DIY Wet Rooms, anyone done one?
Discussion
After looking at this:
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Suites/Wet-Room/icat/suite... with this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8owGA9CNoDY
and
http://www.rubberduckbathrooms.co.uk/store/index.p... with this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlvQTXpc9ek
they look relatively easy to do, much to the OHs dismay... So has anyone done one of the above?
From the videos it gives me enough confidence to do it myself... and buy new power tools in the process...
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Suites/Wet-Room/icat/suite... with this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8owGA9CNoDY
and
http://www.rubberduckbathrooms.co.uk/store/index.p... with this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlvQTXpc9ek
they look relatively easy to do, much to the OHs dismay... So has anyone done one of the above?
From the videos it gives me enough confidence to do it myself... and buy new power tools in the process...
Haven't done one, but the principle is simple in a sense; easier than fitting a shower tray/enclosure which I have done.
Problem is I've just been to see a newly installed Disabled toilet and wet-room it really looks the part; proper tanking on the floor and tiled correctly. Except the Polish builders didn't seem to have a spirit level between them.
They've only gone and installed the under-tray slightly higher than the rest of the room.
Switch on the shower and the water flows towards the toilet pedestal a good 6 feet away hardly any water goes down the underfloor tray and what ever they glued the rubber tanking down with doesn't seem to be setting, when you step on it a latex goo squelches its way out of the edges.
Saying all that when fitted correctly, I think there brilliant.
Problem is I've just been to see a newly installed Disabled toilet and wet-room it really looks the part; proper tanking on the floor and tiled correctly. Except the Polish builders didn't seem to have a spirit level between them.
They've only gone and installed the under-tray slightly higher than the rest of the room.
Switch on the shower and the water flows towards the toilet pedestal a good 6 feet away hardly any water goes down the underfloor tray and what ever they glued the rubber tanking down with doesn't seem to be setting, when you step on it a latex goo squelches its way out of the edges.
Saying all that when fitted correctly, I think there brilliant.
k them upWe used this solution http://www.wetroom-solutions.co.uk/timber/wet/home... but professionally installed. No issues at all and yes, the Polish fellas who did mine had a spirit level
sleep envy said:
get a good tiler so you don't have to watch them
where is it, stokey?
Clapham.... Looking to do it in circa Jan/Feb, after the sash windows this month, just fed up of the current bathroom people that when you mention wetroom, they instantly suck in a deep breath and you can see the £ signs in their eyes....where is it, stokey?
Especially when all it is:
Buying a pre made deck (with incline to drain)
Buying a drain and locating it to the outside (the only bit I might need a plumber)
A load of marine plywood/blocks under it to strengthen the location of the decking area.
Tanking it and sealing the edges (floor and wall)
sealing the wall (not sure why if completely tiled anyway)
Placing a final layer of marine ply on the floor to make every thing flush with the decking
Decide if I want underfloor heating, insulation, etc.
Get sparky to fit new lights, sort out wiring for mirror and do the ventalation system.
Get tiler in to tile the area.
Fit glass wall for shower myself and then get a plumber in to plumb in toilet, sink and shower.
Yet that in the eyes of many people is somewhere north of £7k, £5k if I put a bath in, £2k more for the wet room??? The bits are circa £600-1k (tanking, decking, glass wall, etc) so its like £1k to do the tanking and everything which should be quarter a days job then 12 hours waiting around (3 coats of tanking stuff = 12 hours work and 3-4 hours drying time inbetween).
Hence Im scaring the OH with threathening to do it myself.
Ranger 6 said:
We used this solution http://www.wetroom-solutions.co.uk/timber/wet/home... but professionally installed. No issues at all and yes, the Polish fellas who did mine had a spirit level
If you dont mind me asking what are the prices of the kit? for it to be done?Dupont666 said:
Ranger 6 said:
We used this solution http://www.wetroom-solutions.co.uk/timber/wet/home... but professionally installed. No issues at all and yes, the Polish fellas who did mine had a spirit level
If you dont mind me asking what are the prices of the kit? for it to be done?We'd seen it at one of the 'Home building' shows or similar at the NEC and suggested it as a supplier to our builder who was complimentary about the quality of the stuuf and then used it for his own house as well.
you're not being realistic with timescales - you just don't tosh about waterproofing and bang a load of tiles down
break it down properly if you want to work out the extra over of a wet room
my best piece of advice would be to install the glass screen before you even think about laying the first tile
break it down properly if you want to work out the extra over of a wet room
my best piece of advice would be to install the glass screen before you even think about laying the first tile
Edited by sleep envy on Friday 20th November 10:20
sleep envy said:
you're not being realistic with timescales - you just don't tosh about waterproofing and bang a load of tiles down
break it down properly if you want to work out the extra over of a wet room
my best piece of advice would be to install the glass screen before you even think about laying the first tile
Thats not what the guides are tell me and Im going off the guides they have put on youtube and the DVDS they have for the time scales... so its not me doing anything more than quoting thembreak it down properly if you want to work out the extra over of a wet room
my best piece of advice would be to install the glass screen before you even think about laying the first tile
Edited by sleep envy on Friday 20th November 10:20
For me, personally, I wouldn't do it myself unless on a solid ground floor.
And that's from someone who has fitted bathrooms, showers, kitchens etc.
This week I are be mostly knocking a supporting wall out - so I'm not scared of getting out of my depth
I wouldn't do a first floor wetroom though, either diy or through getting a man in.
You mention sash windows too - if it's an older property with old joists there will be some movement in the flooring - if you're thinking of an upstairs wetroom it's (only from what I've read!) seriously tricky to get a long term watertight room. Even the pros struggle. Just the waterproofing detailing around a screw to hold the glass screen in place can cause problems.
If you can find a method that allows a bit of movement and still stays watertight, then go for it, but bear in mind you may end up with one more wetroom than was planned
And that's from someone who has fitted bathrooms, showers, kitchens etc.
This week I are be mostly knocking a supporting wall out - so I'm not scared of getting out of my depth
I wouldn't do a first floor wetroom though, either diy or through getting a man in.
You mention sash windows too - if it's an older property with old joists there will be some movement in the flooring - if you're thinking of an upstairs wetroom it's (only from what I've read!) seriously tricky to get a long term watertight room. Even the pros struggle. Just the waterproofing detailing around a screw to hold the glass screen in place can cause problems.
If you can find a method that allows a bit of movement and still stays watertight, then go for it, but bear in mind you may end up with one more wetroom than was planned
The wetroom idea is to replace the shower as I dont like the idea of the white shower trays, so only wanted to really do that section, but that can be seen in the 2 youtube vids I posted and they are both done on tiber floors, so not seeing ow much difference it will be with movement when I tiling everything anyway (floor to ceiling).
Main issue I have is the room is 1585mm wide and 2100mm long and a bath takes too much space length ways so would need to find a shower instead, but they are all 760mm and my space is 700mm (the rest is take via the door, so a wetroom area can be placed there and the glass is only drilled into the tile at a depth of 4mm and then attached to the wall so should be no wobble there and be 700-760mm (if I sort out the door frame).
Hence you can see why a wetroom is so desirable for me...
No I dont care about a bath and keeping the flat for a while yet so not bothered about resell
Main issue I have is the room is 1585mm wide and 2100mm long and a bath takes too much space length ways so would need to find a shower instead, but they are all 760mm and my space is 700mm (the rest is take via the door, so a wetroom area can be placed there and the glass is only drilled into the tile at a depth of 4mm and then attached to the wall so should be no wobble there and be 700-760mm (if I sort out the door frame).
Hence you can see why a wetroom is so desirable for me...
No I dont care about a bath and keeping the flat for a while yet so not bothered about resell
My best mate did it to his downstairs flat in Bristol. Basically he had a mid-sized bathroom but when filled with (standard-issue) bath, sink and toilet was not well laid out, or roomy, and a second bedroom that was too small. What he did was to knock down the (non-supporting) wall between second bedroom and bathroom, make the bathroom smaller but a wet room without a bath and the second bedroom larger. He also put in a false "normal" height ceiling - the flat is quite old and has those lovely high ceilings - and used the space above it as storage accessed from the second bedroom.
He did it all himself/with his Dad, as far as I know. It's a bloody good job IMO - I can always ask him if you have any specific questions. He did send me some photos, but I am not sure I still have them.
What I can remember of the photos is that he made up a heavy wood frame, in the now roughly square new room, split across the diagonals, which sloped into the middle point. Then (I think) marine ply flooring for each "quarter", then waterproofing, tiling and grout. He also put underfloor heating (electric i think) and a de-mist on the mirrors - everything gets rather steamy! I'd say you have to be careful with damp, so you need good extraction, but also try and position the toilet/sink well, in relation to the shower, otherwise the next user of the bathroom will end up sopping wet. Might be inconvenient...
He did it all himself/with his Dad, as far as I know. It's a bloody good job IMO - I can always ask him if you have any specific questions. He did send me some photos, but I am not sure I still have them.
What I can remember of the photos is that he made up a heavy wood frame, in the now roughly square new room, split across the diagonals, which sloped into the middle point. Then (I think) marine ply flooring for each "quarter", then waterproofing, tiling and grout. He also put underfloor heating (electric i think) and a de-mist on the mirrors - everything gets rather steamy! I'd say you have to be careful with damp, so you need good extraction, but also try and position the toilet/sink well, in relation to the shower, otherwise the next user of the bathroom will end up sopping wet. Might be inconvenient...
Edited by Buffalo on Friday 20th November 23:02
Only do it yourself with a wetroom if you are prepared to put a new ceiling in after it leaks!
I worked for a specialist manufactorer Eastbourne showers now part of pressalit installing these, they are not easy without the right tooling and knowledge.
If you are still hell bent on doing this get a good company in to lay a flooring called altro, it has welded seams and if fitted by a pro will give you seamless 4" skirts up the walls all round and it will last for years.
Stay well away from the preformed let it in the floor trays waste of money and effort.
If you are serious pm me and I will try to dig out a few contacts for you that will save you money by being able to buyright first time.
Either way you do it it will take you at least double the time you think it will even us in the know over run on these at times
I worked for a specialist manufactorer Eastbourne showers now part of pressalit installing these, they are not easy without the right tooling and knowledge.
If you are still hell bent on doing this get a good company in to lay a flooring called altro, it has welded seams and if fitted by a pro will give you seamless 4" skirts up the walls all round and it will last for years.
Stay well away from the preformed let it in the floor trays waste of money and effort.
If you are serious pm me and I will try to dig out a few contacts for you that will save you money by being able to buyright first time.
Either way you do it it will take you at least double the time you think it will even us in the know over run on these at times
Hmmm... I'm not sure how much of the problems above couldn't be applied to installing a new traditional shower just as much as a wetroom. The moment you have a bunch of junctions that have to be lined up, kept in place and sealed, there's room for trouble. Hide it all under tiles and the real problem only emerges after a few weeks of seeping.
At least that's what I'm telling myself as I consider putting in not one but two separate wetrooms. Remind me in six months' time how foolish I am.
More to the point - for all the experts who predict nothing but trouble - where do the problems occur and what can be done to avoid soggy ceilings?
At least that's what I'm telling myself as I consider putting in not one but two separate wetrooms. Remind me in six months' time how foolish I am.
More to the point - for all the experts who predict nothing but trouble - where do the problems occur and what can be done to avoid soggy ceilings?
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