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Bathroom reno.

NorthernRedneck

Well-known member
GOLD Site Supporter
The floor underlay is cemented down and heated cable is being installed. We decided to just go with the electric floor vs using the boiler system as the boiler would have meant a 2" step up into the bathroom and the electric will be pretty much flush with the bedroom carpet.

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waybomb

Well-known member
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Remember to get a megger and check the wiring. Record it for the warranty and take pictures. I hooked up my megger and took pictures of it in the room just in case something went bad and they gave me any trouble. Fortunately, been 2 years and the heated kitchen floor is wonderful.

You're not using that screwdriver to set the wire, are you?
 

NorthernRedneck

Well-known member
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We did that! Took a reading on the wiring before and after the installation to make sure it was good. Before the tile went down, the electrical inspector came to inspect the install and gave the green light.

Today, the contractor is painting the pony wall beside the dining room and painting the bathroom before starting on the wall tiles.

The plumber is starting to reroute all the plumbing downstairs and install the shower plumbing. That will be done by Sunday in time for the plumbing inspector to come Monday to check things out before the shower gets tiled. At some point next week, the grouting will be done then we can at least install the toilet.

The quartz counters are all ordered. All the lighting has arrived. There was a slight mix up with the freestanding tub. It arrived a couple weeks ago and was supposed to include the freestanding faucet. Guess what was missing? Yep. The faucet. So we've been battling with home depot and after a week of getting bounced from department to department on the phone, they finally reordered it and sent it out. That doesn't help us for this weekend though.
 

NorthernRedneck

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Some progress today. The pony wall is painted. The bathroom is painted. The plumber was here to lay out a game plan for tomorrow. The shower has a complex system as it's a little more than just an on off handle and shower spout. It's essentially going to be 3 separate systems in one. There will be 2 overhead rainshower heads each with it's own controls. The one on the left will have 3 wall jets in line vertically. The bench will have it's own system with a handheld nozzle and 2 wall jets blasting on my back.

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NorthernRedneck

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Plumbing is being installed. If everything goes good, we'll have at least the toilet installed this week. Maybe the bathtub although we're still waiting for the tub faucet to arrive. They (home depot) finally sorted it out and are sending a replacement.

We should also be able to start installing the cabinets but won't have the counter, sinks, and faucets installed for another month most likely as we're approaching the hurry up and wait stage. Once the plumbing for the shower is done, the wall tiles can go up. But the shower won't be operational until the tiles are done and the glass can be measured, cut, and installed.
 

NorthernRedneck

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GOLD Site Supporter
It took some creative work with the plumbing but all the lines and drains are now installed downstairs. The shower was interesting to say the least. The plumber worked on it for half the day yesterday to route everything. Now the shower is ready for tiles. 20210307_192501.jpg20210307_192512.jpg20210307_192518.jpg
 

NorthernRedneck

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The shower is basically three separate systems that can be controlled individually. It'll have 3 wall jets for my back when I'm standing. If I'm sitting, that whole system is shut off and just the 2 wall jets and handheld are on. We do have good pressure out here for a well. When we bought the place, the well tested at 1.9 gallons per minute return. The previous owner wanted to guarantee us good pressure and amount of water so he had it drilled down another 50 feet and fracked. Now we're at 5 gallons a minute return.
 

marchplumber

Member
Site Supporter
Good f
The shower is basically three separate systems that can be controlled individually. It'll have 3 wall jets for my back when I'm standing. If I'm sitting, that whole system is shut off and just the 2 wall jets and handheld are on. We do have good pressure out here for a well. When we bought the place, the well tested at 1.9 gallons per minute return. The previous owner wanted to guarantee us good pressure and amount of water so he had it drilled down another 50 feet and fracked. Now we're at 5 gallons a minute return.
Good return rate to well casing. What is the operating PSI differential? On/off at.... 30/50?......40/60?......You'll be good as long as you don't operate all systems at same time, as all three are fed from a single pair of 1/2" supplies.

Quite the remodel! Doing a bunch and will have a restroom to use and enjoy for the foreseeable future.....
=)
 

NorthernRedneck

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It's 40/60. We have 6 kids. With 4 of them having showers in the evening, the dishwasher and laundry going, we haven't had any problems.
 

NorthernRedneck

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The progress for this week so far. The main floor area is fully tiled. We did an edge trim all around with tile capped with a brushed nickel edge cap to trim it out. The shower membrane is now permanently installed. After the pictures were taken, it was taped and mudded in preparation for the tiles. He spent a good portion of yesterday cutting the white tile. It didn't cut as good as the flooring so it's slow going.


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NorthernRedneck

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The shower is coming along nicely. The plumber left those 6" pipes sticking out to aide in guiding the orange membrane into position. Once the tiles are done, they'll be replaced by all the fixtures.

Behind where the vanity will be is now drywalled. We're doing the finishing as an empty room. This way, when the cabinets are installed it will be done. And down the road, if we choose to replace the cabinets it will be easy


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NorthernRedneck

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Yes. It does look nice. We wanted something to contrast so it's not too dark. The white tile is also going behind the tub about 4ft up. That'll really help to lighten it up against the dark floor and grey walls. The counters are also going to be darker with some marble effects.

We're going to be in a holding pattern for a while once the shower is tiled and we get the cabinets tub and toilet in place. The counters are ordered but won't be here for about 4 weeks. Once the shower is tiled and all plumbing fixtures are installed, it's another waiting game for the glass to get measured cut and installed.
 

FrancSevin

Proudly Deplorable
GOLD Site Supporter
Yes. It does look nice. We wanted something to contrast so it's not too dark. The white tile is also going behind the tub about 4ft up. That'll really help to lighten it up against the dark floor and grey walls. The counters are also going to be darker with some marble effects.

We're going to be in a holding pattern for a while once the shower is tiled and we get the cabinets tub and toilet in place. The counters are ordered but won't be here for about 4 weeks. Once the shower is tiled and all plumbing fixtures are installed, it's another waiting game for the glass to get measured cut and installed.
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT? On TV such flips are done inside and hour.
 

NorthernRedneck

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Some progress today. The white shower tile appears to be a pain to work with as it won't cut using the same tool he used for the floor. So he's had to resort to using an angle grinder with a cutting disc.

Our contractor built some oak trim pieces for the pony walls in both the dining room and bathroom. Here's the one for the dining room installed. Looks good. 20210316_100047.jpg
 

FrancSevin

Proudly Deplorable
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Lookin' good there Brian.

I sure hope this project gets done soon. Without that shower ya'll must be getting fairly ripe by now.

LOL.
 

NorthernRedneck

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Lmao. We have 4 bathrooms. The one in the hall down from the bedroom is a tub shower combo.

Here's more of the wood trim installed today. There is also more white tile up on the shower walls. 20210316_192004.jpg


Where the can is sitting is where the "can" is going to be located. So we trimmed the pony wall with an oak cap.

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We weren't sure what to do to separate the bathroom and bedroom as they're different colors so we decided on a simple strip of oak trim to frame the entrance.
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NorthernRedneck

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The tile work is almost done. Just the grouting left tomorrow. Then we wait for the glass for the shower. Meanwhile, we can start bringing in the tub toilet and cabinets. It'll be another 3 weeks before the counters are ready to install. We're getting close!

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NorthernRedneck

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The plan yesterday was to clear out all the tools and clean the floor in preparation for grout in the afternoon. Once the floor was cleaned, plans changed when we started looking around and noticed 5 tiles had little chips in them.

So the contractor began chipping out the damaged tiles to replace them being careful to not damage the heating cable for the floor. He tested the cable with an ohm meter before starting then again after. When he checked after chipping the tiles out, panic set in when he didn't get a reading on the cable. Oh crap! Are we going to have to restart from scratch?

Thinking his meter was faulty, he tried a new battery in it and nothing. So he headed out to the hardware store and came back with a new meter. Crisis averted. The cable survived. The replacement tiles were installed and allowed to dry overnight. He's coming back today to grout and allow it to fully dry by Monday.



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NorthernRedneck

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Lol. Not sure. The electrician was here before and after the tile install and took a reading each time. I assume they know what they're doing. We're using an independent contractor. He's got a licensed electrician he works with.
 

waybomb

Well-known member
GOLD Site Supporter
You might check. Usually, residential guys would not have a megger. A megger is usually used in industrial troubleshooting.
Sends 1000 volts down the wires, stressing the insulation.
For the ditra heat warrantee, you must send in the readings.
 

NorthernRedneck

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GOLD Site Supporter
Busy day in the bathroom today. The contractor and I worked at bringing in the cabinets and installing them.

The electricians were here installing all the light fixtures and hooking up the heated floor. IT WORKS!

The glass guys should be here mid week to measure the shower to get the glass cut. The plumbing will also take some time as some of the fixtures are still on order.

The countertops and sinks should be here hopefully in a couple weeks.

Tomorrow hopefully we'll get the tub up from the house garage where it's been for a month and get it installed but we won't be able to use it until the freestanding faucet arrives.

It's starting to come together. The pictures are dark but with those big windows, we have plenty of natural light.


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