The Home Improvements Thread (2)

Status
Not open for further replies.
howardb said:
Let them dry out then lightly sandpaper them off and paint.
Can scrape them off but it's a mission as well...
Click to expand...
Thanks will try. It is a textured outside wall, so need to be careful with the sanding as well.
 
Who here has recently done a bathroom reno? I'm looking to do a new master bathroom (no bath, just walk in shower). what kind of budget should I be setting aside?
 
The Darkness said:
Who here has recently done a bathroom reno? I'm looking to do a new master bathroom (no bath, just walk in shower). what kind of budget should I be setting aside?
Click to expand...
Depends a lot on your fittings, piping, etc but R50k seems to be about Ballpark
 
The Darkness said:
Who here has recently done a bathroom reno? I'm looking to do a new master bathroom (no bath, just walk in shower). what kind of budget should I be setting aside?
Click to expand...
It's going to come down to finishes, and whether you need to have plumbing done.

Size your bathroom. Go shopping for tiles, shower tiles, listello, waterproofing, fittings, basins, basin units (if you want one), toilets, shower doors and mixers (you'll be surprised how expensive a good mixer is). You can budget and adjust your choices based on this.

The labour is honestly the cheapest part. Budget maybe 10k for labour and another 5-10k for possible plumbing and unforeseen things...
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
It's going to come down to finishes, and whether you need to have plumbing done.

Size your bathroom. Go shopping for tiles, shower tiles, listello, waterproofing, fittings, basins, basin units (if you want one), toilets, shower doors and mixers (you'll be surprised how expensive a good mixer is). You can budget and adjust your choices based on this.

The labour is honestly the cheapest part. Budget maybe 10k for labour and another 5-10k for possible plumbing and unforeseen things...
Click to expand...
I'll be wanting to chop the whole space. remove all the old tiles and new everything, including retrofit for a Geberit toilet, walk in shower and then go for something contemporary finish-wise for the walls etc.
Something like this:
 
Been on a bit of a spree the last 2 years. Dont even want to look at the total cost.
Outside Walling
Elect Fencing
Solar Elect
Replaced all piping in house
Outside tank -> Borehole + preasure pump
Gutted 4 bathrooms
Gutted 6 Bedrooms
Gutted Kitchen

What I have found is the Labor cost. Can make a big difference on cost when you befriend someone and discuss price based on long term projects.

The other thing is they quote me on Labor only. I pay for materials myself
 
Last edited:
Mike Hoxbig said:
Looks great but there's no way that's coming in at 30k. What's your budget?
Click to expand...
No budget at this stage. The master bathroom in my house was ruined by the seller who had leak issues they were obligated to repair after I bought the house. Subsequently, they have been unable to find an exact tile match, and so I'm trying to balance towards the best outcome here for myself. I.E. will it be cheaper to just chop the bathroom and redo it, and leverage the modernisation of the room as a benefit to the asset in the long term, versus wasting my time and money on lawyers and courts and ending up with the same bathroom that is neat, but dated looking. Time is money as they say.
 
The Darkness said:
No budget at this stage. The master bathroom in my house was ruined by the seller who had leak issues they were obligated to repair after I bought the house. Subsequently, they have been unable to find an exact tile match, and so I'm trying to balance towards the best outcome here for myself. I.E. will it be cheaper to just chop the bathroom and redo it, and leverage the modernisation of the room as a benefit to the asset in the long term, versus wasting my time and money on lawyers and courts and ending up with the same bathroom that is neat, but dated looking. Time is money as they say.
Click to expand...

yeah i'm with you, what we did was make a compromise, I got them to pay for like 2 boxes worth of tiles and tile cement / grout + labour and then stripped the bathroom and did it fully. so i.e the bathroom lets for argument sake cost R20k, I got like R2k back from what they were obligated to do. (I didnt tell them I was redoing the bathroom completely, I told them I am buying tile + sundries and having the problem fixed with new tile)
 
Steamy Tom said:
yeah i'm with you, what we did was make a compromise, I got them to pay for like 2 boxes worth of tiles and tile cement / grout + labour and then stripped the bathroom and did it fully. so i.e the bathroom lets for argument sake cost R20k, I got like R2k back from what they were obligated to do. (I didnt tell them I was redoing the bathroom completely, I told them I am buying tile + sundries and having the problem fixed with new tile)
Click to expand...
That's what their lawyer is suggesting to me too. I could go the full hog legal route and sue them for redoing the entire bathroom, but it's a protracted legal process that will likely cost me as much as just redoing the room myself. If I went with their 'solution' I'd need to accept their cheap tiler, and end up with a still dated bathroom, with mismatched tiles. I'd rather love the space, and my bet is that a really modern, contemporary master bathroom will speak in increased value when I sell this house down the line.

There are two big take-aways here: 1) when you do any tiling, buy an extra few boxes and store them. You will never find the same tiles again after a few years. 2) lawyers, it's expensive to sue someone. Often it's just better to take the knock and move on with life.
 
The Darkness said:
1) when you do any tiling, buy an extra few boxes and store them. You will never find the same tiles again after a few years.
Click to expand...

Lawyers are never worth it for small amounts.

When I tile I try do a few areas at once with the same type of tiles.
Afterwards I try make sure I have 5 or 6 sqm of tiles left over which I stack behind the garage.
Has saved me a ton of frustration over the years
 
yeah definately keep a box at least, some guys put it in the roof across some sturdy planks spanning 2 rafters. that way it is out the way and will always stay with the house
 
Gary Waterworth said:
Lawyers are never worth it for small amounts.

When I tile I try do a few areas at once with the same type of tiles.
Afterwards I try make sure I have 5 or 6 sqm of tiles left over which I stack behind the garage.
Has saved me a ton of frustration over the years
Click to expand...
Same with paint. I try to use 'off the shelf' colours as much as possible, and where a unique one is required, I only use big brands like Dulux/Plascon and I keep the swatches marked and on file.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X