www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Hey there people,
yep i am another one of those DIYers that thinks they can build a house

so... a little about me, am now just about to turn 40, so yep, i have reached the age where i am going to be 39 for many more years to come. I was dragged up on building sites by the old man, so feel confident with what i know and can do. i decised not to follow him but have retained as much info and skill as possible.

now, i am just about to start a lovely project for my girlfriend, new bathroom suite and tilling. i will be posting pic's as i go along and keep everyone amused as i do so. I am posting this now just to give you guys pre warning that i am going to need you all to hold my hand through this process if you dont mind, but no man hugs ok!!

A BIG HUGE thank you in-advance.

So... this little bathroom. there isn't much that i can tell you without you all seeing some pics first, but from what i can tell, its got all brick walls that have been plastered, the toilet waste is possibly an old cast iron one, and the stench pipe is in a really stupid place that is boxed in with plasterboard.

The room has got tiles half way up the walls apart from the bath wall, that is fully tiled. The floor, which is also going to be tiled is floor boards, previous owners have moved the radiator but in the process put some new floorboards down which are not flush with the old ones. so am thinking of lifting them all and putting down a 6mm cement based board with extra knoggings for support.

not sure if i am aloud to start placing links inmy posts as i am new, so i will leave that be for the moment,

Most tools are going to be brought as and when i need them for the job. Neither of us has alot of money so budget is a key unfortunately, but we have the time to try and doing things properly.

Nikki (the girlfriend) has already gone and chosen her tiles,

the floor is 457x457x12mm granite
all walls will be 750x250x8mm ceramic laid horizontally.
the front of the boxing in for the stench pipe is going to have mosaic tiles, cant remember the size off hand.

so to get you all started, i am looking out for a wet cutter as i have used these before and am more confident with them. budget is £50-£70, yes i know you get what you pay for.

any other info you might want to know before i get some pics done and posted, please just ask.

thanks for reading and i hope to get to know you all in the up and coming weeks

The Erbauer one from screwfix has served me ok, 750w induction motor makes it nice and quiet too.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-erb33 ... 230v/34771

Thanks Bill, i have seen that in screwfix, but not sure if i can get that amount of cash out of the girlfriend.
i am still looking around, but had my eye on this one at tool station, not look at any reviews yet
QEP PowerMax Wet Tile Cutter 560W

Angle grinder and diamond blade

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kingnewport wrote:Angle grinder and diamond blade

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I have thought about it, but not 100% sure i can do the long cuts that very well, they are big old tiles lol

cheers for your input, i need a coffee, i managed to get to the 10th page on the tiling forum.

Or hire a large push tile cutter

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CHeers for the added reply.

Am going to my GF house tomorrow so i will make sure to take lots of pics for you all to look at.

If i can save her some money in places i might be able to convince her to get me the tile cutter in the top post. fingers crossed.

as i stated already, the walls all seem to be brick with a layer of finish, there is also paint in places that i know will have to come off.

Space is a real issue as the old bath has already been chased into the wall at one end. so am thinking that tanking is going to be best.

Now i have looked at the Bal website and they say i can use there product on plastered walls, i know i have to be careful of my weights, which is something i am going to work out tomorrow, unless i can get her to do it tonight.

would it be best for me to try and remove the finish? think i'd prefer to scrape paint than take that job on, but if needs must.

The wall opposite the bath that has nothing on it, is really pissed. this is the only wall we have removed the tiles from so far. knowing what the rest of the house is like, with cowboy work all over the place, i am sure this isn't going to be the last problem i come up against. still undecided on how i am going to deal with this, really dont want to get it skimmed.

When she went to look at tiles, the guy in giant tiles told her that we can fix there cement board down straight onto the joists so that the floor level doesn't change. when she told me this i was shocked as i thought even though the joists are 400 apart there would be to much flex, plus i didn't think they would be structurally sound by bracing it over the joist.

thoughts on this please?

cheapest place to get Bal complete kit?
will i need 2 as its a shower over a bath?
she has 2 young kids so water gets everywhere.

also have read in places that the dunlop version is made by Bal, can anyone confirm this please?

Mate, with tiles that size you are going to need to put some work into straightening out those wonky walls, particularly if you're laying them brickbond, or they'll be lipping all over the place. Have you got enough room to dot and dab some moisture boards?

All The Gear wrote:Mate, with tiles that size you are going to need to put some work into straightening out those wonky walls, particularly if you're laying them brickbond, or they'll be lipping all over the place. Have you got enough room to dot and dab some moisture boards?

not got room to dot and dab, there is only a gap of about 4mm at the bottom before the door frame. i will know more tomorrow as will be taking a spirit level and tape measure with me. there is no other room on the other walls.

am thinking i might have to use a fast setting render on the top of the bad wall, i know this means going back to the brick, but its a must. not laying the tiles brick style, she wants nice straight grout lines, with out them lipping everywhere, lol

this house should have been on one of those telly programs, trust me!!

Bathroom pics, i tried to flow the pics going left around the room, tiny space so bit hard to do. the first pic is one taken later on when i had removed the boxing from around the old pipe

SO.... i'd like your opinion on this problem. the pics below show just how pissed the wall is and how close it is to the edge of the door frame at the top. My previous post was wrong as its the top that is to far out, not the bottom. anyway, after some thought i think its best that i kango the render of the top half of the room, and then put a small skim back on to smooth it out, at the same time building out the bottom of the room a little to bring the wall level again.

I'd also like to know how far back should i go with this other wall. i know i have to remove the white grout. There is a grey skim under this that seems to be very sound, i am guessing its an old style plaster. under that is another layer, then its the render.

If your going to hack of most of the render just do the whole wall and plaster board it .

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kingnewport wrote:If your going to hack of most of the render just do the whole wall and plaster board it .

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to have the space for plaster board i'd need to take more depth the face of the concrete blocks. plus i dont know if its the block work that is pissed or the render. am hoping its the render.

thanks for posting and showing interest mate

I know who u mean. It's a git trying to plumb old walls when you've not got the room to do it

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