Long Overdue Bathroom Remodel

I have been wanting to remodel my bathroom for years. I knew when I remodeled my main living space, a combo living/office/kitchen, in 2009 that I wanted to eventually do the bathroom. In fact, I discovered the landlord/builder (also my best friend) had left a big cavity of empty space walled in next to my vanity, so in 2008 or early 2009, I built a recessed "towel cubby" to give me more storage. Unfortunately, a plumbing problem forced me to remove it and I never got around to putting it back.

Anyway, I did the main room in 8 months, then I did the bedroom, which took another 5 months. It takes so long because my lungs don't work so well and I can only do physical stuff for short periods of time. I have to pace myself, but I've learned to deal with it and can do a lot of things as long as there's no rush.

Here are some photos of the original bathroom.

 

The tenants next door moved out last month. That unit shares my bathroom wall. My bedroom and bath used to be a part of that unit and the builder decided there didn't need to be any insulation or soundproofing between those walls. During my bedroom remodel, I added soundproofing all along that shared wall, but the bathroom has had zero soundproof qualities for the 11+ years I've been here. It's a 2x4 stud wall with half-inch sheetrock on each side and lots of electrical boxes that act like little speakers. I have heard everything that takes place in the apartment next door - conversations, crying babies, howling dogs and couples that think the dining room table is an exciting place for sexual adventures.

Now the landlord/builder is here and they have decided to move into that unit and do some remodeling of their own. I have taken the opportunity to begin my bath remodel project and asked my friend, the landlord, to help me with the heavy lifting. He agreed, as long as I didn't mess with the plumbing or electrical, so I had to beg him to fix the messes he left behind so many years ago. I had to help pay for some of the materials because I wanted to change the lighting scheme and move a couple of water lines to facilitate a new vanity, which I want to try to build myself.

Here's a few photos of the plumbing he did for me. The first 3 are of the original plumbing mess, the others are his "repairs." Still not perfect, but much better than it was.

 

I did a lot of research on soundproofing so I could get the most bang for my dollars. I bought some Green Glue Noiseproofing Sealant, which is used to "caulk" all the edges, small holes and seams of the sheetrock. It works best when used for new sheetrock installations, but also helps to use it around junction boxes and the bottom of the rock before any base is installed. I used it as much as I could on his side wherever he made repairs or changes to the walls. I was able to apply it to the back side of all of his sheetrock after I removed all of my old sheetrock.

There were some big cavities where walls met walls and holes that were exposed to the attic or next to sewer pipe in the concrete slab and bugs would find their way in. I got some expanding foam to fill those gaps and a special foam for the cavities in the concrete where the bugs would come and go.

Acoustic clay (putty pads) was next. It is quite heavy, a little sticky and very easy to form around junction boxes and that big washing machine outlet box (since no insulation will fit behind it, I put 3 layers of clay on the back of it).

Then came Rockwool Safe 'n' Sound soundproofing insulation. I first saw the stuff used by Mike Holmes, of Holmes on Homes fame. He's kind of a blowhard, but I did research the product and it has a good reputation.

These photos are of the soundproofing I did in this bathroom.

 

Today (well, it's yesterday now) I did 2 sheets of rock on 3 walls. The landlord helped me carry it in and held it up until I could get a few screws in. Tomorrow, I'll get the bottom part done. Then I'll have to remove the cabinet over the toilet and get the rock up on the pocket door wall and patch the hole I put in the wall above the toilet 3 years ago.

I'm feeling pressured to get this all done quickly because the landlord is working on a refinance of the property and will be getting an appraisal and walk-through in about a month and he doesn't want me to be in the middle of my project. And I don't want him doing any of my work because, well, he just doesn't like doing this stuff anymore and, consequently, doesn't really care if anything is done pretty or even right all the time. I'm a little pickier than that.

Here's a few photos of the sheetrock and areas yet to be rocked.

 

Hey Mike, see something familiar in the 3rd photo of my last post? Thanks for the Ridgid gear. Getting good use of it.

 

Speaking of which... the landlord decided to reclaim that empty space next to my vanity area since he cleaned up the plumbing. His laundry closet was made wider, so no more towel cubby for me. But I do have room enough for a deep medicine cabinet that I will build. That's the small window-looking opening.

So, my bath won't be any smaller, as far as the basic footprint, but less built in storage. I plan to make a slightly larger vanity and try to make a tall cabinet that will fit on that same wall, to the left of the vanity. That's partly why I asked him to change the wiring. He had it spread out over that wall so's you couldn't put anything in front of a light or fan switch.

 

Didn't realize I had been slack in updating this topic. I have been working as steady as I can on the remodel. Been feeling the pressure to get things done because the owner is planning on applying for some kind of refinancing and there has to be an inspection.

The rest of the sheetrock was done on the 14th of last month, then there was a week of drywall mudding, taping and texturing (skip-trowel to match everything else). I did some tearout of the old vinyl, which was 2 layers, between dry times. The slab had been trenched for some plumbing work when I first moved in 12 years ago, but I didn't do a very good job of prep and vinyl install back then (that's when I was told about my lung disease and right after I lost the home I lived in for 17 years and was also losing my flooring business, so I wasn't into flooring perfection at the time). Now I want it to be right, so I spent several sessions beating the hell out of the concrete with a 3# sledge and a cold chisel and scraping up both layers of old vinyl.

Painting came next. The walls are a medium sage green and the ceiling is a very light version of the same color (I just added 3 quarts of flat white to a gallon the satin sheen green - I'll be using it on the rest of the apartment's ceilings too). I'm about to start painting trim, which will all be bright white satin.

After the painting was done, I was able to install the new lighting fixtures. Glad not to have to use a droplight anymore. I'm about ready to start on the vanity, medicine cabinet and some floating shelves above the toilet. I'm also considering making a recessed TP holder.

Enough yammering, here's some photos.

 

Yes, there's a patio and yard back there. I built a small storage closet back there in 2010, first to hold stuff from my bedroom while I did that project, then for general storage.

 

Progress has been slow, but steady at it. Except where the washer & dryer sit, all of the flooring is done. I wove it into the existing bedroom floor, which came up without too much trouble. My biggest challenge was the shower pan and the longest wall that goes right up to the back door; neither are square to the room, nor with each other. In fact, the shower pan was out about a quarter-inch and the 7' long wall was out more than half an inch. I just did the best I could and called it good. I tried to get some little bit of twist in the flooring, but that Karndean just wouldn't bend left or right (and I actually needed it to do both).

I started the vanity yesterday and I'm happy with how it's looking. I've only got the face frame and one side in rough state, but it's a good start. I want it to look like a chest of drawers, with ball feet, a granite/quartz top and nice details in the trim. I've never made a piece of furniture, so I have made a few mistakes and miscalculations. I really thought I would save money over some of those 5 or 6-hundred dollar vanities I like, but my mistakes and having to buy a couple tools has burned a hole right through my budget.

Some of you members have been generous over the years and helped me keep the doors open here at TFP. Most all of your donations has gone for server rent and the software it takes to run a site like this. I always hate asking you for help, but it's a necessary part of the community work. This time though, I am asking for help for personal stuff. Some of you probably think I should live within my means or just don't deserve this kind of "support." I bit off a bigger chunk of a project than I thought. It's getting close to being finished, but there are a couple things I find I can't afford now. The faucet (Shop Pfister Breckenridge Tuscan Bronze 2-handle Widespread Bathroom Faucet at Lowes.com) and a few of the finishing touches are about 200 more dollars than I have. I can prob'ly live without them for a couple more months, but it sure would be nice to complete the project and actually shave in my bathroom for a change.

If you can help me out, you can donate any dollar amount here. Alternatively, you can berate me for even thinking of asking for this personal extravagance and I promise I will take it like the whus I am.

In any case, here are some pics of the progress.

 

Yes, it was a donation and the original plan was always to have the same flooring in the bath. They sent even more and I still have 3+ boxes left. My only problem with it has been that there is only a small number of patterns. I had to be very careful not to place identical boards next to each other. However, this product can be turned either direction, so that upped the possibilities.

 

No donors yet, Mike. I'll post if there are any. Thanks.