After the relative success of tiling my kitchen floor and the tremendous advice and expertise from all you guys and gals on here, I thought I would be selfish again and ask for more help!

Right, in my main bathroom, there is part tiling around the bath and one row of tiles around the sink unit. I want to install an electric shower in the bathroom but as the tiles only go up by 3 tiles (unsure of size of tiles) I need to tile up to the ceiling at the tap-end.
Pics attached below.

I want to take all the old tiles off and start again. I shall delicately knock the old tiles off so as not to damage the plasterboard behind. But I need advice about the prep work needed to successfully tile over the paint.

The paint is almost definitely silk or bathroom emulsion and I know there's a layer of blue paint underneath too. Beyond that, probably just the thin magnolia splashed on by the builders. However I am just guessing as it was this way when we moved in.

So guys, what's the best idea with the paint?

When the tiles are off and the paint is dealt with, we'll be getting our plumber in to sort out the pipework for the shower and reset the bath as the bath is not level.

It is my intention to use similar sized tiles or slightly larger than what is already there, nothing flash, just simple white tiles and perhaps a thin black border tile around the middle of the room too. I realise I'll have to tile the entire tap-end of the bath, and think it would make sense to tile up to the window recess too but not necessarily inside it.

GRR

try and remove all the paint before tiling!hard job!

Originally Posted by david campbell

try and remove all the paint before tiling!hard job!

How? Paint stripper, sander?

Hi GRR first your paint issues, ideally take the paint back to plaster easiest/fastest way to me is by sander (belt and then detail for corners). Yes it's a bit messy but at least you are giving your addy something to adhere too.You can can just score through the paint but this will only give it partial adhesion to the substrate.

Why not consider tanking the wall? then you will have peice of mind that your job is done properly and you can show off too your fella.

RE where to tile, if you are tiling the window wall why not do the reveals it would finish the look off.

have i missed anything?

Dear bigandy,

In my haste to write a comprehensive post I forgot to mention that I would tank prior to tiling. What's the best way to approach this? Plumber to do the pipework, plaster over, tank, tile and then get the shower unti fitted?

I might have to get the plumber in to take a look at how he would pipe it prior to settling on tanking etc....

I had a feeling you might say "sand it" and thankfully the only power tool in the house that belongs to me is the sander! Hubby doesn't have the patience to sand anything and he broke my last sander.

Advertising my tiling ignorance now - what's a Reveal?

Thank you!

Originally Posted by GirlRacerRed

Dear bigandy,

In my haste to write a comprehensive post I forgot to mention that I would tank prior to tiling. What's the best way to approach this? Plumber to do the pipework, plaster over, tank, tile and then get the shower unti fitted?

I might have to get the plumber in to take a look at how he would pipe it prior to settling on tanking etc....

I had a feeling you might say "sand it" and thankfully the only power tool in the house that belongs to me is the sander! Hubby doesn't have the patience to sand anything and he broke my last sander.

Advertising my tiling ignorance now - what's a Reveal?

Thank you!

thats the correct sequence although the shower can normally be fitted and left loose, tiles slid in and tightened.(but do it the way you stated it will be much easier for you).

reveal is the inside of your window(sills,sides and top).

Thanks for that bigandy!

I shall consider whether to tile the reveal once I've got to the stage of tiling.

I have become of big fan of tiles since tiling my kitchen floor as to me it looks more posh and expensive than simply laying wood-look or tile-look laminate. I'm not knocking laminate but I do think it's overused in homes nowadays and I prefer to be different

Oh and I know where my nearest CTD store is too! Might be paying them a visit soon...

good luck and hope all goes well

sounds quite similar to my bathroom to be finished yet! We can swap pictures later! Just that in the middle of my white tiles and simple borders there will be an apple tree....I think you should have a handmade mosaic picture inserted in yours, too - hopefully made and supplied by me on mesh, ready to be tiled up along with the other tiles...easy peasy....palmtree? red racer car? Sundeck chair? Smilie??? no limits to possibilties....dare to be different indeed

Originally Posted by Mosaic Girl

sounds quite similar to my bathroom to be finished yet! We can swap pictures later! Just that in the middle of my white tiles and simple borders there will be an apple tree....I think you should have a handmade mosaic picture inserted in yours, too - hopefully made and supplied by me on mesh, ready to be tiled up along with the other tiles...easy peasy....palmtree? red racer car? Sundeck chair? Smilie??? no limits to possibilties....dare to be different indeed

Now I really do like the sound of that MG! But I shall save something like that for my en-suite. (what can I say, I'm selfish!)

The main bathroom is to be functional but quality, the en-suite I want to be functional, quality and a hint of luxury, and when I eventually get round to building the east wing on my house (or as everybody else will see it, build on the side on top of the garage), I will be going for all out pure luxury with a big dollop of hotel style class!

Hubby wants to east wing to be quite open plan with big bedroom, largish dressing area/wardrobes/storage and then en-suite with roll top bath. Gonna have light issues as the room will be long and narrow, bedroom window overlooking back garden, with en-suite window overlooking front and the dressing area in between. But still, that's all for another project about 5 years from now....

Originally Posted by GirlRacerRed

Gonna have light issues as the room will be long and narrow

Skylights would be the way to go here i reckon; lets face it, you won't really need another attic!

Originally Posted by beanz

Skylights would be the way to go here i reckon; lets face it, you won't really need another attic!

Believe me, I'll always need more attic space! To have the extension built, I'll be losing the attic's above the garage and utility room. Good thing you mentioned it as its reminded me to consider it in the building plans.

And skylights raise another question - do you need planning permission for these?

Hi GRR, you could also try a awll paper stripper (the steamer kind) and steam the paint off.

Jimmy

Don't know about PP for the skylights, probably not unless you're in a conservation area. I would phone the council and ask - can't do any harm.

To be honest, I don't think skylights are what I'm looking for, although it was a cracking idea from Beanz and will be kept tucked away at the back of my brain until Project East Wing starts.

Just got to sort out Project Bathroom first. Hubby thinks I'm seriously sad now for having sought advice about how to tile onto paint. He was of the view that we could tile straight onto the existing paint. And lo and behold his response when I said it would need sanding right back - you can do that then. cheers.

You can tile onto paint if it's solid enough. To check if it is stick a good lenght, (say 2 foot) of the silver plumbing tape or one sided carpet tape on the wall, leave it for a few hours or overnight and then pull off. If all/most of the paint comes with it, it's got to come off, if only bits come off but overall its solid you can tile onto it. Scoring it will still be a good idea to provide more of a key. Alternatively, if finances allow, why not cover the whole lot in wediboard? Great stuff, very light and easy enough to work with.

if you try the paint stripper way just becareful as this can also blow the plaster!Thats why i dont like that way off removing it.

Originally Posted by bigandy

if you try the paint stripper way just becareful as this can also blow the plaster!Thats why i dont like that way off removing it.

To be honest, I'll probably get the sander out and take as much paint off as I can first. It will be just my luck that I try the tape method and the paint will come off easily. And as for paint stripper liquids, I wouldn't even go there as I don't think I'd have much control over that. And as for using a steam stripper, don't have one so that solves that one!

And to know that the prep work is done to the highest of standards, I shall be doing it myself! ha ha!

GRR take the plasterboards off, let plumber do his first fix and re level bath, re plasterboard and tank and then let the blind naked tiler do his thang!!

right Doug, dumbass question now - how do I take the plasterboards off?

jemmy bar, an old hand saw (be careful not to hit any pipes or cables!) a claw hammer! you know it makes sense! plasterboards are relatively cheap, get 12mm ones and screw them onto studs using maybe 42mm drywall screws!

I don't think you should be telling me this right now... I've already been drinking!

I might think it's a good idea to start now!

I've got a small port and lemonade on the go!, what's your tipple?

Ha ha ha ha lmao,,,doug? port and lemonade whats that all about then.lol

Originally Posted by doug boardley

I've got a small port and lemonade on the go!, what's your tipple?

well whilst out for a meal tonight, i started on pink cava, i then proceeded to have 2 champagne cocktails during dinner and now i'm onto G&T at home!

Originally Posted by BDS

Ha ha ha ha lmao,,,doug? port and lemonade whats that all about then.lol

got no red wine in't house! it's quite nice actually a port shandy!

If you're going to pull the plasterboards off, why not replace them in the shower area with Hardi or Wedi? Saves tanking the shower area.

Just replace the non wet areas with new plasterboard.

Originally Posted by GirlRacerRed

well whilst out for a meal tonight, i started on pink cava, i then proceeded to have 2 champagne cocktails during dinner and now i'm onto G&T at home!

out for a meal, drinking champers, cava etc! have you no shame girl? there's a recession on! you shall be known as Marie Antoinette from now on!!

Originally Posted by Captain Slow

If you're going to pull the plasterboards off, why not replace them in the shower area with Hardi or Wedi? Saves tanking the shower area.

Just replace the non wet areas with new plasterboard.

Well I only plan on tiling to the ceiling in the corner at the tap end of the bath (see pics). MG suggested wedi and I had a look earlier today, looks like good stuff. As I'm only planning on making the tap end of the bath waterproof, could I slice into the existing plasterboard and take out the bits I want to replace with wedi?

Originally Posted by doug boardley

out for a meal, drinking champers, cava etc! have you no shame girl? there's a recession on! you shall be known as Marie Antoinette from now on!!

I shall say this only once
1. It's my BIRTHDAY tomorrow
and
2. You have to SPEND your way out of a recession, believe me, I'm a trained Economist.

Let's have another drink!