Replacing wall mounted shower taps

[Stella]

Hi
I am looking at doing a mini ensuite reno in our PPOR. Will be painting, maybe changing the vanity & if we do replace the vanity, will need a new toilet (both are a matching grey/blue colour)
The existing tiles are fine, just need to replace/update the shower frame, glass & tap fittings. The taps for our shower are old style yucky looking things that I would like to replace with a flick mixer thingy without changing the tiles. I'm thinking I can just chip the tile off that the taps are thru & replace with a new tile once the new showerhead & tap is installed?

Also, we have a floating vanity - can anyone tell me how these are secured to the wall - I can't see any mounting bits anywhere??

Cheers
Stella

 

[The Y-man]

Photos might help greatly.

Cheers,

The Y-man

 

[Tizzy]

Hi Stella, I'm in the midst of a bathroom reno at the moment. When you say you want flick mixer taps do you mean you want an all in one unit?

Are the taps that you currently have two taps and one shower head? If so , that will mean the plumber will be chipping away more than just the two tiles that the taps are on. The pipework needs to be redirected to the mixer so the hot and cold pipes are brought together. Allow for several tiles to be lost. I know we changed the configuration of a lot of our plumbing and it is quite labour intensive ( read expensive) for that cost. However our wall is brick/cement so may not apply to your situation.

If you don't have enough tiles, then another option is to update the two handles and install an adjustable shower head on a slide bar. There are some great massage models available. Then your plumbing can stay the same.
Take a look at the taps and showers at the online place Renovation D.

If you change the toilet, get one with the same "set out" as the one you currently have. That will be cheaper to install. You measure from the rear wall to the centre of the drain outlet.

Hope that helps you. I love doing bathrooms!

 

[craigb]

the mixers a plumbed compleatly differently, and the wall and tiles must be removed, but try and get the 1/4 turn hot and cold set of taps there are the next best thing.
the [floating] vanity, perhaps its a wall hung basin ??
if so remove the trap, then the basin set,or taps then cut the silicon, their are two nuts/screws under or above the basin set screws , yep right up under their, all else fails smash it off with a hammer,your replacing it any way luck

 

[Stella]

Here is the shower - as you can see the taps are offset under the shower head.

The mouldy grout is mainly on the flat bit to the right of the taps.

The vanity in all its glory!

There is a huge mirror above the vanity. If the vanity is changed the mirror will also be coming down & replaced with one somewhat smaller.

I dont know who chose the colour scheme either but the creamy/beige walls dont do much for the grey/blue tiles. I was thinking either a nice pale blue with chrome or white fixtures & shower panel or maybe even painting the walls in a very white & having white taps etc?

Any suggestions?

Cheers
Stella

 

[handyandy]

The taps for our shower are old style yucky looking things that I would like to replace with a flick mixer thingy without changing the tiles. I'm thinking I can just chip the tile off that the taps are thru & replace with a new tile once the new showerhead & tap is installed?

Cheers
Stella

Hi Stella

Do you actually have spare tiles? If you don't it is unlikely that you will find matching tiles at a reasonable cost. There are specialist shops who sell 'old' tiles but they charge a fortune.

To minimise the intrusion on the tiles it may be possible to come in from the back. What is behind the wall where the plumbing is located. As craigb has mentioned a shower mixer is a radically different plumbing requirement and will need many tiles removed if entering from the shower side.

Cheers

 

[Carl]

not to steal your thread, but when i read the title i thought it was relevant to what i was going to start another thread about!!

Gf's property has 2 pairs of taps (one pair for shower, one pair for bath spout - vanity has mixer). They are old type and was wondering what are the best value taps to replace just to make it look better and hopefully reduce any future leaks?

 

[Stella]

Hi Stella

Do you actually have spare tiles? If you don't it is unlikely that you will find matching tiles at a reasonable cost. There are specialist shops who sell 'old' tiles but they charge a fortune.

To minimise the intrusion on the tiles it may be possible to come in from the back. What is behind the wall where the plumbing is located. As craigb has mentioned a shower mixer is a radically different plumbing requirement and will need many tiles removed if entering from the shower side.

Cheers

We have spare tiles not sure how many though. The good news is there is only a bedroom wall on theother side so that may be the way to go.

Neighbour down the street is a plumber so is the partner of one of my partners workmates so may have to get them out to have a look. Going in that way would make sense - then I'd only have to repalce the tiles the taps are removed from - too easy!
Thanks guys!

Now to just start trying to get the existing grout clean!

Cheers
Stella