Bathroom refit: Day 8

Although it doesn't look like much has changed there was significant progress today, especially considering the guys took three hours out to visit the car auctions to try and find a replacement van (they weren't successful).

Back here at the coalface, the heated towel rail was hung and plumbed in (new pipe runs required for that, so much chiselling of joists), the waste pipe laid for the bath, and the water supply for the loo. Once the plumbing was complete the floorboards were all secured, loose or creaking ones screwed down, and then the plywood sheet that will carry the tiles was laid.

On top of that they rolled out the underfloor heating pad, cutting it to fit around all the pipework. Once all that was done, finally, it was time to start laying tiles. Apparently flooring adhesive goes off so quickly that you don't have time to cut tiles, so the standard way of laying them is to do the easy middle bit first where there are no cuts, and then come back later and do the edges. All of which explains why it now looks as though we have a large bathmat made out of tiles.

Since the tile cement is still wet I am, frustratingly, unable to enter the room to take more photos, but you can see the ones I was able to capture on Flickr.

With most of the floor now laid, to my admittedly amateur eye it still looks like they're running way behind. They have two days left and they still have to tile the shower, finish tiling the floor, grout everywhere, fit the washbasin, toilet, bath and shower heads, refinish the bath so it shines again, and hang the shower doors. Oh and plaster in the hallway, and paint it.