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North Wales Live
4 days ago
- General
- North Wales Live
The best bathroom in Wales is in a former care home
Refurbishing a bathroom in a heritage property often poses unique technical challenges. When the owner is insisting the result remains in fashion for decades, the list of potential headaches grows for the builder tasked with carrying out the project. for Mike Robson, tackling an intricate conversion in a former care home was to prove the toughest in his four decades of experience. Not only was he asked to restore the period property into a single-family home, his team had to extend and renovate the house. The owners also wanted to converting two first-floor rooms into a spacious bed and bath area. Somehow Mike, of Talbot Green Construction and Landscaping, pulled it off. At an awards ceremony dominated by South Wales builders and architects, his firm collected the "Best bathroom in Wales 2025" accolade from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Cymru. Despite the Penarth commission being the most complex bathroom project Mike and his team have worked on, he took it in his stride. He says he doesn't stress: having been in the trade for over 40 years, he's been around long enough to know there's always a solution. Mike said: "I don't get stressed about things - if I wake up in the morning and I'm breathing that's good enough for me! "No matter what problems arise, I can sort them out, they are miniscule compared to what can happen in life." Faced with converting two rooms into a bedroom and and bath ensuite, considerable structural work was needed before Mike could start thinking about the finishings. For this, a load-bearing wall had to be removed to merge the spaces, reports Wales Online. Mike said this required extensive effort. "It's probably the most work I've done on a bathroom," he said. "We had to take down a load-bearing wall to knock the two rooms into one space and then create the ensuite in the former bedroom. "We had to install the supporting steel beam and then take up the whole floor because the joists weren't adequate to take the weight of the bath, water and, obviously, a person. "Also, underneath is a living room which was going to have a chandelier hanging down which weighed a tonne, so we took it right back to basics and bricks." Happily, there wasn't an 'Only Fools and Horses' moment with the chandelier. All the structural specifications were done by an engineer and everthing went to plan. Mike recalled: "All the joists were replaced and strengthened and levelled because, as you can imagine, it's an old building, nothing is straight or level, so it can be a nightmare. "But we have an extremely good bathroom and kitchen fitter called Darren Dauncey - everyone knows him as Daz - and his attention to detail is second to none. "He is extremely good, he can see any problems before they actually arise because of his years of experience." The South Glamoran owners were very understanding of the challenges of knocking around a property more than a century old. True to form the Victorian property "kept throwing curve balls at us", they said, adding: "At every obstacle Mike and the team had a solution. "From first fix to the final finishes their attention to detail was second to none and we could not be happier with the end result." The floor, which houses all the pipes and plumbing, required additional work before the marble flooring and luxury fittings could be installed. The bath in particular posed the greatest challenge. Mike explained: "Getting the first fix plumbing into place was tricky because it had to come from the other side of the room and all the pipes needed to be hidden. So there was chasing out the walls, as well as the joists - the logistics of getting the pipework from A to B. "The bath is actually my favourite part of the bathroom, even though it was the most challenging. We needed to support the floor underneath it due to the weight of the marble floor tiles, the bath itself, the water when it's full and, obviously, a person too. "Then we had to hide all the pipework for the bath, water waste and the stand-alone tap. To look at it, it's just a bath and a tap but from our point of view it was a challenge but a very satisfying one to complete." The bathroom at the far end features a separate walk-in shower, a separate toilet and a sauna. All were positioned on a wall which, while it made construction easier, it was harder to conceal the plumbing. Mike said the house, being an older Victorian property, has high ceilings, and this offered the solution. It allowed the team to create a suspended ceiling to conceal additional items needed for the sleek and uncluttered design that so impressed the FMB judges. "The original ceilings were delaminated lath and plaster," Mike continued. "So an MF grid ceiling was installed, not only giving a new level and solid ceiling but all the extraction ducts and services could be run in the void created." The space for the sauna was prepared, including all the first fix elements, before Cardiff-based BOS leisure arrived on site to install it. Other notable features include marble skirtings and dado rails. Mike, a seasoned builder from Talbot Green, stressed the importance of client communication in successful construction projects. He said: "When starting to put things back together we always ask the client if they are sure they want things exactly to the drawings, such as the location of a plug socket or light switch before we do it. They are the clients and they are going to live in the place. "So we are keen to confirm everything with them that they definitely want things as per the drawings or interior designer specifications." Despite recently earning the accolade for 'best bathroom in Wales 2025', Mike, 61, remains modest, attributing the victory to his team's skill and hard work. He's certainly not looking for online recognition. He admitted: "I'm a dinosaur really, I've never seen a social media page and when I have to turn the computer on I feel like smacking my head against a wall! But I'm really content, I'm always active, I can't just sit still, I've got an allotment and I'm always doing stuff." Yet, Mike's building skills are anything but outdated, as evidenced by the award-winning bathroom. He said: "My aim is that whatever the client needs, I will hold their hand and help them through the process. "But at the end of the day it's their home and I treat that with the greatest of respect. All my clients are a pleasure to work for, I'm very fortunate."
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Winner of the best bathroom in Wales 2025 revealed
Winner of the best bathroom in Wales 2025 revealed The builder said it was the most challenging bathroom he has ever tackled in his 40 years of working in the trade Timeless luxury in a period property in Penarth (Image: Talbot Green Construction ) Renovating a bathroom, especially inside a period property, can be a challenge especially if you're spending many thousands of pounds and need the result to be timeless and last in style for decades. It is one of the trickiest rooms in the house to update according to Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Cymru award winner Mike Robson from building company Talbot Green Construction and Landscaping, who can now add to their credentials the builders of 'the best bathroom in Wales 2025'. In a Victorian, three-storey home in Penarth there was a former care home that was waiting to be transformed back into a dream dwelling and Mike and his team were given the task of extending, renovating and completely updating, including the principal bedroom's amazing ensuite, which Mike admits was the most challenging bathroom he has ever tackled in his 40 years of working in the trade. For more property stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here. READ MORE: This is the best kitchen in Wales ALSO: The ordinary-looking home with an unexpected treat in the back garden One of the team, Gary Dodd, taking down the structural wall between the two bedrooms (Image: Talbot Green Construction ) Article continues below The whole space to transform was currently two bedrooms and needed to become a bigger bedroom and ensuite so there was initially a major structural element to the suite update before a marble tile or bath tap was ever delivered. Mike says: "It's probably the most work I've done on a bathroom because we had to take down a load bearing wall to knock the two rooms into one space and then create the ensuite in the former bedroom. All the floors needed to come up too - for extra joist support and for hiding pipework (Image: Talbot Green Construction ) "We had to install the supporting steel beam and then taking up the whole floor because the joists weren't adequate to take the weight of the bath, water and obviously person, and also underneath is a living room which was going to have a chandelier hanging down which weighed a tonne, so took it right back to basics and bricks." But if anyone is worried about the chandelier situation, maybe thinking there might be an 'Only Fools and Horses' moment and the chandelier ends up on the living room floor, Mike says all the structural specifications were done by an engineer and the team worked to them in conjunction with the architect's drawings. The stud walls between the two spaces plus the sauna, walk-in shower and toilet walls are added (Image: Talbot Green Construction ) Mike remembers: "All the joists were replaced and strengthened and levelled because as you can imagine it's an old building, nothing is straight or level so it can be a nightmare. But we have an extremely good bathroom and kitchen fitter called Darren Dauncey, although everyone knows him as Daz, and his attention to detail is second to none, he is extremely good, and he can see any problems before they actually arise because of his years of experience." The owners were, luckily, very understanding of the challenges of knocking around a property over a century old, saying: "True to form for a Victorian property the house kept throwing curve balls at us, but at every obstacle Mike and the team had a solution. "From first fix to the final finishes their attention to detail was second to none and we could not be happier with the end result." The space is actually the principal bedroom's ensuite (Image: Talbot Green Construction ) The floor, with its more robust joists, is where all the pipes and plumbing is hidden to ensure the bathroom has a seamless look but this came at the cost of extra work before the marble floor and luxury fittings were installed, and the bath especially was the biggest headache. Mike says: " Getting the first fix plumbing into place because it had to come from the other side of the room and all the pipes needed to be hidden, so there was chasing out the walls, as well as the joists, so it was the logistics of getting the pipework from a to b. The bath and tap were the most complex element of the bathroom for the team (Image: Talbot Green Construction ) "The bath is actually my favourite part of the bathroom, even though it was the most challenging. We needed to support the floor underneath it due to the weight of the marble floor tiles, the bath itself, the water when it's full and obviously, a person too. "Then we had to hide all the pipework for the bath, water waste and the stand-alone tap - all the work to get it all in place - to look at it, it's just a bath and a tap but from our point of view it was a challenge but very satisfying to complete." The room is full of timeless and tasteful marble - including the dado rails and skirtings (Image: Talbot Green Construction ) The bathroom at the far end includes a separate walk-in shower and a separate toilet and a sauna, all of which were positioned on a wall which made them easier to construct and install as it might first appear, but the house did help out with this element of the build. Mike says that as the house is an older Victorian house it has high ceilings, so the team easily had the extra space to create a suspended ceiling to assist with hiding more items required to produce the seamless and uncluttered design that so impressed the FMB judges. For more property stories join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here The walk-in shower includes separate lighting and integrated shelf (Image: Talbot Green Construction ) "The original ceilings were delaminated lath and plaster," Mike adds, "So an MF grid ceiling was installed, not only giving a new level and solid ceiling but all the extraction ducts and services could be run in the void created." The space for the sauna was prepared, including all the first fix elements, and then Cardiff based BOS leisure appeared on site to install it. Other impressive features to admire include marble skirtings and dado rails. The sauna is a luxurious addition to the space (Image: Talbot Green Construction ) As the most complex bathroom Mike, Daz and the team have worked on it would be understandable to hear of moments of stress, but having been in the trade for over 40 years he says he doesn't worry, he just finds a solution. Mike says: " I don't get stressed about things - if I wake up in the morning and I'm breathing that's good enough for me! No matter what problems come up I can sort them, they are miniscule compared to what can happen in life. The owners wanted a luxurious, five-star hotel feeling and, according to the FMB judges, they got it (Image: Talbot Green Construction ) One element of a build that Mike says is pivotal to success is communication with the client. He explains: " When starting to put things back together we always ask the client if they are sure they want things exactly to the drawings, such as the location of a plug socket or light switch before we do it and as they are the clients and they are going to live in the place. "So we are keen to confirm everything with them that they definitely want things as per the drawings or interior designer specifications." Mike, aged 61 and from Talbot Green, is humble about the title of 'best bathroom in Wales 2025', saying he only entered the competition as a chance to recognise the skill and dedication of his team. He is very proud of the win but hasn't really looked to see if the news has been shared online. Darren Dauncey and Mike Robson receiving the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Cymru award for 'Wales' Best Bathroom 2025' He says: "I'm a d inosaur really, I've never seen a social media page and when I have to turn the computer on I feel like smacking my head against a wall! But I'm really content, I'm always active, I can't just sit still, I've got an allotment and I'm always doing stuff." But clearly there's nothing prehistoric about Mike's build ability, with the award-winning bathroom testament to that. Mike says: "My aim is that whatever the client needs I will hold their hand and help them through the process but at the end of the day it's their home and I treat that with the greatest of respect. All my clients are a pleasure to work for, I'm very fortunate." Article continues below Find your a property for sale with a lush bathroom here:
