaper renovation anyway".

If NO to both, then go ahead with what you are talking about:D