Bought first home, how to fix this disgusting shower??

[catelionis]

Hi everyone,

I've just bought my first home, and trying to slowly put right all the bodges and outdated decor. I am useless with DIY, I've been renting all my life, so trying to fix things is completely new to me. This '90s Mira shower is one of the first things that has to go, but I don't understand how to sort out this horrible exposed pipe. What needs to be done to get a newer shower installed so that the pipe is hidden? Is it going to be very intrusive/expensive to put right?

Thanks so much in advance!

 

[HERTS P&D]

1. Well done in buying you first house.

2. Do you have any spare tiles?

Andy

 

[Burnerman]

Oh dear!
These showers allow a water inlet through the back.....what is behind the wall where the shower unit is? In other words, is the water pipe accessible?
John

 

[catelionis]

Thank you so much! It's very overwhelming, but I'm sure I'll settle soon.

I don't have any that match the original ones. I was thinking of getting the shower enclosure retiled though and just painting the other tiles in the bathroom for now (entire bathroom is floor-to-ceiling tiles).

 

[catelionis]

Oh dear!
These showers allow a water inlet through the back.....what is behind the wall where the shower unit is? In other words, is the water pipe accessible?
John

I really don't know. Sorry to sound so uneducated, but how can I check this? It's on an external wall, on the ground floor (Vic terraced). I should say, I've only been in this house for a week, so I'm still very much getting my bearings.

 

[jj4091]

Would any of these look better as a temporary measure https://www.google.com/search?q=cli...IIEAAYFhgeGA-YAwCSBwYxMC42LjM&sclient=gws-wiz

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I really don't know. Sorry to sound so uneducated, but how can I check this? It's on an external wall, on the ground floor (Vic terraced). I should say, I've only been in this house for a week, so I'm still very much getting my bearings.

With an external wall behind it, almost certainly it will be brick. Try tapping it, if it sounds hollow, probably plasterboard, so not a difficult job to hide it behind. Brick will need chasing out.

 

[catelionis]

Would any of these look better as a temporary measure https://www.google.com/search?q=cli...IIEAAYFhgeGA-YAwCSBwYxMC42LjM&sclient=gws-wiz

That's a great temporary solution, thank you!

 

[catelionis]

With an external wall behind it, almost certainly it will be brick. Try tapping it, if it sounds hollow, probably plasterboard, so not a difficult job to hide it behind. Brick will need chasing out.

Ok thank you so much, I will investigate!

 

[catelionis]

The wall behind is indeed brick as far as I can tell. I may need to just condemn this shower and have a mixer tap and shower fitted to the bath instead, until we can afford to properly renovate the bathroom..

 

[Deleted member 294929]

What boiler do you have?

Take a picture

 

[catelionis]

What boiler do you have?

Take a picture

 

[Deleted member 294929]

So being a combi should give you a far better shower than the electric shower.

Fitting thermostatic taps like these should enhance a good shower.

Coral Modern Thermostatic Bath Shower Mixer - Bottom Outlet - BTMV01 at Victorian Plumbing UK

Coral Modern Thermostatic Bath Shower Mixer - Bottom Outlet - BTMV01

www.victorianplumbing.co.uk

 

[catelionis]

So being a combi should give you a far better shower than the electric shower.

Fitting thermostatic taps like these should enhance a good shower.

Coral Modern Thermostatic Bath Shower Mixer - Bottom Outlet - BTMV01 at Victorian Plumbing UK

Coral Modern Thermostatic Bath Shower Mixer - Bottom Outlet - BTMV01

www.victorianplumbing.co.uk

That's brilliant, thank you so much!! This is definitely the route I'm going to go down, and just avoid the shower cubicle until I can afford to refit the bathroom. Rome wasn't built in a day I guess!

 

[Deleted member 294929]

That's brilliant, thank you so much!! This is definitely the route I'm going to go down, and just avoid the shower cubicle until I can afford to refit the bathroom. Rome wasn't built in a day I guess!

That's right. You need to make correct choices so as your not going work to your place ars about face and doing it twice.

Don't use the link I sent
keep clear of Victoria plumb.

Lots of different manufacturers do this sort of tap. Try to go with a branded name like Inta or Aqualisa and shop for the cheapest in these brands