Anatomy of a tile bathroom remodel

[trekkor]

A little late on the pics, but here is the tub/shower enclosure in sheetrock with "peel and stick" waterproofing over the nailing fin of the tub.






The tub is protected from the coming mortar bed.


KT

[trekkor]

Water proof paper and window flashed.






KT

[trekkor]

Metal lath, ( stucco netting ) in place. Ready for mortar.






I will show all the steps involved in creating a floor to ceiling marble bathroom.

It's going to be 12x12 tumbled marble on the walls and 16x16 tumbled marble on the floor, set diagonally with tile base board.

1/8 inch grout joints.


KT

[azasadny]

Excellent! Thanks for posting the "step by step"!

[Moses]

Subscribed! LOVE this stuff!

[trekkor]

It'll be fun. I've wanted to do this for quite some time.

And of course, I will field any and all related questions along the way.


KT

[mtelliott]

Why the see-through glass to the outside? Are you trying to show off.

[JavaBrewer]

Subscribed. KT - I'm very interested in learning how to mud. Materials used, application, gotchas. Wife and I were going to replace our tiled master bath vanity sinks with marble slab but the cost has forced me to consider marble tile. Thanks!

[the]

Cool.

Is this something you think could be done by a handy DIY'er?

[therotman]

Originally posted by the
Cool.

Is this something you think could be done by a handy DIY'er?

Definatly- I am not all that handy but have done it myself twice now


Before:



After:




Sorta late before pic:




After:






I tiled with all Travertine in the 1st and normal 1" tiles on the shower wall on the other with travertine floors. The hardest part of the two projects was getting the drain to line up with then new tub because the new tub was wider (and much taller) than the original tub. That is on the 1st set of pics which was actually the 2nd one I completed.

I learned after doing the 1st one (2nd set of pics) not to use 1" tiles because they are a pain to grout and keep clean and also not to use a steel tub because it is too hard to move around. The venetian plastering was also a pain in the ass but I did love the hickory wood in that bathroom.

EDIT: If you notice I love the curved shower rod they use in the Venetian Hotel Chain! They are cheaper at Bed Bath & Beyond.

[the]

My shower is the same size, but doesn't have a tub, just has the plastic pan on the floor.

I've heard that is difficult to replace, needs to be "hot mopped" etc.

True?

[trekkor]

Just to be clear, this project is not tile set over sheetrock or any manufactured cement panel.

I just got back from delivering 1000#'s of mortar for the walls

The mortar is applied over the stucco netting to a thickness of between 3/8" and 3/4" depending on the condition of the wall studs.

With a mortar bed installation you can correct any surface irregularities. Out of plumb or square surfaces become flat and level.

Also because of the density of the mortar and the waterproofing behind it, this is the best method to produce a "Lifetime" installation.

Done right it will outlast every other surface of a home.


KT

[trekkor]

Originally posted by the
My shower is the same size, but doesn't have a tub, just has the plastic pan on the floor.

I've heard that is difficult to replace, needs to be "hot mopped" etc.

True?

Not so much that it is difficult. It is absolutley critical that the shower pan liner hold water. It must have pre-slope of 1/4" per foot under the waterproof membrane, the drain weep holes must remain unobstructed and it must be water tested.

When the mortar and tile are set on the shower floor you *must* understand that the water is going to eventually go to the liner.
If the weep holes are blocked, the mortar bed will "load up" and get stagnent and smelly. Also the grout joints will be hard to keep clean.

Liner can be made of chlorinated vinyl ( 40 mils ), trowell/brush applied material or the "hot mop" ( same as a tar roof ).

I prefer the vinyl for a number of reasons:
I can do it myself in a few hours with out dealing with another contractor.
It doesn't stink up the whole house.
It can move with the house settling without tearing or cracking.

The materials to do a shower pan liner of normal size is about $100 dollars.


One of the higher liability projects in the trade and DO NOT recommend it for a DIY'er without oversight.

Most of my shower renovations are the result of failed shower pan liners.

KT

[SLO-BOB]

Nice to see there are still some true craftsmen left in today's disposable world.

[trekkor]

Thank you. I really enjoy my work.

Here's the kitchen I finished today.



Slight hi-jack...

who cares?


KT

[rcecale]

KT,

I said this before, after checking out your website..."simply beautiful!" You are a true craftsman, and your love of your skill is quite evident.

Thanks for sharing this!

Randy

[nostatic]

i do love green tile...

One great thing about some of the older houses in LA are the tile bathrooms. Some from the 20's and 30's have this great pink or green and black tile that is amazing. Our old house in Pasadena also had a Batchelder tile fireplace. Was the best part of the house...

[trekkor]

Randy, I keep looking for updates on your slate project. What happened?

Yes, those tile projects from the 20's-60's are still in pretty good shape for the most part. All in mortar.

I have a good time most every day.

I work alone...

Sometimes my wife does come to work with me.


KT

[75'930cab]

trekkor,
When doing a kitchen is it better to tile the whole room first then install cabinets or install cabinets then tile? I keep hearing different opinion's.

[rick-l]

Originally posted by trekkor
Thank you. I really enjoy my work.

Here's the kitchen I finished today.

What is that counter top made of?