Image Not Found

Bathroom Remodel, 2015

The old master bathroom was a disaster
Almost everything about it was wrong
I fixed it

Image Not Found

The Solidworks model before construction started

Image Not Found

The tub was an odd shaped "jacuzzi" type
Because of the large structure it was installed into, it was hard to get in or out

Image Not Found

The shower was awful beyond belief
The valve was a long way from the handheld head
This meant that it took a while for any adjustment changes to result in water temperature changes
Since it was a non-thermostatic valve, even if a good setting could be found, it didn't last long

Image Not Found

Carpet surrounding the tub and shower is not a good idea

Image Not Found

Demolition starts

Image Not Found

The tempered glass is removed

Image Not Found

Tile demolition is an awful job

Image Not Found

Little by little

Image Not Found

Progress is made

Image Not Found

The tub was given away for free on Craigslist

Image Not Found

The tub structure was well built and somewhat difficult to demolish

Image Not Found

Much nicer now

Image Not Found

Now start the shower tile demolition

Image Not Found

Also an awful, unpleasant job

Image Not Found

The shower pan was hot mop over mortar
High quality construction, not a picnic to remove

Image Not Found

Tile cabinet tops were next

Image Not Found

I had to leave the sink in place as I was still using it

Image Not Found

It feels good to clean up after demolition

Image Not Found

The drywall is a bit ragged, but that will be fixed later

Image Not Found

At that moment, it felt really good to see a clean workspace, ready for construction

Image Not Found

The tub arrives
It was an epic struggle involving a shop crane, floor jack, packing blankets, the elevator, a helper and a lot of improvisation
It weighed over 300 pounds and was almost impossible to move, since it was round and smooth with no place to get a good grip
It was placed in the work area to verify the positioning
CAD is nice, but verification in the actual space is better

Image Not Found

Off to the dump

Image Not Found

Another awful part of the design was the light boxes
They were big and bulbous, and filled with non-dimmable fluorescent tubes
They were also built really strong, with plywood under the drywall

Image Not Found

You never know what surprises you will find when doing demolotion. The sewer vent needed relocation..and what's that aluminum tube?

Image Not Found

The other side was the same

Image Not Found

Another sewer vent that needs relocation

Image Not Found

Sewer vents are easy to relocate

Image Not Found

What is that mystery tube?

Image Not Found

It turned out to be the ventilation fan from the adjoining toilet room
I didn't want to try and cut a 4 inch hole in the top plate, so I split it into two 2" pipes

Image Not Found

Electric box in place

Image Not Found

And drywall

Image Not Found

Same on the other side

Image Not Found

The tub waits, covered to protect against damage

Image Not Found

Time to cut a hole in the floor and do some plumbing

Image Not Found

Tub sewer line in place

Image Not Found

Shutoff valves installed. An access hole was provided on the floor below

Image Not Found

Hook up the water

Image Not Found

The shower supply was backward, no problem

Image Not Found

Because of the placement, there was barely enough room to squeeze in a wet vent

Image Not Found

The shower drain was easier. The existing sewer pipe was exactly in the right place

Image Not Found

Pipe insulation applied on the hot water lines

Image Not Found

Testing the shower drain

Image Not Found

I used Schluter Systems shower parts
The shower pan had a stiff styrofoam base
It was really nicely made, but I was a tiny bit skeptical about styrofoam

Image Not Found

Hardie Backer was used for the shower walls

Image Not Found

The screws were supposed to be designed specifically for the job, but I still had a bit of trouble with them
The special bit included with the screws tended to strip out, and they didn't self drill very well
I ended up pilot drilling every one

Image Not Found

Ready for the shower wall

Image Not Found

The shower wall was constructed downstairs in the shop
It barely fit in the elevator, with a fraction of an inch to spare

Image Not Found

I like round corners

Image Not Found

They were cut with a router

Image Not Found

Shower walls installed

Image Not Found

Start drywall taping

Image Not Found

And continue

Image Not Found

The shower was waterproofed with Schluter Kerdi waterproffing membrane

Image Not Found

The Schluter system seems really well designed
There are even molded corner pieces

Image Not Found

The Hans Grohe rough box also seems well designed
It contains shutoff valves and allows easy replacement of the fixture if necessary
I love German engineering!

Image Not Found

The "Basket Weave" pattern
This used the same two colors of marble as the shower wall and bathroom floor

Image Not Found

Using a diamond bit, the CNC router can cut marble

Image Not Found

This made a lot of things easier

Image Not Found

8x8 marble tiles were laid out on the floor and selected before being installed

Image Not Found

The finished floor was protected with plastic

Image Not Found

Spacers were used to ensure consistent grout lines

Image Not Found

Ready for grout

Image Not Found

After grout

Image Not Found

The floor and walls match

Image Not Found

Hardware installed

Image Not Found

Ready for texture

Image Not Found

Texture spraying is really messy, so up goes the plastic

Image Not Found

Texture done

Image Not Found

Primer applied. Looking better

Image Not Found

The cubbies on the shower wall were individually spackled and sanded
After texture, they look fine

Image Not Found

Finish paint on back wall and shower wall

Image Not Found

Hardie Backer applied to floor

Image Not Found

Marble tile in place using spacers to ensure an even grout line

Image Not Found

First section of floor grouted

Image Not Found

The tub was installed with the aid of a shop crane, with plywood on the floor to protect the marble

Image Not Found

The tub in place

Image Not Found

The tile saw
Tile cutting is a messy business

Image Not Found

The final section of Hardie Backer is down

Image Not Found

The radii on the tile were cut with the CNC router

Image Not Found

After grout

Image Not Found

The carpet was cut to match

Image Not Found

The cabinet top, with spacers

Image Not Found

After grouting

Image Not Found

The sink matches the tub

Image Not Found

Towel holders in place

Image Not Found

Opposite side cabinet top in place

Image Not Found

And grouted

Image Not Found

With sink and hardware in place

Image Not Found

Almost finished now

Image Not Found

Only a few lights and window details remain

Image Not Found

Another view

Image Not Found

Lights in place

Image Not Found

The final result

Image Not Found

With window trim and shutters

Image Not Found

On to the next project