Bathroom remodel

[widebody911]

So today I replaced the toilet valve; wife was at ballet so I could turn the water off for a bit if I needed to.

ProTip: when installing a valve, make sure said valve is in the "off" position before turning the water back on... The ferrule was sitting the the compression sleeve a little cockeyed, which was the equivalent of holding your thumb over the end of a garden hose.

I sucked up all the "loose" water with a shop vac, then worked it with towels, and now it's air drying with a fan. It'll be a couple of days before I can push forward again.

[trekkor]

Yikes!!


KT

[widebody911]

Today I laid down the plywood underlayment for the hardibacker (don't know the technical term) then the hardibacker. Just about ready to tile the floor, but I wonder if I shouldn't finish off my sheetrock & paint, first.

[widebody911]

Got most of the floor tile laid donw today. The area around the toilet isn't glued in yet.

[widebody911]

Been a busy week, so I didn't get much done.

The "ColorFast" colored caulk was a disaster. The "color" was great, the "fast," not so much. After a day and a half, it wasn't setting up, and it shrank considerably. It looks good where I used it to detail the fixtures, but I ended up scraping it out everywhere else. I'm going to grout it and hope for the best.

[widebody911]

Took the day off today to do the grout

[RWebb]

you have convinced me to never, do it myself

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by RWebb

you have convinced me to never, do it myself

Was that nice?

[turbo6bar]

I believe some guys on john bridge forums recommend grouting your corners and then covering with clear silicone. You get the color match of the grout with the protection of the caulk. I haven't tried it, though.

[jyl]

I think Randy is referring to the sheer amount of work our wide is doing. I had the same thought. I did the same project once - tiled shower - and my back was killing me.

Quote de RWebb

you have convinced me to never, do it myself

Was that nice?

[widebody911]

Touching up the walls

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by milt

Was that nice?

you missed my point - Thom has a lot more skills than I - not a diss to him at all

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by widebody911

Got the new fixture in today. I'm not very good at sweating fittings, and it took me several tries to get it right...

Well done! It doesn't have to be pretty.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by turbo6bar

I believe some guys on john bridge forums recommend grouting your corners and then covering with clear silicone. You get the color match of the grout with the protection of the caulk. I haven't tried it, though.

That's a mistake. Water will get under the silicon through the grout. It will peel sooner or later. Color caulk from tile stores would be the best choice I think. There's a product call Big Stretch. It will stretch 1/4" without breakage. I use it a few times on exterior wall and windows with great success. That's what's design to do but not in the shower. I am sure it will work because the movement is so little. Down side is that they only come in a few colors. Still I use grout all around, including the corners. Floating your showers will eliminate most joints from opening because it is one monolithic pour. With the clement boards, it will move along with the framing cause the joint to open. Float your walls and pans, plain and simple.

[widebody911]

Color caulk from tile stores would be the best choice I think

I tried that. It failed, although thankfully it failed quickly.

[widebody911]

I've made a ton of progress; actually used the shower for the first time today. Need more weights for the shower curtain, and the outlet tube/shower head combo is completely unworkable - I think that head is designed to be used in a tub, as the angle is all wrong.

Next I need to give the vanity a good once over (re-stain) and then new vanity top, all new electrical, new faucet, new medicine cabinet, towel racks, etc.

[widebody911]

On the home stretch!

Can't decide if I want to use the splash or not. The wall is crooked, so it doesn't line up well. I've had the back splash sitting in the sun, suspended between a couple of milk crates, with a couple of dumbells on it, which helped match the contour a little. I got the vanity top to match the contour by hitting it with #24 on a DA. Made an unholy mess, but got it done. I should have cleaned my sharpie marks off the wall before I glued down the top; silicone and pant should cover it.I also had to notch the door trim to get the top to fit

[widebody911]

The plumbing was a bear. The drain tubes had rotted out from the inside; the only thing holding them together was the chrome. Had to spin the bushing out with an air chisel. Then, the damn cold water line was leaking; turned out there was small burr on the seal. I did some surgery with an exacto knife and it's good to go.

[widebody911]

Here's the shower head dongle to adjust the height

[Kraftwerk]

Looks good, wish mine was done but I haven't even started, I like the little tiles in the shower.
As far as the back splash goes you can fix the wall easier than you can bend a back splash.
either way it will require a bead of caulk along the top and side.

Those drains are made of the thinnest metal! Note on the pipe: Plastic gives off radon even in stasis. Toxic gas is produced if ever burned. Legal everywhere except NYC, where we use iron. Now made in China and probalbly just as toxic!