As Australias largest supplier of hydronic heating, we have been providing Australian homes with stylish, safe and comfortable hydronic heating and cooling solutions. As exclusive stockists of an extensive range of premium products, we ensure that all homes can enjoy the benefits of a low carbon, energy efficient system. We have just released an industry leading guide on Underfloor Heating, that contains information for both homeowners and installers, I believe the content within would be the perfect for many commenters on this post. If you would like a copy please email me on sophieo@huntheat.com.au

As previously mentioned, not traditional baths can be a nightmare with kids, so if kids are on your agenda, have a good think. Also, if you are not going to stay in the house for a LONG time, consider resale. Parents look for traditional baths for young children and non-traditional bathrooms look good, but can be a real turnoff. If this is your forever, no-kid home, go for it. If not, perhaps reconsider. I am also wondering why you are looking to spend so much on a bathroom that you will not be using (apart from the bath)? Just be careful you haven't overspent/overcapitalised on a portion of the house that really only needs to be functional and modern. People might love the bathrooms on the block, or whatever, but they buy houses in their price-range with functional amenities. Just some food for thought. Good luck with the build.

Hi Building a stud wall is relatively straight forward with the right tools and a bit of planning. You will need to hire a Paslode framing gun. Building a stud wall requires structural pine, which is easily available from Bunnings. I usually use 90 x 45 with a bit of 70 x 45 for the nogs (see below) and I prefer to use a minimum of H3 (you can go down to H2 for inside above ground). Regarding quantities, measure the length of wall you want to build. Include doors and windows within the length (as the timber you save at that area will be used up in the surrounds) From the total length of wall you will need a bottom plate (horizontal bottom piece), studs (vertical pieces spaced out), a top plate (horizontal top piece) and then a series of noggins (short horizontal pieces placed between the studs). I use 70 x 45 timber for the noggins as they don't sit proud of the studs where possible but in truth mostly use offcuts. Noggins have a maximum spacing vertically of 1300mm so you need to look at your wall height to count how many rows. Your studs length obviously need to equal the height of the wall and are then trimmed down. Most people set the studs at 600 centres, meaning every 600mm of length there is a vertical stud. You just count the length and divide by 600, not forgetting to allow for the additional end stud. When it comes to corners, allow extra studs so that you can batten out the studs and create a corner.... You will need to think in advance how you are going to fix it to the surrounds ie is it going up to brick or other stud work. I always screw to other stud work for stiffness (have seen plenty of others just nail). Cheers

Custom joinery is comparativley more expensive than the Ikea pre-fab options as you are paying somebody for the labour. You are also paying for their skills and experience to measure up correctly, to make it work with your crooked walls (no wall is ever straight and perfect), and to fit it exactly to the space it was designed for, without any crooked gaps that collect dust and spiderwebs. You also are paying for somebody to go back to if something sticks or jams, or doesn't work the way it was intended to. To make the cheaper options look neat and complete you do need good craftsmaship skills to install and work out how to get it straight and neat, but as it works on standard modules it never fits perfectly into the space, there are usually gaps. For instance their kitchen modules are designed around a 200mm module. If the kitchen space you have is 3300mm, then you need to figure out a way to cover the 100mm gap. With custom joinery it is designed to fit perfectly in the 3300mm space. If you can't assemble Ikea units perfectly you don't really have anywhere to go back to if you stuff it up. If you don't have these skills then you will need to employ somebody who does, and at the end of the day you may not save a fortune. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls