Browse Forums Bathrooms and Laundry 1 May 31, 2009 9:34 am Hi Everyone, I've been reading these forums for a while but this is my very first post. I thought I would share with you the story of my bathroom renovations. It does have a little history behind it.. so I'll start at the beginning! We (that is, DH and I) bought our townhouse about 7 years ago, brand new.. first home buyers, very excited etc. etc. We did the right thing and checked out the builder's other properties before buying, and had a building inspection done, which came back fine. The townhouse has one ensuite (shower, toilet, basin) and one bathroom (shower over bath, toilet, basin), both upstairs. We hardly ever used the main bathroom at all, 99% of the time we used the ensuite. After one year, the ensuite started leaking. Water would leak under the tiles and into the bedroom. The carpet in the bedroom near the door to the ensuite would get soaked! After many calls to the builder, he came out to fix it. In fact, he fixed it not once, not twice.. but twenty two times over a period of 3 years! It got so bad, that you would take a shower in the ensuite and it would flood the kitchen downstairs! Eventually the builder would not respond to any more phone calls, and cut off all contact. The body corporate had to put in a claim on HOW (Home Owners Warranty) insurance for common property defects, and at the same time we did a HOW claim on our own lot .. this has taken a very long time to finally come through after many, many inspections by the builder (he was initially involved but then did a disappearing act), structural engineers, consultants, insurers etc. About 3 months ago, the insurer accepted liability and we were given the green light to get the bathrooms fixed. In fact, not only fixed, the insurer has authorised a full bathroom reconstruction (along with other things) .. stripping both bathrooms to joists and floor and starting all over again. The main bathroom was not leaking, however it had large (3cm wide) seperation cracks where the wall and floor met, plus the tiles themselves had cracked and come away from the wall and floor. So, it was a problem just waiting to manifest! Fortunately, that is where the horror story ends We have gotten ourselves a builder (who is fantastic!), and last week he stripped the main bathroom back to joists. He said he had never, in his 22 years of building, seen such ** workmanship. He was amazed that it could ever pass a building inspection as it was so full of defects. Sadly, based on my experience with the builder of the property I was not even remotely suprised. As an avid (but frustrated!) home renovation show watcher, the idea of renovating a bathroom (two of them!) is incredibly exciting! We are taking the opportunity to make some changes, which is costing us a little extra. So, I thought I would start this thread to keep you posted on how things are progressing with the bathroom renos.. and add some photos along the way I haven't yet taken a photo of the bathroom in it's current stripped state, but will do so shortly and add it to this post. I hope you enjoy! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Our Bathroom Renovation Journey 2May 31, 2009 2:12 pm Hi TwoFatKitties Sorry to hear about the issues you have had but great that it is finally going to be fixed. It's great that you can also make some changes and add your own touch to the bathroom. Looking forward to seeing how it all goes and no doubt it will all be smooth sailing for you. It's a shame because the bathrooms look great as they are but it's always fun to make something look a little different. Re: Our Bathroom Renovation Journey 3Jun 07, 2009 11:20 pm Sounds like a great opportunity! Get photos up for us now of the bare joists and studs! I love the nitty gritty stuff... Re: Our Bathroom Renovation Journey 4Jun 14, 2009 4:39 pm Hi Everyone, There's been a bit of progress since last posting and it's all very exciting! I've been on a bathroom spending spree (I am still in shock that taps can cost $600, easy to go on a spree when things are that price!) and have bought everything we need. Turns out the floor could not be taken up as the bathrooms are on the second floor and the whole level is one big floor. Luckily the floor in this bathroom was in good condition. I've attached some progress photos of how things are progressing so far. We've had a few hiccups along the way! The toilet I wanted is called the Caroma Cube Invisi Series II wall faced hidden cistern. Turns out it is on a six month back order! Caroma offered to give us the wall hung unit for the same price.. so wall hung it is! It required some plumbing changes, but no doubt it will still look great when it is in. I bought a gorgeous Villeroy and Boch basin on eBay, however it was in Brisbane and I'm in Sydney. I arranged for it to be couriered to me, and it unfortunately arrived with a 10cm piece chipped out of the back from where the courier dropped it. Ouch. We are hoping it can be rescued and still used. As it is wall mounted it may not show when it is affixed to the wall. Fingers crossed. We had intended to re-use the bath we had as it was a Kohler 1500mm bath in good condition. When the bath was removed from the bathroom it got cracked so we had to buy a new one (not planned). So, I bought a Stylus Newport 1800mm island bath. This meant some more plumbing needed to be moved as the plug hole is in the centre of the bath, whereas the previous bath was at one end. Anyway hope you enjoy the pictures, will attach more as things progress. Note : Unable to attach pictures, comes up with a message that says "Sorry, board attachment quota has been reached".. if I can get them added I will do so later. 2fk. Re: Our Bathroom Renovation Journey 6Jun 15, 2009 8:43 pm A bit of progress since last photos.. these ones were taken on 5 June. The walls have now been insulated and sheeting is up on 3 out of four walls. The false wall which will conceal the toilet cistern has been started. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Our Bathroom Renovation Journey 7Jun 15, 2009 8:50 pm Starting to look a bit more like a bathroom now! These photos were taken on 14 June. All sheeting is up, bath waste has been moved (to centre, previously at one end), toilet hidden cistern is in and plumbing for toilet has been moved, wall bracket for basin is in (builder's radio is sitting on top) and first layer of waterproofing done. Last photo also shows the concrete floor that is in. This is not a big room, we are wanting to achieve a clean, modern look. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Concrete is now drying so it will be a few more days before some more progress.. will update later this week. Re: Our Bathroom Renovation Journey 8Jun 16, 2009 10:17 am Thank you for the progress pics!!! Looks great so far and the builder looks like he's doing a very good job Re: Our Bathroom Renovation Journey 9Jun 20, 2009 7:46 pm More progress! Floor tiles are now done (30x30cm dark grey charcoal), wall tiling will be started on Monday - 3 walls will be 60x30cm white gloss rectified, the other which is where toilet, basin etc are will be same as floor tile. Grout will be charcoal on the dark tiles and white on the white tiles. We are going with a Caesarstone top and back panel where the ledge is on the false wall. We were thinking about using Snow (2141) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ but we also like their new colour White (1141) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ It's probably a bit difficult to tell from the photos but the Snow has a light fleck whereas the White is almost flat white only with a tiny fleck.. Do you think the White (1141) will look too stark and clinical considering 3 of 4 walls will also be white? Or will it match better? Above the ledge will be a wall to wall mirrored shaving cabinet with downlights that shine down onto the stone. Will post more photos later this week! This is them so far! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Our Bathroom Renovation Journey 10Jul 05, 2009 8:12 am We are nearly there! These are some more progress photos taken yesterday, 4 July 2009. We now have the stone (I ended up choosing Caesarstone Snow) and the mirrored cabinets are being built today so should be ready in a few days. I think it looks hot!! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Our Bathroom Renovation Journey 11Jul 05, 2009 11:54 am That does look amazing! It will look even better when finished too. Well done... Re: Our Bathroom Renovation Journey 13Jul 22, 2009 8:31 pm Hi everyone, Some more progress photos! Bathroom 1 is now nearly finished. Just a couple of minor things that need to be done to finish it off. The tile where the tap is above the basin needs to be replaced, then the stone positioned and glued into place. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We are very happy with the way the bath and shower came out. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Underneath the mirrors are downlights which give a nice subtle light when the main lights are off. The door frame and door need to be painted and robe hooks screwed into place.. so only a few finishing touches and it is all done. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Next one to be worked on is the ensuite. Will post photos of how it is progressing soon. 2fk Re: Our Bathroom Renovation Journey 14Jul 22, 2009 9:12 pm That is a gorgeous bathroom. I was talking to the owner of a tile shop last Saturday and she told me that most people are too scared to use dark tiles on the walls but that when it is done right it looks stunning. Your new bathroom is an example of this. We also used dark grey tiles on our walls and floors for our bathroom renovation plus white composite stone benchtops and I look at it 2 years later and still love it. I am sure you will be the same. Just a quick question regarding your mirrored cabinet. We are also in the Shire and we searched for the exact same thing without success. Can you please let me know where you obtained your cabinet as we have an ensuite renovation to do next year and your cabinet is perfect. Re: Our Bathroom Renovation Journey 16Jul 22, 2009 9:53 pm Neverfinished That is a gorgeous bathroom. I was talking to the owner of a tile shop last Saturday and she told me that most people are too scared to use dark tiles on the walls but that when it is done right it looks stunning. Your new bathroom is an example of this. We also used dark grey tiles on our walls and floors for our bathroom renovation plus white composite stone benchtops and I look at it 2 years later and still love it. I am sure you will be the same. Just a quick question regarding your mirrored cabinet. We are also in the Shire and we searched for the exact same thing without success. Can you please let me know where you obtained your cabinet as we have an ensuite renovation to do next year and your cabinet is perfect. Thanks Neverfinished.. I was a bit cagey about the dark tiles at first but the previous tiles were glass mosaics in a light grey with a white grout so I wanted something different. I absolutely love them now they are on the wall and floor. The mirrored cabinets (which go all the way to the ceiling by the way) were custom made for us by our builder. katie08 Oohhh, fantastic job Love the basin tap, what brand is it and where did you get it from? And loving the dark tiles, such a great look Thanks katie08, the tapware is by Phoenix and is from their range called Kubus. The tap above the sink was the piece I fell in love with and the rest of the bathroom basically got designed around it! You can buy the taps from Reece and the basin tap was about $600(ish). The shower head and rail were bought seperately and are from a company called Star, but match pretty well with the tapware. Glad you like it, the ensuite is now being done so I'll post more progress pics of that one shortly (no bath in that room, it is tiny!). 2fk Re: Our Bathroom Renovation Journey 17Jul 22, 2009 10:03 pm If it is possible, can you please send me a pm with the builder's details. We will not renovate our ensuite until next year but the quality looks excellent and as I mentioned before, I love your cabinet - even better that it goes to the ceiling. Re: Our Bathroom Renovation Journey 19Jul 23, 2009 10:50 am Wow, love it!! The dark tiles look great against the benchtop Building 'The Kingston' (with 'Boston' elevation) through Blueprint Homes in Hocking, Perth **PCI complete 06.02.10** My Thread - https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=17607 Re: Our Bathroom Renovation Journey 20Jul 23, 2009 2:47 pm Luv it Luv it Luv it Its beautiful I just love the white against those dark tiles it looks so streamlined and modern well done Know where your going in life............... you may already be there I recently went through a similar renovation and move scenario when updating our family home. We also swapped some rooms around and tackled a major… 2 10031 This is a very tight fit, I'm not sure if you'll be able to achieve what you've described. Would you consider accessing the separate toilet from the laundry? If so maybe… 1 11251 Any advice on how to ensure the kit home granny flat that im thinking of buying will get council approval. 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