Two Bathroom Upgrades

[BrokenolMarine]

Miss T decided to upgrade the guest and master baths. My name is Bennet, and I ain't innit.
She decided to do this a month or so after we bought the Farm six years ago. NOT a priority at the time, but it made the list.

The previous owner had taken the tub/shower out of the guest bath and put one of the corner shower units that only skinny people can use. Then put a linen closet in the corner. Tiny bathroom. We ended up often letting "Guests" use the master bath because the corner shower was claustrophobic. (Sorry, the picture was taken after the linen closet was gone, but you can see it's ghost... )

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Another item she'd target was replacement of the pedestal sink. Since she was taking out the linen closet, a vanity sink would give her a place to store some of the items that had lived in that linen closet. Plus the original pedestal sink was a lower end affair she didn't care for.

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Another big item was the paint colors. The seller had used surplus barracks paint throughout the house. That dull brown and an even duller yellow. We knew we were going to repaint when we bought the place, trying to figure out why he'd gone with those colors. Sitting in a dentist's chair at Ft. Sill and looking out across the base I suddenly realized that all the buildings were the exact brown and yellow of the interior of my new farmhouse. LOL.

[BrokenolMarine]

Miss Tina chose a white swirled marble pattern for the flooring, then similar for the walls in the shower. The Tile Gal had a bit of actual Marble from a previous job and said she'd put a window accent in the shower.... it's coming along great. The new tub went in..

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Then they put in the wainscoting. Dark Green on the lower half, a light green on top.

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They are almost done with the tile... a few more passes, then grouting can begin. But you get the idea.

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[BrokenolMarine]

Far from done, but it's taking shape. The grouting is yet to be done. But, the new sink and vanity are in place, the toilet is back in place. They'll still need to install the fixtures in the tub and shower, put the stuff back on the wall. Miss T may do the final painting, after the baseboards and final trim are complete. But getting close.

06 its taking shape.jpeg (223 KiB) Viewed 1380 times

[BrokenolMarine]

She wanted this bathroom done before they started on the Master Bath. That way we had a place to use while they worked on the big one. I would never have been able to use that coffin shower. LOL.

[Coach]

Looks great!

Doing the small bathroom first is smart.

It’s not fun when you’re going through the process, but in the end it’s worth the effort.

[BrokenolMarine]

I always hate major projects in the house. They not only affect the room that's the focus of the project, but the whole house. There are boxes of components in the guest room, standing in wait for duty. Bigger boxes at attention at the back of the garage. The contents of the small bathroom, removed for the remodel, are stacked in the corner of the guestroom as well, or neatly piled on that bed.

Plus people running in and out all day long... Chaos rules.

No relief in sight as that project nears completion...

The Master Bath looms on the horizon.

Yeah, yeah. I know, they will both be worth the time and effort. So was boot camp at Parris Island, but that doesn't mean I liked it. Okay, looking back, after all these years, it had it's moments.

[Mags]

The thing I dislike the most is the sheetrock sanding. Not just that I get covered in it, but that it gets into everywhere in the house. Texturing isn't my favorite either. Lot of masking off where you don't want it including the floor where it gets slippery walking on the wet over spray.

Framing, plumbing, electrical, sheetrock hanging and muddying to me is where the fun and interest is.

Looks like your project is going to finish up very well done.

[Hatchdog]

Really like the tile and paint choices. What a difference in the before and after. New vanity/sink looks great. I’ve never liked pedestal sinks.

[BrokenolMarine]

Our Gal is pretty much done with the tile. The actual marble had to have a coating applied before it could be grouted, so each coat had to dry and then another treatment applied. Three coats minimum. She'll come back tomorrow and do the grout work but the tile is basically done. Miss T started hanging the towel racks, toilet paper holders and the like. I let her do it, she likes the tasks. I got her the tools she needed plus my stud finder and the level. I step in only if there is something she needs my help with and ASKS for it. We have been married for more than three decades, I know how it works.

The tile work awaiting grout:

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The look is coming together. The whole look will be apparent when the tape and paper all comes off and the fixtures are all in place. But it gives you an idea.

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They settled on platinum grout to accent the tile work. Neither Miss T nor our tile gal really likes white grout.

[Mags]

NICE!

[BrokenolMarine]

They slipped over today and finished off the bathroom. Tina mounted a few things on the walls. I imagine a few more will go up here and there as she decorates, but the guest bath is ready.

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They will take a day or two off, then start on the master bath.

[Mags]

Like it!

[BrokenolMarine]

The Master Bath Corner....

01 The main area of attention.jpeg (395.65 KiB) Viewed 1038 times

This corner in the master bath will receive the main concentration. The Garden Tub will be gone. It will be replaced by a 4x6 walk in tiled shower. It will have a Teak Seat, and Dual Head Shower fixture. A fixed head, then an adjustable height had held unit as well.

The existing cheapo walk in shower will vanish, and NOT be replaced with a tub. That space will be occupied by a standing wardrobe. Free up space in the master bedroom. The old vinyl flooring will be upgraded to a much higher quality floating waterproof vinyl woodgrain. The "Army" Brown paint will go. The cheap overhead lighting will go and be replaced by LED lighting. I'm sure Miss Tina has other ideas as well.

Watch this space.

[Hatchdog]

Again, I sure do like the tile and paint color choices made. Also the white grab bar and paper holder look great too. That hall bath looks wonderful.

Yep, that master bath needs help.

[Coach]

Looks fantastic.

[Sir Henry]

Ditto on the fantastic.

[BrokenolMarine]

When Miss T got up this morning, she started on the Deconstruction of the Master Bath. She considers herself the General Contractor. She planned the new bathroom and says that anything she can do is time the contractor can spend on the stuff she can't do. The wife has NO problem with Miss T working with her, and the Husband has no issue with Miss T fetching and stepping. He sometimes has a problem with Miss Tina suggesting the way she wants things to be done. But, he get's over it. She has read the owner's manual for equipment or the instructions for items she has purchased and knows the way things are supposed to work... "We've always done it this way," doesn't work for Tina.

The flooring contractor told her that when they did the hardwood floors. She read the directions and they weren't installing them per the instructions. The floors were coming up and we had a lifetime warranty from the contractor. He is nowhere to be found. So... she monitors the work these days. Normally she leaves the pros to it. But... if you are making errors or the method is questionable, she will ask a question.

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When the team arrived, they got busy and started in earnest. The work moved right along.

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I stayed out of the way... then I got a call into the work. "Hey, get that big ol' antique nail puller. I have had the thing for fifty years. It's older than that. This thing is made to pull large nails driven subsurface, and does the job. Many today have never seen one. They do an awesome job at the task for which they were designed. But, if you get your hand out of place on the grip, it will bite you.

04 antique nail puller.jpeg (390.84 KiB) Viewed 965 times

After several hours of work, they have all the old stuff out, and are getting ready to prep the area to plumb, install the flooring, wallboard for tile, and layout the pan for the shower.

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It will be a nice room when she's done.

[BrokenolMarine]

They have the water lines moved and the area prepped. Today they should put in the furring strips and the wallboard for the tile. Also, reinstall the flooring and layer the thinset to receive the floor pan for the shower.

06 Prepped to lay thinset.jpg (433.39 KiB) Viewed 934 times

Ahead will be building the left hand wall, the plumbing of the shower itself, and all the tile work. All the old flooring will come up and the new flooring will go down. Then, the painting of the walls. Let's not forget the new lights for the ceiling. Yup, whole new look. Watch this space...

I'll be staying out of the way today. I'm making an exception and teaching today.

[Hatchdog]

It’s fun to watch the work get done by pro’s. Looks to be a pretty efficient operation.

You nail puller is cool. I have a fencing staple puller that’s similar. It’s up at the property and next time I’m up there I’ll take another look at it and see if it’s kinda of the same vintage as your nail puller.

[BrokenolMarine]

We have a vintage fencing puller as well, Tina got from her father's family years ago. Laying in the back of the UTV. Tina just used it last month. They built stuff to last back then.