Planning a full bathroom remodel

• justincredible

  

  Apple;707101 wrote:Justin- Though a single electrical outlet may be fine for your needs, you might want to think about what the next people who own the house may find appealing (resale appeal). When you sell your house it will probably be purchased by a couple. More times than not, you will be trying to sell it to the wife and the bathroom is a huge factor in her purchasing plans.
  
  Though it was only me and my two kids living here, when I did the DIY on our bathroom, a possible woman who would eventually buy the house was a motivation on how I did the remodel. Took everything down to the studs, left the toilet and tub, replaced the plastic shower walls with tile and replaced the vanity sink counter and cabinet with a pedestal sink.
  
  Like you, there was just one outlet and there was also just a single ceiling light. I added a second GFCI outlet about 6 inches above a 1x6 shelf I installed that goes across the wall above the sink and toilet. The shelf is a nice place for interior decorations above the toilet. Above the sink the shelf is a great place to use getting ready in the morning (makeup, hairbrush, toiletries). The second outlet above the shelf is very convenient for hair dryer/flattener/razor etc. I also put in a new light/exhaust fan ceiling unit as well as a wall light fixture above the mirror and sink. All 3 fixtures can be turned on/off independently.
  
  Remodel projects like this are a prime time to make little changes that could really help with the resale of the house even if you don't necessarily need or want the extra amenities yourself.

  
  This all makes sense. The thing about this bathroom is that it doesn't get much use as a "getting ready" space since it is so far away from all of the bedrooms. That doesn't mean someone won't use it for that in the future and it won't take much to add in one more outlet.
• OneBuckeye

  

  Stalk the guy in DIY's bathroom crashers at local home improvement store. Done.
• justincredible

  

  OneBuckeye;707303 wrote:Stalk the guy in DIY's bathroom crashers at local home improvement store. Done.

  
  Would be ideal but I don't think those guys spend much time in Cincinnati. Which sucks, because DIYs corporate office is here.
• Tiger2003

  

  Can we get a before and after picture?
• justincredible

  

  Tiger2003;707401 wrote:Can we get a before and after picture?

  
  Yes. I'll take some before pictures tonight and post them. Feel free to make any recommendations after actually seeing the space.
• gorocks99

  

  justincredible;707285 wrote:I don't want to take it out.

  
  That's what she said.
• FatHobbit

  

  mcburg93;707243 wrote:Most of the time the way we get the old tubs out are busting them up with a sledge hammer.

  
  I once took a sledge hammer to a cast iron tub. I wouldn't want to do that again.
• justincredible

  

  Yah, I don't see a sledgehammer doing much to a cast iron tub. Luckily I don't have to worry about taking that tub out. The claw foot upstairs might be a real bitch to get out, though.
• Belly35

  

  I suggest (we did) with a 5x5 bathroom we removed the tub and add a corner shower w/ glass doors, (cost less than a full bath tub and shower ) providing additional space for a linen closet storage ( wife love the extra space). This cut down on the tiling cost of the bathroom but still provide a complete bathroom w/ storage. This also provide additional option to where we could put the toilet.
• OneBuckeye

  

  Belly35;708052 wrote:I suggest (we did) with a 5x5 bathroom we removed the tub and add a corner shower w/ glass doors, (cost less than a full bath tub and shower ) providing additional space for a linen closet storage ( wife love the extra space). This cut down on the tiling cost of the bathroom but still provide a complete bathroom w/ storage. This also provide additional option to where we could put the toilet.

  
  I agree if you have 2 tubs already take it out and put in a bad ass shower with massive shower heads.
• dave

  Go to Lowes by this weekend and you get the 10% added on to any gift card you buy, then go to the post office and get a movers packet and get a 10% off coupon from that. That's 20% off total for anything you need there.
• justincredible

  

  The plan for the upstairs bathroom is to put in the standing shower though it might make more sense putting the shower downstairs since I am not 100% sure how the hell we can fit the shower upstairs. I am definitely willing to try that out if the wife will go for it.
  
  I'm going to take some pictures of both spaces tonight and post some dimensions. You guys might be able to help me figure out the best options.
• justincredible

  

  dave;708076 wrote:Go to Lowes by this weekend and you get the 10% added on to any gift card you buy, then go to the post office and get a movers packet and get a 10% off coupon from that. That's 20% off total for anything you need there.

  
  I was hoping that was still running. I'm gonna go get a $1000 card this weekend.
• dave

  justincredible;708080 wrote:I was hoping that was still running. I'm gonna go get a $1000 card this weekend.

  
  March 14th. I just got a $1000 one as well last week. Probably going to get another one.
• mcburg93

  

  Taking the cast iron tubs out aint that hard. a good sledge hammer and protective eye were and you will have it done in half an hour. cast iron aint that strong trust me I work with it alot due to being a plumber on the side. I take a small hammer and break it pretty easy as well. They do have some nice new toilets out that are pretty good flushing toilets you just need to ask around. I usually go to a swap meet and buy toilets for next to nothing cause people like the old ones better due to the flushing ability.
• justcompete

  Justin, I sell plumbing supplies. First of all, you can buy a 1.6 gal flush toilet that will flush well and not clog. I sell American Standard and a Cadet3 or Champion4 that I promise you will not clog. The dual flush are a waste of time IMO because most of the time people don't know which button to push. A 16-1/2 or 17" comfort height or ADA height is very popular as mentioned by someone else. You are talking about $150.00. The most important thing you can do is make sure you have a good vent fan. Don't go cheap on this, it will prolong the life of your wall coverings and help eliminate mold/mildew.
• justincredible

  

  justcompete;708932 wrote:Justin, I sell plumbing supplies. First of all, you can buy a 1.6 gal flush toilet that will flush well and not clog. I sell American Standard and a Cadet3 or Champion4 that I promise you will not clog. The dual flush are a waste of time IMO because most of the time people don't know which button to push. A 16-1/2 or 17" comfort height or ADA height is very popular as mentioned by someone else. You are talking about $150.00. The most important thing you can do is make sure you have a good vent fan. Don't go cheap on this, it will prolong the life of your wall coverings and help eliminate mold/mildew.

  
  Yeah, the current vent fan in there is complete garbage. I've peeked in and it is venting up into the second floor, I think into the dryer vent for some reason. Shouldn't it just be venting out the side of the house which is only about 3 feet away?
• Tiger2003

  

  Where are the pictures!
• Cat Food Flambe'

  

  For the what they charge for the two-option model, just buy the hi-flow and experiment with "bricks in a baggie" count until you get it right.
• password

  

  Venting out the side is best if possible and be sure to get the proper size fan.You said your space was 5 x 5 plus tub, so about 5 x 8 for a square feet total of 40.You will want a fan with a rating of at least 40 cfm and if you have a shower with the tub add another 50 cfm to get good fresh air circulation.This may sound stupid but make sure you have at least a 1" gap on the bottom of the door.
• Go_Fast_Sports

  

  I need to do my bathroom as well, so a lot of these tips are helping out. I just never have the time to do it myself and would find it much better to hire someone "experienced" to do it.
  
  Apple, it sounds like you did a good job and it's something similar to what I think I'm doing. Can you post pictures?
• justincredible

  

  Here are some pictures of the downstairs bathroom.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• oletiger

  That bath looks great now
• justincredible

  

  It may look fine in pictures but it doesn't look great in person. The tile job is bad, the flooring is crap, the walls are bad, the ventilation sucks, etc.
• justincredible

  

  This is the upstairs bathroom, which will be the next project. I hate everything about it but I have no idea what to do with it without moving the toilet.