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A 1980s-era bathroom, laundry and toilet were refurbished for less than $2000 with new tapware, vanity unit, toilet cistern, hybrid flooring and paint.
The project
I thought I would share my experiences in updating my daughter's 1980s laundry, bathroom and toilet without spending a whole lot of money.
Laundry
I have never done any tiling before but as it was not a big job, I thought I would give it a go.
First, I removed the old school taps and replaced them with a 1/4 turn ceramic disk lever-style tap set. Then I removed the old tiles from around the tub and replaced them with Subway wall tiles.
Next, I replaced the tiles at the base of the walls with white 400mm x 200mm tiles.
Finally, I laid 4.5mm hybrid waterproof flooring directly over the old tiles. These are easy to work with and can be cut with a score and snap knife. The manufacturer requires that there is an expansion gap between the wall and the edge of the board, and not to use silicone sealant.
Bathroom
I replaced the vanity unit with a relatively inexpensive one. Then I put down more hybrid flooring. Silicone sealant is essential here to stop water from getting under the boards. The hybrid flooring cannot be used in the shower alcove, so the original tiles still show.
Next, I decided to paint the tiles. I bought Dulux Precision Maximum Strength Adhesion Primer (which is white unlike the clear renovator primer). Naturally, good preparation is in order, cleaning off the dirt, grease and soap residue with a scourer and sugar soap. I did not sand the tiles as a trial showed that it was not effective in roughing the surface.
I applied the primer with a 4mm nap roller. I then applied two coats of Dulux Aquanamel High Gloss Vivid White. And finally, two coats of Dulux Design Clear Top Coat which provides a durable, shiny, hard coat over the tiles. The top coat should not be exposed to humidity for 48 hours.
Taps in the bath and shower were replaced with lever taps and a fancy shower rose. The towel rails were replaced with the Caroma Cosmo range and lastly, I fitted a new mirror.
Toilet
As there was nothing wrong with the toilet bowl, I replaced the cistern and seat with the Estilo cistern with seat.
Just a tip with applying the sealant: Before applying the hybrid flooring, I masked both the tile and floor area about 4mm from the edge and then applied a bead of silicone without worrying too much about getting it perfect. Then I dipped a pop stick in a solution of dishwashing liquid and ran that along the silicone to get a nice smooth finish with the excess running onto the masking tape. Then I carefully removed the tape.
Running tiles at the base of the walls were replaced with the same 400mm x 200mm wall tiles and the same hybrid flooring.
Unsurprisingly the tapware was the most expensive part of the renovation, but all up I am sure it was less than $2000.
Before and after
How to plan a renovation
With research and planning, you can turn your laundry and bathroom into welcoming spaces. Check out the guides How to plan a laundry renovation and How to plan plan a bathroom renovation by experienced renovator Adam Woodhams.
More inspiration for your home
Workshop member ProjectPete shared how he completely transformed his laundry.
Workshop member jaga also gave his bathroom a complete makeover.
For further ideas, check out our Top 10 most popular bathroom projects and our Top 10 most popular laundry projects.
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