New concrete floor or not?

[Zebra]

I've taken a week off work to get the bathroom watertight and insulated, and I'm plagued with indecision. Again. The bathroom (3m x 2m) is a 1940s build, I think, an addition to the 18th century house. It has the remnants of a polythene dpm, a concrete slab and partial screed, which I could patch up. Or, I could remove the lot, dig it out more, put in a new dpm, insulation, new slab, and finish at a lower level than it currently is, making the floor level continuous with the rest of the house, and meaning that a tall person could feasibly stand up in the shower. (Bear in mind Giraffe...)
Is it worth it? I'd need to hire a mixer, get a skip, make a load of concrete. Is the payback in terms of energy saving worth the cost and impact of what it would take to do it?

 

[vicky whitworth]

I guess it depends on whether Giraffe is sharing your nosebag. No one like a Giraffe with a crick in his neck. It makes them grumpy. 8)

 

[Flyfisher]

Given the 3x2m area, I don't think I'd be expecting to justify all that work and money in terms of energy saving, unless you're happy for a very long repayment period indeed.

However, being able to stand up in the shower as a result of greater headroom would seem to be a far more tangible and immediate benefit.

 

[LadyArowana]

I suspect it's not "worth it" by any financial measure, however I also suspect that if you don't do it it will be an annoyance forever.

 

[Penners]

Just how bad is the headroom if you don't dig down? Don't forget that your shower tray will reduce it still further.

If an average person really can't stand up comfortably in the shower, with headroom for hair-washing, etc, this is definitely a major minus. A nice shower is such a relaxing and invigorating experience - it's a shame to have it spoiled by neckache or backache.

The additional problem might also turn out to be condensation. A low ceiling in a shower room could tend to exacerbate this problem.

If the headroom is genuinely poor and you can face the task (and cost) of digging out and pouring a new slab, then I think it will be worthwhile. It will enable you to install a new DPC (don't forget to tank it up the walls and make it contiguous with the DPM), and create a much more comfortable, enjoyable room.

 

[angrybird]

....a much easier solution

 

[Zebra]

Thanks for your replies. Current screed to ceiling is 2030mm, or 6ft 8. Subtract from that the depth of the shower tray with plumbing, and/or any floor covering, and it's not terrible, not for an average person. Never mind Giraffe anyway, giraffes are very smelly and never wash, I've learned (despite yours appearing to be enjoying its bath, Angrybird).
Condensation won't be likely to be an issue, I've put lots of insulation in the ceiling, and good extraction. So I think I'm tending towards not doing it, although my fear is that LadyA could be right.
Perhaps, on reflection, the correct thing to do under the circumstances is to procrastinate.
I'll spend the week plastering the study instead, and making skirtings for the living room. I'll set the shower up temporarily in the kitchen (I know it sounds mad, but the kitchen is simply an empty room with plumbing and electrics available, which will do as a temporary bathroom) and abandon the bathroom to my indecision.

 

[Penners]

Current screed to ceiling is 2030mm, or 6ft 8. Subtract from that the depth of the shower tray with plumbing, and/or any floor covering

Don't forget to allow headroom in your measurement for the shower head, which will of course be below ceiling height.

Procrastination sounds an excellent plan, although a better nomenclature is "assessment". Don't forget the cuppa and Kit-Kat.

 

[a twig]

I'm going to go against the grain, and say do it once and do it right. Then:

a) You'll always be happy with it
b) You won't have to do it again

I've just finished our new shower enclosure - having just spent 8 evenings and one weekend making sure it is spot on (I'm 6'4" so there were similar considerations). Still grouting at 2am was a low point but it is finally finished - looking back it was amazingly worth it. I can stand in front of it and say I'm 100% happy with it - which is more than worth the extra time effort and hassle to me.

 

[LadyArowana]

Perhaps, on reflection, the correct thing to do under the circumstances is to procrastinate.
I'll spend the week plastering the study instead, and making skirtings for the living room. I'll set the shower up temporarily in the kitchen (I know it sounds mad, but the kitchen is simply an empty room with plumbing and electrics available, which will do as a temporary bathroom) and abandon the bathroom to my indecision.

That seems like a very sound approach. Sometimes if I have a difficult bit of a project to do ( something that I could get away without doing, but I know I should ) I do the nicer parts first and then revisit the part I wanted to shortcut. The more that you have completed "properly" then the less temptation there is to spoil it with a compromise.

 

[Penners]

That still sounds fairly industrious, Yer Ladyship. My efforts at procrastination (a contradiction in terms if ever there was one!) tend to be more sitting-down-and-thinking-about-it affairs.

Try it. It's quite enjoyable.

 

[Zebra]

Ah LadyA, you reckon hang a mirror and fancy loo roll holder now?
Now I'm tending towards doing it, but getting a builder in to do it. Agh! Indecision!

 

[Zebra]

A nice Italian builder has just been to look, we've agreed the price of two packs of Hobnobs, and he's going to start next week. Feel much better.

 

[LadyArowana]

A nice Italian builder has just been to look, we've agreed the price of two packs of Hobnobs, and he's going to start next week. Feel much better.

Excellent, well done you.

 

[Zebra]

On the minus side, I forgot last night that I'd not plumbed in the waste of the temporary shower-in-the-kitchen arrangement, and flooded the kitchen. :roll:

 

[LadyArowana]

On the minus side, I forgot last night that I'd not plumbed in the waste of the temporary shower-in-the-kitchen arrangement, and flooded the kitchen. :roll:

No you didn't, you flooded the bathroom, which isn't nearly as bad :lol:

 

[Penners]

we've agreed the price of two packs of Hobnobs

Excellent! The Hobnob as a unit of currency - that's my kind of economics!

I was of the firm opinion that, if the Scots had voted for independence, they should adopt the Tunnock as their currency.

 

[Zebra]

No you didn't, you flooded the bathroom, which isn't nearly as bad :lol:

I suppose I have a wet room now, which is very fashionable.

 

[worms]

I was of the firm opinion that, if the Scots had voted for independence, they should adopt the Tunnock as their currency.

Never! Some things are more important than money! We could never have risked a run on the Tunnock!

 

[Penners]

We could never have risked a run on the Tunnock!

That shipped sailed years ago in our local supermarket. The bloody shelf is always empty!