Bathroom Remodel is Underway!

[Dan in Pasadena]

There have been other home remodel threads so I thought some might like watching.
This is a typical small 5'/6' x8' (plus the prior tub alcove) bathroom. It's a
3BD/1BA old house built in either 1926 or 1930 depending on which piece of paper your believe. The prior owner owned this house from 1958 to 2000 when I bought it, had finished out the "upstairs" attic in the early 60's, so now the house has a second bath (also cosmetically challenged but livable for now) that we are using while the main one is being redone.

I did all the demo - it kicked my butt. I went back and forth with the idea of doing this myself or hiring out. This would have taken forever working a few hours at night and weekends so I hired a contractor previously used by family with outstanding results. He works alone, nothing is subbed out. He's quite a craftsman having previously been a cabinet maker. Anyway, some pictures from just prior to today's start:







Some notes:
Some old Post and Insultor wiring still in use. The overhead fan from the 60's which vented to...NOWHERE! The floor framing was removed and wil be re-framed perpendicualr to its old orientation. All new copper piping will then run in the joist bays instead of having to drill through it or hang it low. ALL the spaghetti of old piping and wiring you see including drains is all now laying out in my driveway. It will all be replaced with a new, cleaner installation. Comments or questions are encouraged.

[Zeke]

Jeez, did you have to cutout the FJ's? A lot of work ahead.

[trekkor]

I enjoy watching the projects come together.


KT

[TerryBPP]

Jesus! Thats some work.

[304065]

Dan, I think you are very smart to replace all that plumbing. The opportunity to fix it all when it's apart for a remodel is a good one, you would hate to tear it up later.

[daepp]

If that's copper pipe it wont be on your driveway for long!!!

Good work.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by daepp

If that's copper pipe it wont be on your driveway for long!!!

Good work.

If it were copper pipe it wouldn't BE in my driveway, it would still be in the house! This is old azz galvanized piping that is about as clogged as could be.

Cutting out the floor joists was necessary because the original ones were frankly? Weird. The tops of them had been cut into "points". The tile was in a 1-1/2" mortar bed over a 3-1/2" solid concrete bed poured BETWEEN the joists on black paper over 1x6's bore on little 1x2's nailed tothe joists. COnfusing? Yes. Incredible as that sounds it held fine for 75 years.

The contractor and I think the joists were pointed so the mortar bed was only 1-1/2" thin for for a tiny 1/4" - 1/2" over the "points" instead of a full 2" (REAL 2x4's). This probably makes little sense. I will add a couple pix I think will show what I'm talking about.



The new floor will be 3" of cast polished concrete with an acid dye to simulate stone. The former hard cornered tub alcove will be radiused and made a shower only with thick glass and multiple shower heads. Mosaic glass tile on shower walls. Hinged door replaced with restored old door but as a pocket door. All new plumbing, drains, green board through out. New vanity, probably pendant lighting.

[Zeke]

Yeah, but you coulda "sistered" the joists and not lost the bearing into and under the perimeter walls. Nonetheless, it will be a good job. Just a little more work than I would have caused if I were the contractor. I'm facing a similar situation on my big job in Westwood.

[look 171]

That's how many of them did the mortar bed for floor tile so it will sit even with the hardwood floor or finish floor. We haven taken a good few houses apart in and around Pasadna that were build in the 20s that look that way. We are restoring an old Craftsman borders Pasadena snd Altadana. This one is 1908. The joists aren't set up like that. No tile on the floor.

Where are you geting your plum. fixtures? I buy from a supplier in Pasadena. I take him to the grinding stone all day long. He always beat most of the show rooms around tha area in term of price and service. I just hate to see people spend money in the big box stores. Service and pricing isn't always that great. I don't benefit from any of it. He's a good and honest guy and I like to see him grow in the area.

By the way, Green board is not legal on the ceiling. If you are getting inspected.

[Dan in Pasadena]

A few more pictures from this afternoon. The new framing is only partial and is not final nailed but you can see that piers have been added and the issue of sufficient bearing has been addressed/solved.

Milt, I am in the heavy civil construction field as I have mentioned before. The contractor and I discussed the reframing issue and one of the reasons for it instead of sistering (I initially proposed) is the elevation of the old joists since we are pouring a new all concrete slab. Yeah, it could have been dealt with but I don't have a problem with this.

Look171, Please PM me with that source for the plumbing fixtures - I already bought Latoscana (spelling?) mixing valve, three zone diverter valve and fixed shower head - from Expo....insert tsk, tsk, tsk here! Also bought the handheld shower head but am considering going with a set of three body spray heads instead.

I DO need to pick a toilet though and would appreciate your opinions on them. I probably want a low or tankless type but don't have a firm opinion yet.

OOPS! Computer giving me trouble uploading photos. I'll do them from my office PC tomorrow (Milt, Maybe you can relate?)

[Dan in Pasadena]

Another try:

[look 171]

Dan,

There are many ways you can set up your shower. You can have it set up to turn everything on including shower #1, 2 and bady jets all at the same time. I try to convince all my clients to do that. a 3 way diverter will only allow you to turn one of the fixture on and not the others. You might want to elimate the diverter, and put on 3 valume controls. Make sure you run 3/4 inch lines to everything but the shower heads.

If you have to choose between the hand held or body jets. I say hand held. We have all three and we hardly use the body jets. The second shower (hand held) is use all the time along with the main shower. If you decide on the body jets, make sure you loop them or else water pressure will be different between them.

Toto toilets are the best in the world. If you are not too particular, get the Gmax or Ulta Max model. They never clog. Tank less? The ones I have installed over the years need a 2x6 wall. That's where the tank sits between the studs. It had a air activated remote flushing switch. What ever you do. keep that switch clean and do not get any drywall dust in there. B!tch to clean after that. Those are really cool, the bowl just float there off the wall. The bowl is boted to the frame that houses the tank.

I pm you with Peter's #. Good luck.

Jeff

[Sapporo Guy]

lolo, I got the regular old crapper type of toto but I have one of those toilet seats that have built in heater and spray noozles to clean up those drity jobs!

I thought the ex-wife was wasting money by having a heated seat but ... she was right and that extra comfort is well worth the few pennies a month. Plus the spray water is heated

I use less toilet paper now but the water usage did go up... but ... no more messy clean ups :P

[Dan in Pasadena]

Jeff, Thanks so much for the PM. I have not read it yet but will later.
Thanks also for the recommendation on the toilet. Based on the need for 2x6 framing and your other cautions I doubt we'll use the tankless.

As for the shower setup, my understanding was that the three zone diverter would allow us to direct water to either the fixed or handheld shower head or both together. Guess I'd better check that. As for the body sprays...truth is my girlfriend wants that but I talked her out of it. I was going to reconsider but I felt (as you mention) that they are the kind of thing that looks cool but would go largely unused. Yes, we plan on using 3/4" to everything. You feel using 1/2" to the heads improves pressure without sacrificing volume? Do I understand you correctly? By the way, as a side benefit this remodel is allowing us to run hot water out the back wall to our BBQ sink and also (fingers crossed) to largely replumb the entire house (well, at least the kitchen) into copper.

I'll likely post more pictures later tonight.

[svandamme]

so Dan, are you the one that stole Slodave's crapper or what?

common , 'fess up

[Dan in Pasadena]

Dave's crapper was stolen? I was in Seattle last week so I guess I missed that thread.

Only way I would have stolen it would be if he'd had it in the backseat of his 911 at a run....if he'd done that while I'm in the middle of an expensive bath remodel....well,...

[Sapporo Guy]

hmmm, wouldn't that be crap driving?
Or should I say, driving a piece of crap?

lolo, sorry couldn't help myself :P

[Dan in Pasadena]

I've owned cars in the past that should have had a toilet for the driver's seat...might as well have, the thing was a POS!

[slodave]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Dave's crapper was stolen? I was in Seattle last week so I guess I missed that thread.

Only way I would have stolen it would be if he'd had it in the backseat of his 911 at a run....if he'd done that while I'm in the middle of an expensive bath remodel....well,...

Hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go.

[911Rob]

subscribed.

Looks very challenging Dan, those first set of pics were grusome, but the 2nd set have me settled down. Yikes.... she'll be a transformation!

Looks like your contractor will be doing a good job. I like these guys that 'do it all'.

Good Luck!