Tiling

I have to admit i found the tiling nerve racking. The first tile was the hardest but the rest weren't too bad. At first I thought i didn't do a terrific job however after closer inspection of some shopping centre floors etc.... I didn't do to bad especially considering I used rectified porcelain tiles. This is a close up of the decal tile we used.  Walls first Floor second The tricky shower bit... I had to get some stiff cardboard and make some templates.  I got the curve right then used an angle grinder to cut the curve.  I used an angle grinder for this hole as well.  I used an angle grinder here as well.  Finally the last row of wall tiles where they  met the floor. I used alot of cardboard shims to get it right.
Grouting was messy and fun
I had to wash it twice

How it looked after the final polish.

Dad v's the shower

Well the shower was the first struggle i had. As mentioned in a previous blog it all started with the base. Well now it came time to glue the acrylic liner to the wall. I applied the adhesive, placed the wall liner and rubbed all over it for the required time. However the internal courner wanted to remain at a 45 degree angle not the 90 degree angle that I had put it in. Well after a long long long time of rubbing it, it was still refusing to stay in place. So i had to prop it however i didnt want to prop it using the walls as the grey water proof membrane handnt fully cured. so i had to become more creative. I started off bracing it against the shower base using some wood and my level. However the higher braces didnt exert enough pressure to keep it in place. in the end i lay a door across the level and placed a 20kg bag of plaster on the bottom. Bit crazy really but it worked.

this is the end result out new shower!!!!

Bathroom: Waterproofing and tile prep

I gave myself 2 weeks to do the bathroom.... in the end it took me 3. It was a bit of a nightmare as it was a first time for everything and the repercussions of getting it wrong are pretty big. I was really pleased with my plastering. I think that i am finally getting the hang of it. The job looked pretty good in the end. Is it just me or does this photo remind me of a zombie movie i saw?

This is the primer sealer. In its own right it is a water proofer as well. I used it on my cement slab, however it doesn't bridge cracks well. I excited that i managed to coat the whole room with it until i realised that I was meant to do two coats only on the tiled areas.... oh well.

Next i had to tape the joints. first I applied a coat of a flexible membrane (think liquid silicone) then bed a cloth tape into it which reinforced the joints, and finally put another coat on top.

Paint all the sections that are going to be tiled.

Balustrades

One thing that has gone really well is my balustrades. I think they look great. i have only done one side as a trial. I used rebar (the stuff they put in cement to strengthen it) as the balusters. I coated them with three coats of Penetrol then put on a spray matt finish so they look like raw iron. They are 12mm in diameter and add a bit of weight to the structure but have cost a fraction of the cost of wrought iron balusters. I also made the newels out of the old oak stud work i pulled out of the apple shed. they are rustic looking and have lots of character. The hand rails were reclaimed from the carport I pulled down. The photos don't quite to them justice but you can decide. This section of balustrade probably has cost me only $20.

Bathrooms.... and balding

Hi guys... well i have started my first bathroom. Cannot say it has been much fun. lots of questions and stress, steep learning curve. I hope that my plumber and building friends haven't got sick of me calling. Well the first thing was glueing the ceramic tile underlay. the instructions said to do so but none of the builders or tilers i talked to have ever done it. I decided not to do it. It i have to ever rip it up i want it not to take the subfloor with it. I hope it doesn't nip me in the bum later.

Secondly was laying embedding the shower tray. It said it was a no notching (meaning i don't have to cut it into the studs) however the base was bent and i am using 6mm villa board so I did eventually have to notch out the studs. After laying the base on a bed of mortar, i pulled it up to check it.. seemed terrific.. i piled the mortar up again and lay it a second time.... well i probably should have left it as it hasn't seemed to have bedded as nicely. Firstly it squeaked!...  drove me nuts.... debated weather to pull it up. Ended up putting a wedge behind the base where it was squeaking and a bit of polyurethane. I hope it doesn't crack if there is movement in the walls and floor. Then now the squeaking was solved when you stand near the back of the base you hear a slight crunching sound of the mortar. I have wondered if i should rip it up and buy another base. My usual saying is 'when in doubt rip it out' however this time i have decided to leave it... well have decided to shut my eyes and hope it is ok. I really want to get this bathroom done by the end of next week. But the plaster is not cooperating and taking ages to dry. Mother nature isnt helping either. All sunny for the beginning of the week then as soon as i have done the plaster it have turned cold and rainy again...

oh and i hurt my back today ripping up the old floor in the craft room...

ps... man what a whingy blog!!!! besides all the ruts in this road it is coming together well and i am really excited to see it finished. I am enjoying learning all these new things, however i am mindful of the expensive consequences if i don't get the upstairs bathroom right.

pps..  Heather and i have decided on carpet for upstairs and it will be laid in a week and a half, so by the end of these holidays i am planning to have upstairs finished!!! all going well : )

Bifold video

I noticed that when my email went out it appeared not to have included a link to the video i posted on the blog. If you click on the link to my blog you will be able to watch an award winning video starring the renowned actress Heather Ireland. Thanks.

Bifold Doors

Cygnet Glass made and installed the bifolds. I have to say they did a neat and tidy job. The poor fellows had to remove a window as the frame would not fit through the back door. Heather said it was hard work and she couldnt watch. Apparently two of the doors were still in the frame as they squeezed it through the window and then they had to carry it upstairs... that must have been heavy. I am really happy with how they look and they will look better after the architraves are installed and flooring. The final test will be will they keep the heat in the living area and clear the carpet when they are installed.....