Victorian master ensuite + family bathroom retrofit — Drummonds + Lefroy Brooks

Brief

1894 Victorian terrace in Parsons Green, SW6 — owner-occupier family of four. Two bathrooms in dated 1990s magnolia + chrome condition: a tired 4m² master ensuite off the main bedroom (formerly a third bedroom subdivided) and a 5.5m² family bathroom serving the other two bedrooms. Brief: full strip-out and rebuild of both bathrooms in heritage-luxury spec to match the recently restored ground-floor Victorian features — Drummonds cast-iron baths, Lefroy Brooks Mackintosh aged-brass brassware, Calacatta marble and bespoke fluted-oak vanities. Builderr engaged Q4 2025; site Q1 2026.

Challenge

Three issues. (1) Soil-pipe routing — both bathrooms needed WC and basin relocations of ~1.2m from original positions; the existing 110mm soil pipe ran externally down the rear elevation and needed re-routing internally + boxed in to keep the rear elevation clean (and avoid conservation officer review — this part of Parsons Green is just outside the Parsons Green Conservation Area but visible from it). (2) Cast-iron bath weight — Drummonds Spey 1700mm bath weighs 168kg empty + 320kg filled + occupant = potentially 400kg point load over 4 cast-iron ball-and-claw feet; floor joists needed strengthening in the master ensuite (sister joists doubling) to take the load. (3) Marble specification — Calacatta Tuscan marble is moisture-sensitive; needed sealed-Hydroshield treatment + decoupling membrane + epoxy grout to prevent water-staining + capillary creep over the 25-year design life.

Solution

No planning required (internal works only, not listed). Building Notice route Hammersmith and Fulham Building Control. Build 7 weeks. Weeks 1–2 strip-out both bathrooms + soil-pipe re-routing internally via boxed-in chase + structural joist doubling in master ensuite (sister joists 47×195mm C24 bolted to existing + steel hangers to existing pocket detail). Wet-area waterproofing — Schlüter-KERDI membrane over plywood overlay 18mm marine + bedded in epoxy + KERDI-DRAIN linear drain to walk-in shower. Weeks 3–4 first fix plumbing + electrics. Master ensuite Lefroy Brooks Mackintosh aged-brass thermostatic mixer shower + Drummonds Spey 1700mm cast-iron freestanding bath + bespoke double-basin fluted-oak vanity 1.6m wide with Calacatta Tuscan marble worktop + integrated brass towel rail. Family bathroom Drummonds Cleaver 1700mm freestanding bath + Burlington traditional pillar taps + Burlington high-level WC + bespoke single-basin oak vanity 0.8m wide. Weeks 5–6 finishes. Master ensuite floor + walls Calacatta Tuscan marble 600×600mm sealed Hydroshield + decoupling membrane + epoxy grout; walk-in shower 1.6m × 0.9m with 8mm low-iron glass screen + handmade glazed Bert & May Marble tiles to feature wall. Family bathroom floor encaustic-cement tiles by Bert & May (Sussex range, 200×200mm), walls handmade glazed metro tiles in soft cream + skim plaster + Edward Bulmer Brimstone paint. Underfloor heating throughout both bathrooms (electric mat 200W/m² UFH thermostatically controlled). LED concealed cove lighting + John Cullen brass wall sconces. Heated brass towel rails Drummonds. Week 7 commissioning + Building Control final + snagging + handover.

Outcome

Building Control final certificate issued week 7. Project completed Q1 2026, on programme. Master ensuite uplifted from tired 1990s 4m² magnolia to heritage-luxury hotel-spec wet zone + the family bathroom similarly transformed to spec matching the restored ground floor. Resale agent (Marsh & Parsons Parsons Green) commented bathrooms now match the quality of the £475,000 ground-floor refurb completed 18 months earlier — full house now consistent at top-of-market Parsons Green spec. Estimated combined uplift on bathrooms £95,000 against £68,500 spend = 139% gross ROI on bathroom-only scope. Builderr first Drummonds + Lefroy Brooks Mackintosh pairing + first joist-doubled cast-iron bath retrofit + first project recommended by Drummonds showroom Notting Hill to a direct enquirer. Hammersmith and Fulham 2nd portfolio case study + Parsons Green first.