Quick answers
Does an old bathroom always need a full renovation?
Not always. If the tiles and pipes are sound, repairing the walls above the tiles and changing the fittings may be enough. With leaks, worn pipes or tiles coming loose, it needs a full one.
A full renovation changes everything, from the pipes to the tiles. But it isn't always necessary. If the tiles are holding, aren't cracked and don't sound hollow, and there are no leaks, a bathroom can be refreshed without being stripped out.
In this bathroom, damp had lifted the plaster and paint above the tiles, and the old cistern had rusted. The old fittings came out, everything loose was scraped off, and the surfaces were smoothed and painted white. The tiles stayed as they were.
A full renovation makes sense when the tiles are coming loose, when the pipes are old or leaking, or when you want a different layout, such as turning the bathtub into a shower. In a bathroom whose dark tiles had started to come away, the answer was to take everything out and start again.
Keep in mind: if the stains on the bathroom walls or ceiling come from condensation from the steam, good ventilation helps. If they come from a leak, painting is not enough, because the damage will come back. Which it is can be judged on site.
Jobs that show it
Bathroom With Peeling Walls Restored
The walls and ceiling above the tiles were stained by damp and peeling. The old fittings came out, and the surfaces were repaired and painted white.
See the job step by step
Bathroom Renovation with a Walk-In Shower
A bathroom with dark old tiles and a tub was stripped out completely and became a bright room with a step-free shower, a wall-hung toilet and a new basin.
See the job step by step