Home DIY

Bath panels. Ideally I make a wooden frame in 2x2 that fits under the edge of the bath leaving 10mm overhang then use 8mm moisture resistant mdf, flat or t&g screwed on with plastic caps before painting and sealed with mastic. If you ever need to access under the bath you can cut the mastic, unscrew the board and voila. Can also be used to store spare floor/wall tiles. This doesn't suit everyones taste but it's practical.

I see lots of baths completely sealed in, sometimes mirrors, mostly glued. Most of the time it's easier to get access through the ceiling below if that's at all possible.

When fitting baths don't forget to put (or have your tradesman put) a batten on the wall for the edge of the bath to rest on. Surprising the number of people who can't be bothered to do this these days.

Semi guilty!
Scaffold bolds sound bold! Ply top? Could be a good combo, that and side of bath and a shelf somewhere?

So much knowledge. Never gets old. Don't ever stop.

I've painted one set of mine. You may find that if you use water-based acrylic then it goes on fine without priming. I use Leyland satin at about £25 per 2.5L. Getting paint of the rubbers is a pain in the cock if you don't mask well enough.

I use Zinnser primer over calking, and even then it can still lead to paint reactions depending on what you use. Emulsion doesn't sit on it well as it isn't porous (so lots of coats!).

You can sometimes cut back UPVC using abrasive polish. I've used Brasso successfully in the past. Must be de-greased after using brasso.

When fitting baths don't forget to put (or have your tradesman put) a batten on the wall for the edge of the bath to rest on. Surprising the number of people who can't be bothered to do this these days.

My bath is 2mx0.8m, cast iron from the 1930's, it took four of us to lift it, I can stand on one end without the other moving in any way, I didn't fit a batten on the wall for the edge to rest on, should I have done?

I wanted to paint the insides yellow - so had planned to wash with sugar soap, prime then paint. There might be a better way to do this then?

Shelf is scaff boards top is sheet metal - I'd considered getting a shelf built into the side of the bath to store things on but not sure if it would look good or stupid. Plus would be an excuse for the missus to buy more Aesop stuff

NEVER A WISE MOVE.
I hate that stuff.
But thats another thread altogether...
Totally remember you posting pics actually (not sure if final or ref) but looked mint.
Yeah, I thought of a sunk in shelf area in the side of my bath, could be nice, good for filling with candles and Aesop bottles for pintrest photos and instaboast, prob not very practical for real world usage.
If I get this big contract I'm chasing I'll finally have enough spare cash for my bathroom refit... it's been a struggle to save so far.

You'll find out if the floorboards can take the weight but it's probably a more sturdy stand than the modern bath supports. Ideally the supports should be on an extra layer of 18mm ply to help distribute the weight.

The process often goes, bath drops, mastic splits, water runs down wall, soaks the floorboards, bath drops some more, new mastic applied, rinse and repeat. It's worth bearing in mind that no-one gets me round to look at their perfect bathroom. I see a lot of problem bathrooms!

If you put in a batten you can use something like CT1 to stick the bath in and then add a mastic to match the grout on top of that, when that mastic has had it's day you just cut that out and re-mastic leaving the silicon untouched. You would have to leave the mastic a long way past rotten to kill the silicon underneath so you don't get leaks on the wall under the bath. Most of this is only an issue with showers over baths, which everyone seems to have these days.

When you're plumbing any screw up fixings (traps/compression fittings) that will be hidden away try using LSX on the joints. It's very good at handling weeping joints in new plumbing. If it's out of the way under a bath I really rate plastic pipe and fittings, they're more expensive but the time saved by the flexibility and simplicity is well worth it.

Concrete floor, bath sits on its own height adjustable metal feet, I did use a plastic waste and left an access hatch to both it and the shut off valves I fitted to the hot and cold water. Any joint that I didn't want to leave immediate access to is soldered.

True - the batteries go first and the body if used domestically could last 4evah.

Might be worth the hassle of ebaying them if somebody is prepared to collect.

Hi Neil - are you still in that green and white exterior 'deco' block in Forest Hill ?

The carpenter just finished our understair area, alcove shelving and fire surround - super pleased. We wanted clean lines to tidy things up and make things practical. @JT - Aroogah mentioned you were looking for someone in SE London?

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thanks pal! looks very tidy, do they have a website/portfolio?

Did you get the links that Aroogah mailed you? Same guy.

Paint two samples: Zinnser Gardz plus paint, and one just straight paint. See what works best (unless you are really short on time). I think I used either a normal fluffy mini roller or a sponge mini roller on mine. As long as it sticks and looks smooth without crazing, you'll be good.

Does anyone know where in London I can get hold of some zinc sheet? Want it for some interior wankery as opposed to roofing, but I guess that makes no difference. Internets not being much help.

Mainly white now - chap with a ladder and a pot of paint has been present over the last few weekends.

Wow!
Is that the same place I've been to? Looks completely different.

Really great work.

@Tenderloin - are you a graphic designer or similar? You've impeccable taste and great knowledge of material application.

Kitchen was designed by me and made by a joinery firm I use through work for commercial projects. Matt Antrobus was three times the price and wanted me to do all the CAD drawings before he would give me a final quote...

@soul no, we bought and moved last November but it is just round the corner from the place you came to. Come see the new place :)

Oooo can I come to???

That'd be why it looks completely different :).

Really looks lovely.

Should definitely find the time to pop over and see!

whats the little square hole under the stairs?

nice sharp, clean lines

No, very un-design. I think this is the sort of stuff I suck at but thanks for the compliment, makes me feel a bit more re-assured at my choices.

This house is only likely to be our home for 2/3 years max and so the aim is to look nice but with relative budget components and then some nice bits here and there. I'd have loved your kitchen and in the next place I might seek you out for some help! ;)

Place next to us has a bunch of OSB/pine pallets which I'm thinking of turning into a headboard with a striplight hidden behind.

I also have 3 or 4 boxes of these tiles which I could do a good deal on