Be careful if you have MDF skirtings and door architraves. Water/steam can penetrate type of timber moulding and cause swelling. Not so bad with KDHW or pine.

Thanks I_Build I'll try that.

I agree with I_Build, plastic membrane is quite acceptable if installed correctly. There is some great information at the following site http://www.timber.org.au/menu.asp?id=101 Good luck - keep us posted.

You are not in your Robinson Crusoe, although I live in Melbourne, I have just completed a two unit development in Narooma (purpose built for elderly living) simply so my mother (83) can have a better quality of life. Every five minutes the Local Authority seams to have it's hand out for something. ...

Can I suggest that as little as possible would be the best if your going to rent. Unless your renting at the top end of the market, tenants, oddly enough, generally use the bathroom to wash. Who cares if the tiles are $10 per metre or $100 per metre. Another thing to consider, with a tiled shower ba...

I'm not sure that terracotta is any more fragile than cement tiles, although often, terracotta tiles tend to get more fragile with age. Our house, built in 1962, has glazed terracotta and recently we installed leaf guard on the gutters (best thing we've ever done - well almost) and the installer bro...

Concrete tiles appear to have a life of between 40 years plus depending on the quality of the tiles. Not wishing to sound flippant, the choice could depend on the age of the owner??? I just looked at a block of units in Box Hill (Melbourne) where the roof tiles were exceptionally porous and the ceil...

I noticed with Matt's bathroom that the bath hob had not been waterproofed in accordance with the Building Code of Australia. A lot of builders are missing this area - splash water on the area around the bath and water will penetrate through tot he supporting timbers. I'll try and attach a diagram o...

Cost really depends on whether the wall is brick or timber studs and plasterboard. Brick would generally be about double of studs and plasterboard. Because this a structural alteration, you may need a building permit.

For those interested, as a member of the HIA, I have just received notice of an upcoming exhibition on timber flooring. This is not open to the public but the folks using this site appear to be generally interested in building and building products (Is that an understatement?????) The exhibition is ...

I've only just joined this on line thingy but your question about not compliant work by owners is a pet passion of mine. I see lots of defective and non-compliant work by owner builders, some undertaken without building permits and not in accordance with the Building Code of Australia. Not sure wher...

Use a toughened glass shower screen - not much chance of breakage.

When you order the shower screen, you can have a hole in the glass where a toilet roll holder can be fixed - could cost a bit more than a normal screen. Alternatively, you might think about a covered toilet roll holder attached to the side of the bath tiles?

If you have tiles throughout the bathroom and into the shower, try to have the area in the shower lower than the bathroom floor so that you can get a fall to the shower waste (puddle flange). If you can't, you may need a hob (raised area around the shower) to stop the water flowing back there is evi...

Not sure by the pics, but in 1925 they used asbestos in bathroom areas. Just be careful if you have to cut the stuff.

Hi Grace, Please forgive me if I stuff this reply up but this is the first time I have ever gone into a site such as this. I only found this site by accident this afternoon and had no idea that this type of interactive thing (whatever it's called) existed. No to answer your question about the mirror...