A year or so ago, my hunny pointed out that we weren't getting any younger and might not be able to step over into the tubs. So we are now going to rebuild the master bath with a walk-in shower. It has always been narrow 4 1/2' wide. Please don't judge, it was what we could afford in 1995. This bath has only been painted before... The door to the left used to be the outside door. This was the washer/dryer area. We added shelves above for canned food storage. Behind the water hook up is the water heater Got the shelves down, taking trim and sheet rock down... We had changed out the water heater to a 40 gal back in '02...still worked good, but we went with a new 50 gal in the new laundry room. Had to build 2 clothes racks, our closet will loose over 2' in length when new wall is built. The end of the closet that will be removed...access door to water heater is on the left. It was a pain to change elements where it was... We had heard a little noise under the tub a few times, but had no way to check it. As we started to take off the sheetrock, I saw what it was...a pack rat had been in the wall... Then I took off the panel that coveres the end of the tub... That *$$*##!@@ rat had been busy. He had set up a comfy home...food, insulation and sticks for building, I guess. I was at the size of some of them...looks like the company used a to cut the drain pipe opening. We have been working in the evenings when I get off this week. Got the water heater out and changed that useless T in the vent line Now we have started on the bathroom walls. Tub had 1 tile wall. And this wall to come out last night Got a good bit done in 3 hrs...sheetrock, trim, tile wall, floor tile and some studs removed... Hope to get tub and vanity out tonight, maybe carpet too.
Great start! Add plenty of xtra studs for grab bars! Why would anyone judge you at a start of a remodel? Someone in your home is a OCD cleaner with carpet in a bathroom. I would have ripped that out years ago and put in $1 a square sticky tiles.
How exciting for you two!! We had mice under our cast iron tub at our previous home. Other side of the wall was our original kitchen with laundry hookups, they went from the laundry hookups or drain to under the tub. It was stuffed with insulation from our crawl space underneath. We thought they were only in the wall from the hookups till he got the tub out. Canadian border VT , my old bath never did get completed, but the tub walls shroud have been epoxy'd and new fixtures (yes, I bought the brand you recommended, was it Moen?). No sink or mirror or flooring covering yet but I get the very first shower in there for years!! I need to add, the carpet I put in a couple years ago was torn out after we lost sweet Blondie last summer (illness + medications + large bladder.....)
I just hated seeing the mess under the tub, I guess, is why I said that. I forgot my FHC family isn't like alot of other people... The company is adding at least 1 bar in the shower. The company is Marble Masters, kind of like Re-bath, they make the cultured marble and granite panels and floor pan. It will be smooth sides, easy to clean, heavy swinging glass door. We are going to do tile floor.
wildwest Yes Moen has lifetime warranty on their inserts; the lil screw thingy behind knobs with rubber gaskets that cause leaking when worn. Because you guys haul water leaks are double bad..
You're making some great progress. Improving accessibility is an extremely wise place to invest in home improvement. There are a lot of older Americans, and the majority of housing stock built in the last 25 years didn't have accessibility high on the priority list. Seems like it will be a straightforward job, but if you happen to have any plumbing/building code questions along the way, feel free to reach out. I'm a plans examiner/building inspector, and I'm not here to throw the book at anyone, but I will gladly snap pics/scan code sections for folks if they are curious.
Well, we got the tub and more lumber took out. Old drain cut off and capped. We will get the vanity out tomorrow.
Sometimes you just have to rip it all out and start over. I wish they had done that here in 1970. Just covered everything up. Double thick walls and double thick ceiling. So all the basic construct goes back to 1930. If I had the $$$, I'd just tear it all down and build new. Probably what the next owner will do. House is small and a bit out of character and market value of all the McMansions built around me. Unless another (soon-to-be) retired person buys it because it is small like I did.
Don’t feel bad about the varmints under the tub, Mr. Veal. We had them under our tub last winter, which reminds me.. I have some traps to check!
Looking good brother! Varmints, I have 12 traps in the basement for mouses, a havaheart or two out back for Chippys, poison and a 22 for groundhogs! Lol No shame here!
No judging here - I have a small bath (only have one) and know what it is like. That tub loose a lot of space for the "kid step", so the shower should be roomy when they put it in. Others speaking of grab bars - the other day I found the old grab bars I removed from the shower when I put a tub in. I'll send them to you if you want - I'm sure you want a set from who knows how long ago for your brand new set up . Varmint can get in thru just about any opening - make sure you find and close up that opening before closing the area back in again. You might have already done so if it was getting in thru that drain opening. Are you removing the popcorn ceiling also?
Another goal accomplished, we got the vanity and carpet out This little corner, which is the closet, is all that is left to demo. We will do that next week.
They are installing at least 1 grab bar, full bench seat across the back and soap/shampoo alcove on back wall. There are several holes in that floor, old drain, dryer vent and wire. We have to move drain to be closer to center of shower pan, once I get that moved, the plan is to overlay that area with a 3/4" sheet of advantek, that will cover the holes and make a smooth base for the shower, it will be about 46-48" x 77". I stood in that area last night, it will be big...I could probably lie down on the floor and do the backstroke...lol... Not planning on replacing the ceiling. We have a few spots to touch up, it jad a showerhead in the tub before...
Nice job on the project. I have some popcorn ceiling I did in my kitchen when we moved in. It was easy and I really dont mind the look.
