Step ON UP EASY STEPS TO MAKE YOUR BATH MAT

NOTHING SAYS DAY SPA LUXURY LIKE A TIMBER BATH MAT

2020-08-20 -

Try out your skills and add a spa-like touch to your bathroom with a sturdy timber floor mat. Made using beautiful Tasmanian oak, the clear finish highlights the grain and brings a natural element to your bathroom.

Gather your supplies

• Slats 42 x 19mm x 3m Tasmanian oak (2)

• Cleats 30 x 12mm x 1.2m Tasmanian oak (1)

• 29mm rubber feet (4)

You’ll also need

Mitre saw; masking tape; measuring tape; trimmer fitted with a rounding over bit, or a sander; sandpaper; combination square; countersinking drill bit; builder’s square; square; 3mm drill bit; 25mm stainless-steel screws; clear varnish; paintbrush

Here’s how

STEP 1 Use mitre saw to cut eight lengths of timber about 710mm long. Bundle so the ends are roughly aligned and tape together.

STEP 2 Cut 1 end of bundle square, then measure and mark the other end so the timbers will be 700mm long.

STEP 3 Use a trimmer fitted with a rounding over bit to round the sharp corners of the slats, then sand smooth. If you don’t have a trimmer, use a sander fitted with medium sandpaper to quickly round the edges, before smoothing with a finer grade.

STEP 4 Cut cleats 400mm long. Use your combination square to draw lines along them, 8mm in from each edge, for your screw guide.

STEP 5 Lay slats on your bench, spacing them apart using blocks cut from the cleat offcuts.

STEP 6 Put cleat on slats so there is an even gap to the slats at each end. Along lines drawn on cleat, mark positions of screws. Use 1 screw for each slat, staggering them on alternate sides of the cleat. Repeat for second cleat. STEP 7 Sit cleat on top of scrap timber and drill holes for screws using a countersinking bit.

STEP 8 Use a builder’s square to make sure the slats are square and the ends are aligned. Place cleats on slats 50mm from the end and use another square to make sure they are square to the slats.

STEP 9 Predrill through holes in cleats into slats with a 3mm drill bit. Make sure you don’t drill all the way through. Screw cleats to slats using 25mm screws. Screw the outer slats first.

STEP 10 Sand ends of slats to remove sharp edges, then apply 3 coats of varnish. Allow to dry after each coat.

STEP 11 Screw rubber feet to the cleats so your mat won’t slide on your tiles.