I've resolved to "do up" our two bathrooms in 2015. This will not entail
"creating a whole new look" - I'll redecorate, possibly re-tile, and
I'll replace the rather ancient basins that we have.

As a starter, I didn't immediately bin the B&Q "Kitchens'n'Bathrooms"
catalogue that came with the paper this weekend, but actually looked
through it: some of their kit looks quite nice, and it's certainly
"competitively priced".

"Avoid like the plague", or "decent"?? Any opinions, chaps?

TIA
John

On 21/12/2014 18:34, Another John wrote:
I've resolved to "do up" our two bathrooms in 2015. This will not entail
"creating a whole new look" - I'll redecorate, possibly re-tile, and
I'll replace the rather ancient basins that we have.

As a starter, I didn't immediately bin the B&Q "Kitchens'n'Bathrooms"
catalogue that came with the paper this weekend, but actually looked
through it: some of their kit looks quite nice, and it's certainly
"competitively priced".

"Avoid like the plague", or "decent"?? Any opinions, chaps?

TIA
John

I find independents often have better price/quality deals.

--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

In message ],
Another John writes
I've resolved to "do up" our two bathrooms in 2015. This will not entail
"creating a whole new look" - I'll redecorate, possibly re-tile, and
I'll replace the rather ancient basins that we have.

As a starter, I didn't immediately bin the B&Q "Kitchens'n'Bathrooms"
catalogue that came with the paper this weekend, but actually looked
through it: some of their kit looks quite nice, and it's certainly
"competitively priced".

"Avoid like the plague", or "decent"?? Any opinions, chaps?
We bought a *cheap* bathroom set from them two years ago for a couple of
hundred. We never installed the (fibreglass) bath as it looked too
flimsy - it was an extremely cheap add-on to the rest of the suite, so
no real surprise there. We used the bath taps but have already replaced
them this year with more robust units (not from B&Q). I'm in the middle
of replacing the loo inlet valve because the input thread split. You may
be luckier if you've got more to spend! HTH.

TIA
John

--
Nick (=----)

In article ],
Another John writes:
I've resolved to "do up" our two bathrooms in 2015. This will not entail
"creating a whole new look" - I'll redecorate, possibly re-tile, and
I'll replace the rather ancient basins that we have.

As a starter, I didn't immediately bin the B&Q "Kitchens'n'Bathrooms"
catalogue that came with the paper this weekend, but actually looked
through it: some of their kit looks quite nice, and it's certainly
"competitively priced".

"Avoid like the plague", or "decent"?? Any opinions, chaps?

Look carefully at anything like cupboards, worktops, etc.
Don't know about B&Q, but bathroom items like this tend to
be extremely expensive crap - falls apart as soon as it gets
wet.

Some friends bought a basin and cupboard unit (not from B&Q)
and asked me to put it in. Basin turns out to be made of some
type of resin, and comes with warnings about being damaged by
very hot water, or by being left wet for a long time - WTF?
The bottom of it has a flat area which fails to drain all the
water away, so it will be left wet, and result in scale deposits.
The cupboard is plastic covered chipboard. The plastic edges
have (mostly) been rounded off to just about expose the chipboard
edge to any moisture, except one edge that was missed and is sharp
enough to cut you.

They were so pleased with their "designer" wash basin unit, which
I expect will last 6 months, if they're lucky.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On Sun, 21 Dec 2014 18:34:53 +0000, Another John wrote:

I've resolved to "do up" our two bathrooms in 2015. This will not entail
"creating a whole new look" - I'll redecorate, possibly re-tile, and
I'll replace the rather ancient basins that we have.

As a starter, I didn't immediately bin the B&Q "Kitchens'n'Bathrooms"
catalogue that came with the paper this weekend, but actually looked
through it: some of their kit looks quite nice, and it's certainly
"competitively priced".

"Avoid like the plague", or "decent"?? Any opinions, chaps?

TIA John

The plumber who did our bathrooms was strongly against B&Q (and other
sheds) because (he said) that the parts don't last and then they change
the range and you can't get replacements.

Could just be a grumpy old sod, but AFAIK plumbers tend to buy from
plumbers merchants.

For any cabinets etc. I would go to Howdens or similar since the sheds
order stuff on 8 week lead times with another 8 weeks wait for all the
bits missing or wrong in the initial delivery.

Oh, and Merry Christmas ;-)

Cheers

Dave R

--
Windows 8.1 on PCSpecialist box

On Sun, 21 Dec 2014 18:34:53 +0000, Another John wrote:

"Avoid like the plague", or "decent"?? Any opinions, chaps?


Whatever you do, avoid BnQ own-brand bathroom/kitchen sealants like the
plague! They're pure ****e.

In article ,
Chris Hogg writes:
Missed the OP's post, but we put in a B&Q own brand (Cooke and Lewis)
ceramic wash basin and toilet a few years ago, as part of a loo and
shower room refurb. Very pleased with it. Has to be made by one of the
big sanitaryware manufacturers, probably to their normal production
standards, as you can't knock that stuff up in quantity in a garden
shed.

I would not expect any longevity issue with porcelain parts.
My own WC was a basic B&Q one 10+ years ago, which turned out
to be Royal Dalton when I took the B&Q packaging off.

Watch out for imitation porcelain though ;-)

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

"Another John" wrote in message
]...
I've resolved to "do up" our two bathrooms in 2015. This will not entail
"creating a whole new look" - I'll redecorate, possibly re-tile, and
I'll replace the rather ancient basins that we have.

As a starter, I didn't immediately bin the B&Q "Kitchens'n'Bathrooms"
catalogue that came with the paper this weekend, but actually looked
through it: some of their kit looks quite nice, and it's certainly
"competitively priced".

"Avoid like the plague", or "decent"?? Any opinions, chaps?

The exepnsive bits are the taps.
This is the bit you need to check out thoroughly as it's where these
el-cheapos cut the corners.
Usually made in China and out of monkey metal that will fail in a few years
if the water round your way is aggressive.
Examine the standard of chrome plate, this is another area where corners are
cut.

Be specially careful of thermostatic items. bog standard taps are the best.
Be sure to install all taps so that they can be easily maintainted/changed.

Cheap baths, best to install additional supports to what's provided.

A sample of one who I know has used them for Kitchen stuff is yes, its good,
but be aware they do sometimes seem to have vital bits missing, well there
is a surprise, I expect the packers are on minimum wage and not exactly
taking pride i ntheir work?
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Another John" wrote in message
]...
I've resolved to "do up" our two bathrooms in 2015. This will not entail
"creating a whole new look" - I'll redecorate, possibly re-tile, and
I'll replace the rather ancient basins that we have.

As a starter, I didn't immediately bin the B&Q "Kitchens'n'Bathrooms"
catalogue that came with the paper this weekend, but actually looked
through it: some of their kit looks quite nice, and it's certainly
"competitively priced".

"Avoid like the plague", or "decent"?? Any opinions, chaps?

TIA
John

On 22/12/2014 07:44, harryagain wrote:
"Another John" wrote in message
]...
I've resolved to "do up" our two bathrooms in 2015. This will not entail
"creating a whole new look" - I'll redecorate, possibly re-tile, and
I'll replace the rather ancient basins that we have.

As a starter, I didn't immediately bin the B&Q "Kitchens'n'Bathrooms"
catalogue that came with the paper this weekend, but actually looked
through it: some of their kit looks quite nice, and it's certainly
"competitively priced".

"Avoid like the plague", or "decent"?? Any opinions, chaps?

The exepnsive bits are the taps.
This is the bit you need to check out thoroughly as it's where these
el-cheapos cut the corners.
Usually made in China and out of monkey metal that will fail in a few years
if the water round your way is aggressive.
Examine the standard of chrome plate, this is another area where corners are
cut.

Be specially careful of thermostatic items. bog standard taps are the best.
Be sure to install all taps so that they can be easily maintainted/changed.

Cheap baths, best to install additional supports to what's provided.



I don't trust B&Q with deliveries. Friend had her bath delivery
cancelled at the last minute. Great when you've just smashed up the old
one. They've buggered me about more than once as well

On 21/12/2014 18:34, Another John wrote:
I've resolved to "do up" our two bathrooms in 2015. This will not entail
"creating a whole new look" - I'll redecorate, possibly re-tile, and
I'll replace the rather ancient basins that we have.

As a starter, I didn't immediately bin the B&Q "Kitchens'n'Bathrooms"
catalogue that came with the paper this weekend, but actually looked
through it: some of their kit looks quite nice, and it's certainly
"competitively priced".

"Avoid like the plague", or "decent"?? Any opinions, chaps?

I've installed two bathrooms, a shower room and a downstairs toilet
using B&Q kit and all have been fine.

--
F

www.vulcantothesky.org - keep the last remaining Vulcan flying

OP he thanks very much everyone -- very useful feedback here!

I will look at the B&Q stuff, and I'll also look at IKEA stuff (a friend
has installed an IKEA bathroom and it's very nice ... but he's a very
good worker!)

[Just for info: I won't be renewing the bath: it's a good old steel
(cast iron?) one (1961), enamel is ropey by now, but I believe it can be
resurfaced.]

John

In article ],
Another John writes:
OP he thanks very much everyone -- very useful feedback here!

I will look at the B&Q stuff, and I'll also look at IKEA stuff (a friend
has installed an IKEA bathroom and it's very nice ... but he's a very
good worker!)

[Just for info: I won't be renewing the bath: it's a good old steel
(cast iron?) one (1961), enamel is ropey by now, but I believe it can be
resurfaced.]

Pressed steel can be just as good. I've fitted a couple of
Kaldewei ones, a make which someone here recommended originally.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

/I won't be renewing the bath: it's a good old steel
(cast iron?) one (1961), enamel is ropey by now, but I believe it can be
resurfaced.]/q

In situ?

Jim K

In article ,
JimK wrote:

/I won't be renewing the bath: it's a good old steel
(cast iron?) one (1961), enamel is ropey by now, but I believe it can be
resurfaced.]/q

In situ?

Yes ... if the people who used to do it are still in business. I looked
into it a few years ago, but never got round to doing anything about it
because I backed off the bathroom renovation. I'm going to see if the
guy I was in communication with is still doing it.

This sort of thing: http://www.renubath.co.uk/why-resurface/

John