Has anybody here replaced their bathtub themselves

[Reno]

Would it be worth trying to look for handy person/odd jobber instead of a plumber who can do the work Reno? There seem to be some pretty good all rounders out there who don't label themselves as plumbers but could do the work?

I can have a look on my which thing Im subscribed to to see if theres anyone with decent ratings/genuine looking reviews that cover your area and might do the work if you like? I have it open in another tab now

What site are you looking at ? Had a scammer of rated.com once, so I've become a little wary of these recommending websites.

 

[Callie]

It's which local. You have to pay for a subscription which might make it a bit more reliable. The reviews look genuine and I have used it to source someone to replace a window, they haven't actually done the work yet though as the window has to be made! I got shafted by a bathroom fitter myself so am trying to find better ways to find tradespeople.

I could just send you my log in even..I don't think you could break anything

 

[quimcunx]

You found a reasonably priced solution in the end then callie?

 

[Callie]

I found a £500 window replacement quote frpm local firm over the £1300 one fingers across D it goes well. I still don't have a bathroom or a front wall though who needs a proper bathroom anyway

 

[Cloo]

We've just seen that the bath from our old flat (we still live on the same road) is sitting out on the street. Were considering nicking it and storing for our new en suite later this year, but it's probably not a good enough quality to bother.

 

[bi0boy]

We've just seen that the bath from our old flat (we still live on the same road) is sitting out on the street. Were considering nicking it and storing for our new en suite later this year, but it's probably not a good enough quality to bother.

If you do that your en-suite won't be new.

 

[Cloo]

TBH, totally considering getting all out bath stuff second hand/freecycle as we sure as fuck can't afford the building work we have planned!

 

[Sasaferrato]

Yes, I have. I'm not the best DIY person in the world, but found it easy enough to do. The advice about putting in isolator valves is sound, I did it. It means that you only need to have the water off to put in the valves. The other benefit of the valves is their flexible hoses, it makes a slightly awkward fit dead easy.

The one thing you have to make sure of is a tight fit between bath and wall. Don't scrimp on the sealant. Fill the bath with water before you seal it, then leave full for 24 hours if you can. (12 minimum).

 

[existentialist]

Yeah it's not that difficult though I'd use flexible hoses to the bath taps /mixer to avoid buggering about with basin spanners which can be a pain in the arse for someone who does it for a living.Slow and careful will work.

Which has the advantage that you can at least mount the taps and flexible tails onto the bath before it's in situ, avoiding those access problems.

 

[what]

What site are you looking at ? Had a scammer of rated.com once, so I've become a little wary of these

Reno if you live where I think you do, try asking in Morans builders merchants on Kilburn high road for a recommended plumber or embassy plumbing just of edgeware road at the Euston road end. Plumbers often leave a card behind the counter.

 

[peterkro]

Which has the advantage that you can at least mount the taps and flexible tails onto the bath before it's in situ, avoiding those access problems.

Yes I didn't make that clear, mount the taps/mixer and flexible tails before you put the bath in position.The waste will be fine (even in extreme cases you can just remove a floorboard and connect up).

 

[Orang Utan]

What is wrong with the old tub?

 

[Nice one]

it's not just connecting the water which in theory should be the easiest bit, fitting a new bath would involve building a frame for the tub to sit in (depending what type of bath you've bought and how it positioned in the bathroom).

If you need a hand or to borrow some tools, happy to supply them (I'm Kilburn based).

 

[andysays]

I'm currently having my bathroom completely refitted (council flat, Decent Homes scheme) so I'm seeing at first hand how it works.

Worth mentioning that the tiling is most likely to have been done after the bath was installed, so removing the existing bath is likely to include some damage to the tiling, which you'll then need to make good (in my case, they ripped the whole lot out on the first day, then installed the new bath etc, and are coming back tomorrow to re-tile). This is at least part of the reason that whoever you've asked has suggested doing the whole bathroom rather than just the bath.

Whether you like it or not, fitting a new bath is likely to involve replacing some of the tiles, probably the whole row where they meet the bath. And you'll need to get the height of the new bath exactly the same as the old one was, otherwise you'll either have a gap or not enough space to squeeze replacement tiles in.

None of that is hugely difficult, but it does require thinking about and taking into account before you start.

 

[Reno]

I've finally plucked up the courage today and wrenched out the bath with the help of a friend. There is no going back now.



Next I'll take off the tiles and then go to the DIY store to get wood for the frame and a new U-bend. I hope to get the new bath in by Friday and then do the tiling next week.

Some good advice on this thread, keep it coming if you can think of anything.

 

[Pickman's model]

I've finally plucked up the courage today and wrenched out the bath with the help of a friend. There is no going back now.



Next I'll take off the tiles and then go to the DIY store to get wood for the frame and a new U-bend.

Some good advice on this thread, keep it coming if you can think of anything.

take a dustpan and brush to that stuff, but lift the bricks out by hand.

 

[Reno]

I believe there was the word "good" in front of the word "advice" in my last post.

 

[Pickman's model]

I believe there was the word "good" in front of the word "advice" in my last post.

which part of my advice did you find bad?

 

[Reno]

which part of my advice did you find bad?

Fuck off and troll the politics threads instead.

 

[Pickman's model]

Fuck off and troll the politics threads instead.

post up a picture of your new tub later tho.

 

[Reno]

post up a picture of your new tub later tho.

You bet !

 

[existentialist]

I've finally plucked up the courage today and wrenched out the bath with the help of a friend. There is no going back now.



Next I'll take off the tiles and then go to the DIY store to get wood for the frame and a new U-bend. I'll to get the new bath in by Friday and then do the tiling next week.

Some good advice on this thread, keep it coming if you can think of anything.

Chip off the "nibs" at the point the old plaster ends before you put the new tub in place - you won't want to be cold chiselling your way round your shiny new bathtub.

 

[quimcunx]

Are you replacing a row of tiles? Are you going to replace them with not quite matching white ones or a different colour?

 

[Reno]

Are you replacing a row of tiles? Are you going to replace them with not quite matching white ones or a different colour?

Right now I'm taking the manky old tiles off and I will completely retile around the bath with basic white tiles.

 

[Reno]

Chip off the "nibs" at the point the old plaster ends before you put the new tub in place - you won't want to be cold chiselling your way round your shiny new bathtub.

Now that I've hacked the tiles off it looks I need to replaster that bit. Never done that. Tricky ?

 

[quimcunx]

Nah. Easy.

 

[Callie]

Oh god.

 

[StoneRoad]

A decent amount of "polyfilla" will do most of those holes - don't put too much in at one go otherwise it could slump - and you will have to shave (sand) any excess off.

As for changing a bath tub; been there, done that and got the tee-shirt.

 

[krtek a houby]

Right now I'm taking the manky old tiles off and I will completely retile around the bath with basic white tiles.

Basic grey or dark grey (very contemporary) won't show up dirt and stains as much.

 

[bi0boy]

Just fill the holes in the old plaster with tile adhesive when you put the new tiles on. Make the new tiles go slightly higher than the old tiles to cover the old join.