My bathroom project

[Impossible]

My first time tiling is coming up and it starts with my GF's 1.7x1.8m bathroom.
The place is a c1950's maisonette where all the walls are solid (no plasterboard)
I'm taking on the bathroom as part of a refresh of the place. Previously the bathroom was fitted with a iron bath, porcelain sink and toilet. Previous decor was half tiles then top half painted with a retrofitted shower.
Here are some images, this is what im working with.
http://gallery.cowbox.net/main.php?g...g2_itemId=4748
http://gallery.cowbox.net/main.php?g...g2_itemId=4751
http://gallery.cowbox.net/main.php?g...g2_itemId=4753
http://gallery.cowbox.net/main.php?g...g2_itemId=4756
http://gallery.cowbox.net/main.php?g...g2_itemId=4759

As you can see, its the original suite with a iron bath.
Shes already bought the tiles (from B&Q....... yuk) These are plane white tiles with a ripple effect on its surface (200x250x7mm) and then a boreder with these tiles...
http://gallery.cowbox.net/main.php?g...g2_itemId=4762
More images to follow.
Any suggestions on how to embed the images instead of them being links (is this due to the site they are hosted on?)

Imp

[macten]

Looks like a nice project to get stuck into. Thanks for the pictures - always great to see jobs from start to finish.
To embed piccies use the attach image icon in the reply box and paste the url of the image in the box that appears.

[Sir Ramic]

Are you stripping the old sand and cement fixing from the walls?

[Impossible]

The first problem I have is shown below.

http://gallery.cowbox.net/main.php?g...g2_itemId=4765

The bottom half of the bathroom is tiled, the top half is painted. The girlfriend wants it all tiled and this has led to the problem. The original tiles seam to have been attached with cement and have caused a step where the tiles end. She has suggested to tile with the normal tiles then use the small square tiles (mosaic?) as a border to slightly step down to the top layer of tiles. how does this sound? the step is 11mm around the room.
Suggestions?
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Quote:

Quote: Originally Posted by Sir Ramic Are you stripping the old sand and cement fixing from the walls?

Im up for the work to remove it, but the GF is going mad at the moment with the one and only bathroom in the house being out of action for a long time. Ideas to combat this step would be welcome.
Imp

[Sir Ramic]

Plaster it out. Thats what we do if i get one of those.
In the real world its better to strip the old "compo" fixing off and start fresh. That paint will have to go too !

[Impossible]

Originally Posted by Sir Ramic

Plaster it out. Thats what we do if i get one of those.
In the real world its better to strip the old "compo" fixing off and start fresh. That paint will have to go too !

Im sure its going to be easier to strip it off than "pad" out with (just?) plaster. As for the paint, its only the area around the step thats blistered/flakey. I have stuck gaffer tape on the wall for a week and then removed it and the paint stayed attached to the wall. Would this be okay to tile onto?

Thanks for your comments.


Imp

[Sir Ramic]

I hate paint on the wall and that looks like the worst type from what i can see. I would take the time to remove as much as possible. Use a belt sander if you can to get a good key. Dont use chemical paint strippers.
I agree taking the lower half off all together would be my way.

[tfs]

Hi Mate,

You may be able to bond 9mm plaster board to that upper half of the wall. Would save alot of time.

kris

[mz30]

Hi impossible
you certainly picked a bad one fo your first job you will have to remove the sand and cement and hope the wall is fine behind hiring a small kango should do the job ,in an ideal world boarding out the top half of the room would be great ,but i think you will struggle removing all the tiles of the sand and cement ,

BEST ADVICE RUNAWAY

[Sean Kelly]

I'm surprised that the first 2 tiles have come away so clean from the concrete base. I would guess that the rest would be a different story. My friend had the same situation a few weeks ago....He tried to hack the tiles off the concrete base and they smashed into fragments, shards and dust. In the end he hired 2 guys and it took them 2.5 days to hammer & chisel the wall back to brick. They then plastered the wall and tiled it. They made an absolute mess of it. I think they mixed up white grout in the same bucket as they mixed the plaster. My friend did not ask me to tile because he thought he had such a great deal with the builders. He got them down from £2,500 to £1,600. That included fitting a new bath & sink (no toilet). Also removing part of a chimney breast. They used B&Q tiles too. Some of them were grey, when it clearly stated on the box that they were white. However, the tiler did not notice and he stuck them to the wall anyway. To hide the grey tiles he did not wipe the grout dust off !! The bathroom was exactly the same size as yours. Good luck.

[Impossible]

hehe, running away is not an option!

The tiles came off with a bit of "love" from a blow torch.



I have a tanking kit, bought a Bal wp1 kit. If I was 9mm plasterboard would this have to be something like aquapanel or could I use normal plasterboard (due to it being cheaper) and use the tanking kit around the shower/bath area? how would these boards be attached to the wall (adhesive?)

Im really 50/50 about removing the cement, I know its going to be the best method but if it doesnt remove cleanly then im going to have to repair the wall before tiling.

really not sure which path to take.

Imp

[Sir Ramic]

Your call mate . I would give it a try to remove the old sand and cement.