The problem
The bathroom in this Seacroft property looked tired on the surface — black mould along the bath seal, discoloured grout, deteriorating sealant — but the real issue was hidden underneath. When we stripped the room back on day one, we found the timber subfloor had rotted through, the wall studwork behind the bath recess was black with mould and decay, and the damage had worked its way down into the kitchen ceiling below. This was not a cosmetic job. Water had been getting in for long enough to compromise the structure.
What we did
Day 1 — Strip out and materials
We cleared the bathroom completely: bath out, old surround gone, floor covering lifted. Once the subfloor was exposed we could see the full extent of the rot — joists soft, timbers crumbling, old copper and plastic pipework sitting in damp soil beneath. We collected materials ready for the structural work to follow.
Day 2 — Structural floor and wall plate
The priority was getting the structure right before anything else went in. We dug into the void beneath the floor, cut out the rotten joists using a reciprocating saw, and installed a new wall plate to carry the load properly. Acrow props were set in the kitchen below to shore up the ceiling while we worked overhead. New timbers in, structure made good.
Day 3 — Bath fitted, tiling underway
With a solid floor to work from, we set the new bath in position and got the majority of the wall tiling done. Large grey wall panels were battened out and fitted level, pipework routed through neatly behind.
Day 4 — Full finish, long day
One man on site for a long final day. Grouting completed, all silicone joints finished, shower mixer connected, screen fitted, taps and waste installed, bath panel on. Everything tested — no drips, no movement. Down in the kitchen, the ceiling was patched and a skim coat applied to the damaged area where the water had come through. Left the site clean.
The result
A bathroom that is structurally sound for the first time in years, with a clean, properly fitted finish throughout. The kitchen ceiling below is patched and skimmed. No shortcuts on the structure — everything that was rotten came out and was replaced properly before the new fit-out went in.
Thinking about something similar?
If you have got a bathroom that looks like it needs more than a regrout, or you can see mould coming through a ceiling below a wet room, it is worth getting it looked at before the damage spreads further. Send us a few photos and we will give you a straight assessment and a free quote — no obligation.
