Starting To Come Together - The Dry Fitting

It is starting to look like a bathroom, at least when everything is put in it's place, even temporarily. With the two support wall in place I wanted to make sure the rest of the tub surround would fit properly so ReBecca and I put them in place along with the toilet and sink. This way she can decide on what type of lights she wants and where they should go. It also give us a feel of how it will look, and we have to remember that there will be a window by the toilet letting is more light.

The rest of the tub fit great, so we can move forward with the rest of the work.

It might look a little tight and dark back in the corner but there is plenty of room and we'll have a window close by.

The sink in place, we didn't want a big vanity, something simple that suits the location. Again there will be lights over top and on the wall above the sink.

With everything looking good I finished the dry fitting for the plumbing, here the 3 inch line is dry fitted for the future upstairs bath.

The tub and toilet fitting went well, at least from the top side anyway.

It took a little adjusting to get the lines fitted properly to be tied into the main drains, a couple of more pieces and then I'll be done dry fitting and will glue them up after a few more jobs in the bathroom are completed. You never know there may be a need to re-adjust them and it's easier to move them when dry fitted and not glued up.

Location, Location, Location

Like Real Estate location is everything, and it takes time to locate and fit everything needed to put this bathroom back together, and it's coming along great. I am getting the tub positioned so I can build the side support walls, and the sink located so I can add bracing to bolt it in place.

This sink is a few inches higher than the normal sink and it fells great.

Tub support walls are in place, the tub is level and now I can cut holes for the drain lines. The toilet will go on the far side of the tub. I'll be putting in a window where the drywall is cut away.

Washing machine lines and drain, moved to it's new location, in the addition side.

First Step To Putting It Back

Well we are at a stage where we are starting construction rather then demo. The first room we need to get up and running is the bathroom, and once it's done I can complete the last room to demo, which is the upstairs bathroom. More on that room when it happens. After removing everything to see what I have to work with and what needs some attention I had to figure out how I can use the existing lines to avoid any more holes to the basement, it took a bit but I think I have it worked out. As well I had to plan for the future bathroom upstairs and I will be roughing in the drain and water lines. So here is what has gone on over the past few days.

A bit of frame work around the tub surround, which all came out.

Opening up the walls to see what I have to work with. The 3 inch elbow on the floor is where the plumbing will go to the upstairs bathroom, inside the end wall for the tub.

It's never easy, I have to move the drain lines to the left about 2 feet.

Pulled up the old floor, it was ½ inch and shimmed up with narrow shims making it very soft in some spots. I supported the floor in the basement with concrete footings, and 3 2x6 's on jack posts to keep it solid. Then where it needed to be built up I used large pieces of ¾ inch plywood under the ¾ inch floor, very solid and will provide the support needed for the tiles we have to lay.

New toilet and sink to go in, I am just staging where everything is to go and then I'll build new support walls for the tube and hide the plumbing. One step at a time.

Exploring the Bathroom

Well I've pulled a few walls down, cut away parts of anther to see what is behind them and ahead of us, and I must say it looks pretty good. Not too much extra that we didn't know about, we do know about the ceiling that is behind the gyproc, lath and plaster, which will come down. Once the ceiling is pulled and the demo of the kitchen and dinning room are completed, we can get busy putting the bathroom back together the way ReBecca has designed it.

The tub and surround came out very well and the walls also came down quickly and without any extra damage.

The back wall has an east view and we are going to be adding a window, nice to see the old lath and plaster were gone and proper insulation and vapor barrier added. The right side only needed half of it removed so I can prep it for wiring for lights and plugs over the sink that will go on that wall. As well as prep work for the wiring and cable needed for the TV that will be located on the other side, which is the living room.

Bathroom Facelift

The upstairs bathroom will be removed later on so we don't want to put too much into it yet. ReBecca has started to give it a make over. She has removed old peel and stick tiles from behind the toilet and sink as well as the floor. Here is what she as to work with as she starts this face lift.

Before she started.

Removing the tiles on the back splash.

Starting to clean up the floor.