I've just looked inside my bathroom and I'm spending the weekend re-tiling it. Its a 1970s bathroom and has a rather tacky surround to the mirror (guess I will have to spring for a new mirror too.)

I am calling in my friendly local plumber to fit new taps and I have chosen blue mosaic tiles to surround the sink (come out sink we have you surrounded !) and the splashback (its a very small dressing room add-on to the bathroom).

Then I made a big discovery - the individual tiles are GLASS - they went down ok (spread lots of tile cement on a painted top and then push down on the tiles to secure a good waterproof hold).

Thats when I cut my finger (Told you there was blood sacrifice in DIY)

One of the tiles was cracked and I slit my middle finger open when pushing down on the tiles..

Heres my tip for the day - when using mosaic tiles ALWAYS push them down with one of these little kitchen sponges - the yellow ones with the abrasive stuff on them.
Then when the tile cement comes through you can skim it off with a scraper and wipe off the surplus with a wet sponge - and not cut yourself.
It looks bad at first and then you have a fine film of cement that you wash off with the wet sponge just as it dries. It then looks really professional !
When dry you have to grout it with tile grout to make it really waterproof. Make sure you place the mosaic tiles a little way (1/4 inch) back from the edge and grout that area to not have any sharp edges.
Remember - You are dealing wth Glass here so please be careful.
I ended up with a space smaller than a tiles width at the back so I have filled that space with tile cement. I will post a picture here when it is completed.

Now its time for a nice cup of coffee..

Bathrooms used to be just utilitarian places where you showered or bathed and that was that Modern Living has brought a new meaning to a Bathroom.

At last you can have the Bathroom of your Dreams at a price you can afford.

If you were to hire a professional designer and tradesmen it would certainly be very costly.

However most of the work you can now do yourself with a few simple tools.

You might want to get a friend or two to help though especially for installing larger items.

A common mistake is to just start without a plan in mind.

That way you will only end up spending much more than you had bargained for .

First of all check your current finances to see if you can actually afford a complete renovation.

It is far better to come in under budget than to overspend and incur high credit card charges.

Get a pad of Graph Paper (It has small squares marked all over it).
Now measure up your bathroom and plan the basic shape on the graph pad using One medium sized box for each square foot.

You should next measure up for the size of bathtubs,sinks and cabinets you really like.

If you are buying Continental units like those from Ikea then you will find these are measured usually in centimeters so it would be sensible to measure everything using centimeters to avoid confusion.

You can even use a digital measure to size up the available space.

Next step is to draw on a different sheet of the graph paper the outlines of the units and cabinets you want to put into the bathroom. Now cut out each piece of paper and color it differently.

Now you can move the units around to see which layout you prefer.

Try different sized tubs showers etc until you get it just right.

What do you prefer – tile or paint or wallpaper (if it is wallpaper then choose a waterproof one !)

Have you chosen a Theme for your bathroom – a Roman one with mosiac tiles perhaps or a 19th Century Romantic plan.

There are also Computer programs that allow you to do all this and you can also see different color schemes too..
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Now take your list or drawing along with you to the home improvement store. Compare prices of the items you’re looking to get. Check them out thoroughly to find the one you want at the best price.

Have a look at our site here even !

You should be flexible though. You may have an original plan and then spot something else you like better – like a pedestal sink that’s cheaper than the one you originally were thinking of getting.

Jot down all of the prices of the items you need, but don’t buy just yet!

Take some paint samples (DIY stores sell tiny sample bottles but remember to keep the label .) or wallpaper swatches home with you.
Remember that how these will look in your bathroom will depend very much on your lighting.

Try to arrange your lighting so that it suits your theme – light and soft for a Roman or Greek theme and harsh spotlights for a touch of Victorian Theatricals.

Paint color will look different in your bathroom, depending on lighting, so take the sample cards and see how your color choices will work in your bathroom.

Take a look at your figures and see how they fit into your budget.
Remember that you will need tools and a wallpaper table or paint rollers and brushes – did you budget for these ?

Have Your figures gone over budget or did they stay within the limits you set?
You should leave some breathing room within your budget to account for any unexpected items you may need , and of course, figure in the taxes of the items you plan to buy. (That can be a big surprise sometimes)

Now you have a sensible plan and if you are satisfied with the approximate costs you can go out and purchase the items.

Remember to get everything you need before you start your dream project, so you do not have to run back and forth to the store to buy the things you have forgotten..

When you have made your dream bathroom well within budget you should try it all out and really enjoy your efforts in the knowledge that you have not only realized your dream but that you have certainly added value to your home.

Why Buy Flooring ?

Laminate Flooring has several advantages over wood flooring

It is durable, easy to lay and cheap

Wood flooring looks better but it cost upwards of three times the cost of Laminate.
Laminate comes in easy to handle boards with a groove on one end and one side and a projection one the other side and the other edge.

You really need a fixing kit which comprises a jemmy,wedges and a block to protect the edge of the board. You will be hitting the block and not the board !
The block has a groove which corresponds to the projecting edge and slides over it.
This way you get minimal damage to the projecting edge when you tap the boards together.

Before you put laminate down cover your floor with a thin foam sheet which cuts down noise and gives some support.
You could always consider underfloor heating as this can save you money over a period of time.

Lay the projecting long edge next to the longest wall in a corner and build out from there.
This way you will get less wastage and you will have to cut fewer small pieces.
Lay the boards loose at first and then turn them round at 90 degrees to see which way round suits your room best.
The boards just snap together and you tap the block until the join is practically invisible.

You must leave a small gap at the edge of the board and the wall to allow for expansion.

Edge strips are tacked above the laminate to finish the job professionally.

Laminate flooring is very hard wearing, to the point where Ikea can give a much longer guarantee on their laminates than most wood floor shops can. It will not fade or dent easily

It is a lot easier to clean than carpet (and does not get eaten by moths !)

Regrettably Laminate is a little noisy (even with the foam underlay) and sounds hollow when you walk on it.
Laminates come in various qualities and colours now and these are a great improvement on laminates from a couple of years ago.
You can choose from various wood finishes.

Laminates are unsuitable for bathroom or kitchen use as they are prone to spoiling if water is dropped on them regularly.

Edges of Laminates can be damages and a laminate repair kit is a wise investment.

Also, laminate floors will often curl up and get spoiled if you drop water or other liquids on them. This generally makes them unsuitable for bathroom and kitchen use, unless they have been specially treated for it.
It is a good idea to invest in a laminate repair kit (before you need it !) as eventually you may need to repair chips or scratches.
Having said that it is a practical and affordable alternative to carpet or floor tiles.