Downstairs WC and family bathroom refurb pictures.

[RigidRaider]

This was the downstairs loo when we bought the house with, bizarrely, the WC soil pipe routed out forwards then down:

This was the stud box I built to hang the pan on, the soil pipe now going vertically downwards:

Laufen Compact Pro pan, very neat and you can keep the floor nice and clean:

...and a Laufen Casa home urinal with aiming fly for the boys:

This was the family bathroom. Seventies orange with scalloped sink and Victoriana taps, Artex ceiling, one 60w bulb, cork floor tiles, smelly WC, rad plumbed to HW circuit....

Now completely stripped out, replastered, rewired, halogen lighting, with P shaped bath/shower, Crosswater taps etc., follow me handset on bath, Mermaid shower boards in gloss white, heated mirror, towel rail electric and plumbed to the CH circuit, another Laufen Compact pan bolted to the frame bolted to the wall with no contact with the floor so as to reduce sound transmission to the kitchen below. New window. WC moved to the RH corner. Cistern box finished with a slab of marble. Took me about 2 weeks, I did everything except the plastering and the electrics. Final cost: £5400.

New door to replace the orange varnished "Victorian" 6 panel door and I had to fit a new frame as the old one was so badly crooked. Door got 3 coats of Dulux Trade varnish in satin, a nice low-key finish that doesn't show blemishes or brushmarks:

(BTW the door doesn't touch the towel rail, it misses by a couple of cms. The wall is foreshortened in the picture.)

 

[SeanTiler]

looks like the work is done to a high standard, not to sure on the position of the shower pipe where it comes out of the wall. just looks out of place. plus i am not to keen on wall wounted taps sticking into the showering area, i assume there is a reason why you havent put any water fittings into the wall where the main shower head is. great improvements though.

 

[RigidRaider]

Thanks. The far wall is a solid outside wall whereas the wall on the left is stud, so it was just much easier to put that shower outlet there. All the plumbing runs inside that wall and the HW cylinder is just at the other end behind the shaver socket.

I agree about the taps; the spout is far too long, that was probably my least successful detail. I have asked at a couple of engineering firms about getting it shortened but it's a casting so not such an easy job. I'll keep thinking about that one, might get someone to make me a shorter spout in SS. It just needs the right grooves at the wall end for two O rings and a grub screw and at the outlet it needs threading for the diffuser.

 

[Smileysmile]

Hi, I have just posted my desire to transform my downstairs w/c. I saw your photos so added them as an inspiration

I have no idea if you are still active but would appreciate it if I could pick your brains at some point? I am pretty confident on making the frame myself but your toilet looks like it's a floating toilet therefore needs a solid support. Ideally I would prefer this. How did you support this and what material did you use to cover the frame that you built? Cheers

 

[PDJ]

Just looked at the pictures and was a bit concerned on the wall mounted frame you built. Why not the proper metal one the most common problem with this type is movement which is pretty much certain with wood.
Also with the bath why not the shower with integral diverter to overflow filler/hand shower and why a pull out shower when the handset comes off the slide bar
At least the shower outlet is in the right place...... Oh that's a brick wall...
Never heard of a hammer and bolster.
The only thing correct is the mermaid board (been using for 20years)

Next time go to specialist shop, ask advice and spend the extra time and money to do the proper job.

 

[WabbitPoo]

Bit harsh, that.

BUT

a urinal at home? c'mon...... that's horrid. Just teach the boys to use a proper toilet!

Nicely done though.

 

[Safety First]

Bit harsh, that.

BUT

a urinal at home? c'mon...... that's horrid. Just teach the boys to use a proper toilet!

Nicely done though.

urinal, yeah, had me thinking back and fore on that one. First thought was that it's a little bit naff/urban pub-like, though I would not be surprised to hear that they are all the rage somewhere that matters. Obviously very practical. Some people seem unable to pee straight... Seems like a good solution to me!

The job looks excellent overall. A real transformation- well done!

 

[RigidRaider]

Just had a look at the forum and stumbled across this.... yes the urinal is proving to have been a very good idea, the lad is now 15 and when he uses the upstairs bog he has so much misplaced confidence in his aim that he often leaves the seat down, consequently the seat, the pan and the floor all around are a gopping mess of splashes. Teenage boys do have a vigorous stream as well so there's plenty of splashback.

When his mates come round, they will be engrossed in a computer game and won't dash to the bog until they are bursting - which is when the downstairs urinal turns out to have been a good little investment.

The wooden frames were easy to build once I'd got the measuring done and after six years they aren't moving or creaking at all. Far more robust than the steel frames, which tend to flex and they cost nothing because the studwork came from a wall I demolished.

 

[sterowley]

I suppose the urinal will use less water to flush than the toilet so it will save on water bills if your on a meter.

On lack of aim tell em to sit if they cant shoot straight.