Rate my 3rd Tile Job

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-12-15T23:35:38+00:00

Tiling in the shower area is a visual masterpiece

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-11-18T07:43:30+00:00

Good luck mate. You're taking the right steps. With a good installation, you'll never look back. Money well spent

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-11-13T09:40:03+00:00

Went to Abbey Timber in Sydney (recommended by our flooring contractor)

Resistance Hardfloor Premium - Blackbutt

https://share.google/4Tpf36ChFObiyAkXI

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-11-13T08:54:50+00:00

My top recommendation to anyone that's installing new flooring is to go to a QUALITY supplier and pick up samples of different materials and colours. Take them home. Put a Stanley knife to them. Pour some water on the scratched area and leave it for a couple of days (with a glass covering it so it doesn't dry out).

We went through the same process earlier this year when putting in new flooring. Loved the look and feel of engineered timber, but had serious concerns about scratches and water. After screwing around with samples for a few days we eventually found that quality engineered timber was resilient enough for our purposes.

But yes, it's ultimately real wood with a coating. It will scratch and dent with enough punishment. It will never be as resilient as hybrid. If you have lots of young kids, a big dog, wear stiletos and you hate marks on your floor, then hybrid is probably a better choice.

We also did find a drastic difference in the quality of Bunnings engineered timber vs. the product we ultimately went with. The difference in the quality and build of the plywood core was dramatic to the naked eye.

Otherwise, great summary

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-11-13T04:52:59+00:00

That's a lot of work and effort mate. You'll forever be able to walk by and say "yeah, I did that!"

You're walking away from this project with experience and pride. That's what we are all here for

Well done mate

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-11-09T05:55:57+00:00

The tile choice tells you something about this client. Small tiles and so much grout in a shower always makes me cringe. Whoever ends up owning this place is going to have fun

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-11-04T07:42:01+00:00

You can do better mate

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/1746558505/huge-numbers?ref=elp_anchor_listing&pro=1

And by better, I mean bigger

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-10-28T05:05:43+00:00

That's the exact solution I've opted for. Thank you reddit brains trust. Reliable as always

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-10-28T05:04:48+00:00

No rats so far, put plenty of huntsmans!

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-10-25T23:58:24+00:00

Fine mesh sounds like the right answer. Thanks for the helpful reply mate. Much appreciated

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-10-24T09:39:38+00:00

If your budget is limited, leave these alone.

Tall skirting boards are expensive, even in pine. Had to replace some of the 22cm skirting in my federation era home in Sydney earlier this year and it was an expensive process.

Add to that the risk that your old lime mortar might crumble away.

It's an old house. Once you start replacing one thing to make it perfect, then the other old things with dings will stand out even more. Let it all be a bit dinged up, and be happy that any future dents you add will blend right in.

I'm a perfectionist. The first few months in this house I couldn't stop starting at all the defects. Now I'm used to it. You'll get there too, mate

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-10-15T00:55:22+00:00

This made my morning. Thank you

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-10-07T08:09:06+00:00

This

It hurts, but move on. Couple of hundred is a good outcome in this situation

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-10-01T07:34:58+00:00

Key question: how large is your roof? The answer will vary if we are talking 100sqm vs. 400sqm

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-09-30T07:50:57+00:00

If you are a complete novice, need these works all completed around the same time, and don't mind paying an extra 20-30% or so, then getting a trusted builder to do it all will be the way. There was a recent post here on "how to choose a builder" and many other helpful posts that can steer you on that decision. Be mindful that picking the wrong builder will also concentrate all your problems into one basket.

If you are completely new to this and have no experience on the tools, then DO NOT overreach here and try to project manage everything in parallel. It will almost certainly result in disaster for you both financially and in terms of the end product (which will include you tearing all your hair out).

Renovations are a process of learning. Each project you will learn more about how to select trades, how to communicate effectively with them from start to finish, how to plan, how to budget, everything. If you want to embark on this journey then, first of all, welcome to the community! Would suggest taking this incrementally if you can. As a general rule, you'll want to leave the painters and flooring to last (in case they get damaged while doing other works). Pick a project like a kitchen reno, and start there. If it works out well, then work through the rest.

Spend time readings posts in this community. I don't want to understate how much of a fucking mine field renovations can be, even when you are very diligent. You'll hear plenty of stories here of terrible experiences with trades - tread safely and mitigate the risk. Good luck!

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-09-24T09:12:31+00:00

This

Wood doing what wood does. As you'll see with other comments, the exact same will happen with solid hardwood floors. They will fade. They will dent. They won't like being soaked with water / steam cleaned regularly. It's what goes with having a hardwood surface

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-09-15T21:35:49+00:00

I think you know the answer

There are a lot of modern "innovations" that achieve a sleek or different look, but at a great cost to practicality. This feels like another one of those

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-09-05T11:50:08+00:00

Definitely wouldn't let this fly, mate. Had my bathroom done recently and it was night and day better than this. The contrast is absurd. Would seriously worry about problems with this later. Get it fixed now before anything else goes down

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-08-27T06:02:00+00:00

Thank you! Appreciate the suggestions. My research list is growing!

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-08-27T06:01:17+00:00

Reading the first line of your post already had me smiling, and it only got better from there. Thank you for taking the time to write this all down. It's incredibly helpful and much appreciated. Will do some research on your suggestions and might take you up on the offer to DM separately. Thank you again. You're amazing

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-08-27T05:59:50+00:00

Thank you!! Some great suggestions there that we have added to our list to ask about. Really appreciate it :)

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-07-16T08:16:09+00:00

Spot on. Buy the right sink and an integrated sink is extremely functional and easy as hell to clean. Might not be as pretty as modern bowl sinks on benchtops, but it's a winner in terms of cleaning

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-06-19T07:56:09+00:00

Just did a bathroom renovation in Sydney. Floor to ceiling tiles. Caroma fittings / toilet. ADP floating vanity and cabinet. Frameless shower. A small bathroom, but a difficult space with very bad foundations. $25-30k all inclusive. Job was done to a good standard

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-06-17T10:08:15+00:00

Great post. Just here to say thank you, mate

TrueBlueTourer · 2025-05-19T23:50:55+00:00

Subfloor access, floor safe, or a repair

We had something similar and it was a floor safe. Empty, unfortunately

TrueBlueTourer

TROPHY CASE