Sunday, June 2, 2013

Guest Bathroom Progress


I don't have any pretty pictures of the new bathroom yet but good progress is being made.

If you're new to the blog--or need a refresher--this new bathroom is being carved from
space in the center of my house that was a hallway, a closet, the dining room and kitchen.
It's the space outlined in yellow in the floor plan above.  I already have a bathroom
on the first floor but by moving it, I can get kitchen that's larger and laid out much better.

The bathroom and pantry (that are highlighted in green) will be demoed in the next phase.


These are the two doors you can see in the photo above.



Here you can see the new floor plan.  The new bathroom again is
outlined in yellow.   And the space I'll be gaining in the kitchen is in green.
There's still an issue with the plumbing chase to the bathroom upstairs
(just to the left of the kitchen sink in the new floor plan) but
I'll talk about that when we get to it. 


So the wall that separates the bathroom from the dining room is the 
continuation of a load-breaking wall with a major beam underneath it
in the basement.  To get plumbing in and out of the space, the pipes enter
on the floor and then turn into the wall cavity.  Some of the plumbing will
be hidden by the bed for the floor tile and the shelf in the vanity table
will hide anything else that protrudes.



The floor was also really out of level with the low point being right 
where the sink sits.  Before pouring a floor leveler, all the cracks around the edges 
of the subfloor and holes where pipes go in and out need to be filled with foam
insulation.  With even the tiniest hole or crack and the leveler will leak into the basement.



Here's Sam moving around the floor leveler just after pouring it.
I found this process really scary...but it all held.

While I think of it, three different inspectors had to come to sign off on the job.  
One for building, one for electric and one for plumbing.  When the plumbing
inspector came early on to see how the project was going, he asked for all
the approval codes for my plumbing fixtures.  Remember the toilet that I couldn't
get because it wasn't approved for use in Massachusetts?  I guess, every piece of
equipment sold goes through an approval process and has an approval code for the state.
The inspector was saying that a lot of people are buying things on the internet that
aren't approved for use in Massachusetts.  I was able to call the store I purchased
all the fixtures from to get the approval codes but it's just a warning about 
buying things on the internet if you're doing a project that's being inspected.



To abate any noise coming from the bathroom, we used green glue to apply
the sheetrock on the dining room side of the wall.  Once the inspections were
complete,  the walls were filled with denim insulation for additional insurance.
There's no telling how well it will work but I'll find out.



And then the walls were closed up.  Wonderboard around the tub and
moisture and mildew resistant sheetrock on the walls and ceiling.



The room was about three inches larger than a standard tub so instead
of making the room a little smaller, I opted to fill the space at the back
of the tub to make a little shelf.  It's small but I'll cap it with a slightly
larger piece of marble and it will be a great place for a few extra bottles
of shampoo and shower gel for guests.


The horizontal planking will be made from Southern yellow pine.
Sam made me a few samples of moisture resistent MDF with various sliplap joints
but they seemed too smooth.  So I opted to use pine so it's texture will show.

And that's where we are today.

* * * * *

Zephirine Drouhin rose, thornless and will tolerate some shade.

Rosalind, just wanted to let you know I was thinking about you.
I'm sending you some roses from my garden.  They're an old
bourbon rose and their scent is from heaven.


29 comments:

  1. Considering I do engineering for a living (boring details), I was hoping for a post with more pretty things. hehe. ;)

    Exciting progress...

    xo T.

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  2. Thank you for including the floor plans!
    It's so much easier to understand now.
    I'm so excited for you, and I love that little shelf in the bathroom. If you hadn't mentioned that was included only because of the length of the tub, I would have thought it was another unique plan of yours. You definitely think of everything.
    Not to jump ahead, but I'm also excited about the kitchen now too!
    I'm really looking forward to seeing all the stages of work!

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  3. Pine....Good choice, Bathroom Boy.

    This is kinda exciting. As I watch...with my feet up...drinking a cool, no doubt, alcoholic drink.
    Yep.

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  4. I'm intrigued by the denim insulation! Love watching your house transform.

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  5. Steve I know it is so difficult to wait, it is all coming together perfectly!!

    2013 Designer Series
    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  6. Isn't nice that old houses are so out of level and have an extra 3" where you don't need it? Looking good.

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  7. Cannot wait for the big reveal! What you have done with this house is amazing. xo

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  8. Really exciting! Can't wait to see it all come together.

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  9. So pleased with your progress. Can't wait to see the finished product.

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  10. Am I the only only cracking up over the soundproofing of your bathroom?
    I LOVE that idea-I think every bathroom should be insulated to guard against errant noises!

    It's going to be awesome when it's finished.

    And quiet :)

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  11. That's a lot of progress Steve! So exciting.

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  12. Great post great to see someone else's house in a mess too.
    We have just almost completed our bathroom Andy did all the work himself the shot with all the copper pipes all too familiar. Sounds a nightmare with all the codes we don't have that over here at all.
    Can't wait to see the finished room, your plans for the kitchen sound exciting too. Denim insulation ? never heard of it either. I just did a wee blog showing the flowers in my cottage garden .....ohhhh for some of those scented roses.
    Annie

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  13. Will it be ready in August?

    xo J.

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  14. I didn't realize the bathroom was being relocated...and I didn't realize the kitchen was totally going to be made over too! That's a lot going on! I'm sure it's all going to be wonderful although I always liked your kitchen as it was.

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  15. Interesting about the plumbing fixture approval codes. Were these European manufactured fixtures?

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    Replies
    1. Leith,
      Yes. I got the sink as a floor model and the bottom was stamped "Made in Italy" which he noticed. The faucet is Hourus made in France and he'd never heard of it.

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  16. that pine will make all the difference. I enjoy seeing your process...donna

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  17. Looks great! Love the tub! Are you going to reuse the doors from the kitchen? So excited to see progress...can't wait for the kitchen project too :)

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    Replies
    1. The tub is a cast iron Kohler Bellwether. Nice clean lines.

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  18. Even in NH we had to have fixtures approved for our state and plumbing had to be vented to the outside. Not sure why and the kitchen faucet seems to run slower because of it. I was wondering what that little area was behind your tub and you found a great fix. I'm so excited for you and your progress and I can't wait to see more. BTW how are all your kitties liking/hating the renovation?

    Enjoy your week Steve!
    XXX
    Debra~

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  19. It's exciting to see the evolution, Steve, and I'm enjoying your decision process. Learning from it, too!

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  20. This is exciting to watch. Eye candy and all the mess is at your house. LOL!

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  21. looking good...we did a couple of those built in niches in our bath remodel and love them. So much nicer than the good old metal medicine chest.

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  22. I cant wait to see the before and after on this one! Great tip on web purchases and codes! Thsnks for that!

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  23. Great pointer on ordering things from the internet! Usually they will say not California compliant etc....but occasionally things do slip throgh the cracks! I think Mass must have more coding than we have here! Scary thought! Can't wait to see the new floor!

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  24. A whole lot of rules up there in Massachusetts....but it is going to be worth it I can tell....

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  25. I'm excited to see how this turns out. Love that you are actually creating a new bathroom within your footprint. Interesting about buying online. Would not have thought of that.

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  26. Probably the best Zephirine seen in a private garden.

    Congrats!

    Discovered you today, enjoying going backwards. Sunday's gift to myself. No computer work, only pleasure.

    Garden & Be Well, XO Tara

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