En-Suite

granty1892

Hi Guys,
We got a quote for a renovation of our en-suit but it was for 6.5k well above our budget of 4.5-5k.
We are thinking of doing it ourselves as such, as in sourcing the tiler, eletrician and plumber instead of paying a guy to arrange do all the arranging and dirty work for us.
We are looking to put an electric shower and will probably buy the bathrooms units in IKEA, the tiles are picked out already (500 euro).
has anyone had any experience in this type of project recently? any tips or pointers?
Where do we start first after gutting the place out? plumber or tiler? do we put the electric shower in first or last?



Thanks

BrokenArrows

This is probably how i would approach it:

• Remove all existing items. ie. Shower, toilet, sink.
  
• Remove all existing tiles and scrape off the tile adhesive left on the wall to the best of your ability. Having a smooth tiling surface will make the new tiling job easier (and cheaper if you are paying someone). If the walls are painted and you plan on tiling then you will need to scar the walls to make sure the new adhesive will stick. Tiling directly onto paint is a bad idea and there is a high chance that some tiles will come loose in the future.
  
• Remove the radiator if there is one. It will make the tiling job easier.
  
• At this point have a look at all your pipes and if they are not in the correct place hire a plumber to put them where they need to be.
  
• Get in electrician to put in any wiring necessary.
  
• Place the shower tray in the correct location.
  
• Tile the floor/walls, tank the shower area.
  
• Install shower cubicle, toilet, sink, mirrors, toilet roll holders, towel rack. .

6.5k seems insane for an onsuite job.

Calahonda52

As above:
the shower will need its own cable back to the fuse board so that may be disruptive.
If the existing walls are plasterboard, then removing the tiles may be problematic.
Any of these I have done I just remove the existing plasterboard in its entirety, in the long run it is quicker, and allows for use of water resistant pb around the shower.
You might also consider the need for grabs handles/ seats/ etc for older users, when faced with those project needs stripping off the pb allows for fixing timbers to receive the grab handles/etc.
If there is a lot of fixings to be done in the shower I have used WBP plywood instead of pb
If changing the shape of the shower tray, the outlet may need to be relocated.

granty1892

This is excellent advice. Thanks so much. If you think of anything else let me know.

BrokenArrows wrote: »

This is probably how i would approach it:

• Remove all existing items. ie. Shower, toilet, sink.
  
• Remove all existing tiles and scrape off the tile adhesive left on the wall to the best of your ability. Having a smooth tiling surface will make the new tiling job easier (and cheaper if you are paying someone). If the walls are painted and you plan on tiling then you will need to scar the walls to make sure the new adhesive will stick. Tiling directly onto paint is a bad idea and there is a high chance that some tiles will come loose in the future.
  
• Remove the radiator if there is one. It will make the tiling job easier.
  
• At this point have a look at all your pipes and if they are not in the correct place hire a plumber to put them where they need to be.
  
• Get in electrician to put in any wiring necessary.
  
• Place the shower tray in the correct location.
  
• Tile the floor/walls, tank the shower area.
  
• Install shower cubicle, toilet, sink, mirrors, toilet roll holders, towel rack. .

6.5k seems insane for an onsuite job.

granty1892

any advice on removing the tiles from the ground and floor if keeping the plasterboard walls.

Calahonda52 wrote: »

As above:
the shower will need its own cable back to the fuse board so that may be disruptive.
If the existing walls are plasterboard, then removing the tiles may be problematic.
Any of these I have done I just remove the existing plasterboard in its entirety, in the long run it is quicker, and allows for use of water resistant pb around the shower.
You might also consider the need for grabs handles/ seats/ etc for older users, when faced with those project needs stripping off the pb allows for fixing timbers to receive the grab handles/etc.
If there is a lot of fixings to be done in the shower I have used WBP plywood instead of pb
If changing the shape of the shower tray, the outlet may need to be relocated.

BrokenArrows

granty1892 wrote: »

any advice on removing the tiles from the ground and floor if keeping the plasterboard walls.

Just remove them.

Usually under the tiles there will either be a cement board or plywood.
Cement board is better for the job but hard to take the tiles up without wrecking it. Plywood might be ok after removing the tiles.

After taking up the tiles you will have to review what you're left with for a surface and decide what to do from there.

Idbatterim

christ thats insane! Shop around and get a few more quotes at the very least! also check out donedeal for stuff, actually another decent place for units is vidaxl.ie Where in Dublin are you based op?

NIMAN

BrokenArrows wrote: »

6.5k seems insane for an onsuite job.

Haven't you heard, the boom is back baby:D

HarshOstrich

My mother in law went direct labour and it took twice as long as it should of and cost more money from various things not being ready from the previous trade and having to get the trades back in, she was tormented with all the phone calls and arranging she had to do with everyone.
It ended up being done as a nixer because most trades are too busy for these smaller jobs.

colm_c

Does the 6.5k include them supplying tiles, sanitary, rads etc?

If it does, ask them for a labour only quote, you can then source the items much cheaper yourself, plus you'll have more choice than the usual sonas catalog.

If it doesn't include these items, then you definitely need to get more quotes.

granty1892

labour was 1.2k all in

colm_c wrote: »

Does the 6.5k include them supplying tiles, sanitary, rads etc?

If it does, ask them for a labour only quote, you can then source the items much cheaper yourself, plus you'll have more choice than the usual sonas catalog.

If it doesn't include these items, then you definitely need to get more quotes.

granty1892

thats what worries me, im thinking if i even gut it out and buy the stuff myself and leave the rest to a qualified tradesman it will hopefully reduce cost....

HarshOstrich wrote: »

My mother in law went direct labour and it took twice as long as it should of and cost more money from various things not being ready from the previous trade and having to get the trades back in, she was tormented with all the phone calls and arranging she had to do with everyone.
It ended up being done as a nixer because most trades are too busy for these smaller jobs.

colm_c

granty1892 wrote: »

labour was 1.2k all in

Going direct labour won't save you much, it's the fixtures that are the main cost.

If you can do the legwork and get all the stuff, it should save you a lot.

Sleeper12

granty1892 wrote:

labour was 1.2k all in

Believe it or not that price is ridiculously cheap. You could expect to pay €400 to €600 for the installation of the electric shower alone. My company would charge €500 for the plumber and electrician if you were providing the shower.

Even ignoring the shower altogether A tiler can be €600 labour & A plumber can be €800 labour to renovate a bathroom.

I'd put money on it that you will pay more to get in three separate tradesmen & you'll have to be foreman /forewoman. The only saving I can see you making is to get cheaper furniture & tiles.

BrokenArrows

granty1892 wrote: »

labour was 1.2k all in

1.2k is very cheap for labour. Did they give you a breakdown price of the materials. They're probably marking everything up massively or you have just chosen very expensive bits to go into your new ensuite.

Thats 5.3k for fixtures and materials. What are you putting into an ensuite that costs that much?

Tiles €500
Adhesive and grouting €150ish depending on size of the room.
Shower enclosure + tray + electric shower €1000
Toilet €200
Sink €150
Mirror €100
Assorted fixtures €150

So thats roughly €2250 for all the materials needed. Where does 5.3k come from?

granty1892

i never saw the breakdown of costs... but there is a plasterboard wall being knocked down.

Quick question if i get another guy in and hes supplying tiler, plasterer, eletrician how do i verify these guys are ok? and insured/licensed?

BrokenArrows wrote: »

1.2k is very cheap for labour. Did they give you a breakdown price of the materials. They're probably marking everything up massively or you have just chosen very expensive bits to go into your new ensuite.

Thats 5.3k for fixtures and materials. What are you putting into an ensuite that costs that much?

Tiles €500
Adhesive and grouting €150ish depending on size of the room.
Shower enclosure + tray + electric shower €1000
Toilet €200
Sink €150
Mirror €100
Assorted fixtures €150

So thats roughly €2250 for all the materials needed. Where does 5.3k come from?

Sleeper12

granty1892 wrote: »

i never saw the breakdown of costs... but there is a plasterboard wall being knocked down.

Quick question if i get another guy in and hes supplying tiler, plasterer, eletrician how do i verify these guys are ok? and insured/licensed?

You can ask to see proof of insurance before you agree to the job/price. Electrician needs to be RECI & he/she needs to issue you with a cert.


There is no guarantee that any company will send out qualified tradesmen. Many bathroom installation companies don't use plumbers at all.

heffo500

I actual don't think your quote is that expensive. At least with the one the point of contact, if any issues arise down the line, there can't be any blaming other trades. Where are you based? I can recommend someone.

Stoner

heffo500 wrote:

I actual don't think your quote is that expensive. At least with the one the point of contact, if any issues arise down the line, there can't be any blaming other trades. Where are you based? I can recommend someone.

I remember in 2012 at the bottom there was a lad in the herald doing a full bathroom excluding shower supply for 2.5K it was great value then but with little choice.

I agree very easy to speak that on a bathroom. I did and more but picked everything out.

A shower tray enclosure and shower could be bought for 1k but you could easily double that depending on what showrooms you end up in.

garv123

https://ie.soak.com/bathroom-suites/shop-by-room/en-suite-bathrooms/900x900mm-albi-quadrant-shower-enclosure-suite/2001059.html#start=18

I ordered bits from here before with no issues, I only got a sink and taps for a downstairs toilet tho.
Was going to use them to buy the above stuff when it came to redoing our ensuite.