The first week of The Block kicked off with a bang as contestants took on the first room of their home – the bathroom. They made difficult decisions, pulled off what seemed to be impossible and faced a number of catastrophes head-on. It was no small feat.
Each of the 5 homes are almost identical, with the same floor plan and different exteriors. The contestants need to be creative with their design in an attempt to stand out to the judges. After the first week, we can already see the experience and skills of the five teams, and their own individual style shining through. We were served some massive hits, but we’re really here for everything that went wrong, so we can avoid making those same mistakes in our own home. When it came time for critiques, the judges were generous with their feedback. They shared what they loved… and what they didn’t.
3 mistakes from The Block week 1
Mistake 1: Not doing their research
When it rains, it pours. A mistake that saw a handful of the teams have to tear apart their bathrooms and retile came down to one word: Mastik. In layman’s terms? The tilers used the wrong glue. Such a simple mistake that added an extra day’s worth of work on top of an already stressful deadline.
Mastik D2 is a premixed tile glue, and there’s nothing wrong with it in the ordinary world when you have time on your side. However, in the world of The Block, where time is of the essence, it’s unacceptable because it takes seven days to dry before you can start grouting fully. Ain’t nobody got time for that!
Without the glue drying properly, the trapped moisture can result in tiles falling off, creating massive problems later on. The only exception? Using porous tiles, such as ceramic, that have tiny holes like a sponge, which can absorb and release moisture. Non-porous tiles, like porcelain, are tightly sealed and therefore, an absolute no-no when on a time crunch using Mastik D2.
“You put in all the hard work, you see all your beautiful work up on the walls and they say you’ve got to tear it down. It was tough,” Taz said.
What they should’ve done instead
If you’re tiling and don’t have seven days to wait for it to dry, use a thinset mortar. It works for indoor and outdoor tiling projects and has a slippery, smooth consistency. You can either buy the dry powder and add water to form a mortar, or buy it premixed in a tub so you can get started immediately. Thinset only takes 24-48 hours to dry, and it is relatively easy to use and affordable.
Mistake 2: Incorrect layouts and spacing
Getting the spacing right is essential to the flow, functionality, and style of the bathroom. Without it, it’s just a big, confusing catastrophe.
House 3 saw the incorrect size of their shower screen result in the splash zone requirements not being met.
For those who have never heard of the term ‘splash zone’, it’s the area in or around the shower where water will spray. The shower screen needs to be a certain length to stop it from spraying outside the shower, for both functionality and safety reasons. After realising their shower screen was too small, Britt and Taz moved the showerhead further into the corner so the splash zone didn’t pass the shower screen. However, this didn’t fix the problem; it just created another. The judges noted the positioning was not ideal and Marty said the shower screen “feels minuscule… spatially incorrect.”
House 2 saw another issue. The positioning of their vanity was too high, which Darren pointed out is unacceptable, especially given that the bathroom is next to the kids’ bedrooms. “It’s definitely going to be a challenge for any child under 13,” he said.
What they should’ve done instead
Plan the layout of the room first and consider how it’ll flow and function. Anticipate sizing by using tape to create zones. In bathrooms, measure the splash zone, where the bath will be, the shower, toilet, vanity, etc. Consider the average heights of these items and who will be using them. Plan, plan, plan!
Mistake 3: Not thinking about the buyer
If you’re renovating to sell, the main thing you need to consider is who will buy the home. Build it for them. That’s what Han and Can failed to get right during Bathroom week. “I don’t think this is what the Daylesford market is going to respond to,” Darren said as he looked around the incomplete room. Notably, the arched doorway was a major flop.
What they should’ve done instead
Do market research. Investigate what the buyers in that area look like. Chat to local real estate agents for advice. Then design accordingly.
What the judges thought of each bathroom
House 1: Emma and Ben
House 1, belonging to Emma and Ben felt “very lush,” with the colour balance and texture of greens and earthy tones impressing Shaynna. Darren noted their savvy use of paint instead of tiles to save money, while Marty loved the spacious layout and functionality of the room.
House 2: Han and Can
House 2 saw quite some trouble for Han and Can. They were going for calm curves but bit off a little more than they could chew when they hired a single tiler to do wall-to-ceiling tiling (worse, is that the tiles were tiny, and on a curved surface.) They severely underestimated the job, resulting in them not completing the bathroom. But Darren liked that there was “really soft” elements, “it feels nice and soft and balanced.”
House 3: Britt and Taz
Britt and Taz over at House 3 opted for a modern chic bathroom which the judges loved. Shaynna said it feels elevated while Darren adored their use of wallpaper. But Marty wasn’t fully convinced. “It’s a good bathroom, but it’s not great…”
House 4: Alicia and Sonny
At House 4, Alicia and Sonny went with a natural palette that Marty said felt “a little bit more Daylesford.” The stylistic choices added “warmth and natural beauty” to the space and Darren loved the “bronze, bronze, bronze,” tapware. “I’m besotted with this bathroom,” Darren added.
House 5: Robby and Mat
Next door at House 5, Robby and Mat took the crown with their contemporary country design and a brilliant skylight running the length of the room. Sustainable and aesthetic? Big win. “This is some of the best work I’ve seen,” Marty said.
These images were originally published on nine.com.au/TheBlock.
