Renovation of Existing Property - Our Way to the House

Doing it new comes later This has to last for another 5-10 years. Other things are more important before that, which will cost time and money. Besides, we first want to get to know our habits in order to then optimally plan the bathroom. On the other hand, there is the possibility to test what one can do oneself. Laying pipes, tiling, tearing down, rebuilding... and what one is not so good at or does not want to do again oneself. The "great" paneling is still up for now, there is another room ([ehemalige Extra-Dusche]), where a new ceiling structure is being tested. But don't worry, if you already see that as work and effort, then just wait for the basement (making the wall nice before placing pipes).

Good, if it is going to be completely redone from scratch in the foreseeable future anyway, then that is completely sufficient. I know very well about the time and the money. And getting to know habits is never wrong either. I just want to point out that the "provisorias" always last the longest with us. (With us, the provisional mini-bathroom has been there for ten years, even though it was only intended for 2 years - meanwhile, the husband strongly regrets that he didn’t tile better back then. But at least we have come to the conclusion in the end that the bathroom will stay and be refurbished, even though the new bathroom is practically right next door.)

My approach is not like that at all either, if I already take it in my hands once, then I do it right away and above all I find 5 or even 10 years a long time to live with such a ceiling *shakes head*, but I also find it incredibly exciting to read that from you, so please more of that!

How much did the renovation of the bathroom cost? You’re not changing the pipes anymore, right?

Have you ever drawn in the old plans? The bathroom is different in the floor plans, could that be?

One thing is still missing, if you also want to shower in the bathtub, you need a shower screen. Not so easy when there is a base in the way. Only Hornbach was able to find a suitable solution via Schulte. Bauking/Hagebau was overwhelmed, Globus had an offer, but it could no longer be found on site.

(22.08.2019)
But it takes some time until something like that is manufactured and delivered.

Now let's turn around and look at the toilet. There are the original plans of what to expect:

Then the subsequent conversions. So the toilet and bidet were removed and a hole was drilled to look into the supposed drywall.
There was none, it was built solid (very thin hollow brick, upright) and the newer concealed cisterns were just placed in front and filled with aerated concrete. In the end, the whole wall had to go (beginning of January 2019)

Now the pipes come up from below (cold, hot, circulation, heating supply/return). The wastewater already has a combined outlet for the later shower (preferably floor level). The old cast iron pipes were removed with a sledgehammer but remain within wall areas. Instead, the new core drillings can be nicely seen.
(19.02.2019)

The remains of the rear "pre-wall" had to be supported and everything stiffened to the outer wall. It has to hold later with the new wall-hung toilet.
(02.03.2019)

Next comes the new pre-wall for the drywall cladding and the water connection (partially initially with plugs)
(05.03.2019) (08.03.2019)

Cover everything with two layers of drywall, fill and tile:
(19.03.2019) (06.04.2019)

Finally, grout, silicone, install new ceramics, done: toilet.
(16.04.2019)

a long time to live with such a ceiling

I am curious myself what will happen with it. It has a few holes (old lamps, support rods) and possibly we will install a skylight (very dark with the small window). But renewing the ceiling only makes sense in connection with a new roof insulation. So it inevitably leads to additional work.

How much did the renovation of the bathroom cost? You’re not changing the pipes anymore, right?

The pipes as they come out of the floor are not changed, which also determines where things have to be located (due to pipe dimensions). But that also means, depending on the major renovation—for example, with more space in the stud wall—the pipe routing inside the bathroom may still be changed.
However, before that, the instantaneous water heater will be removed. According to plan, a central hot water supply will be installed in 2020, so the baseboard near the door will have to be opened again to reroute some pipes. (Also a reason why an immediate complete renovation was not possible.)

Limiting costs only to the bathroom is difficult, but we have:
- Toilet, rimless: €200
- Cistern with flush button: €120
- Tiles: approx. €100 (€2.95 per 11x10 tile mat)
- Instantaneous water heater (hydraulic 28kW, BSH): €80
- Shower screen: €330
- Lots of small stuff (fittings, drywall, profiles, building materials, paint): €500–1000 (rough estimate)

There aren’t that many pipes in this room; most are laid in the ground floor and basement. For this we have spent about €3000 for the entire house so far, which corresponds to about a 40% discount off the manufacturer’s list price. Despite contacts with former colleagues, it was cheaper to source the parts through a wholesaler than via employee sales. The same applies to the tools, which I obtained from Austria (€2000). The idea was to sell them after the work, but that is unrealistic. You will have to keep them forever in order to change or repair something (this applies to all systems; whatever your installer brings will be hard to supplement with something else!).

Have you ever drawn in the old plans? The bathroom is different in the floor plans, can that be?

No, the floor plan has not changed. See also the sanitary drawing in the previous post.

Hmm… isn't that the bathroom down here on the bottom left?