Master Bathroom project COMPLETED

Finally, the master bathroom "remodel" is complete. After taking a couple of weekends off and finally finding a vanity, we have completed the project. The floor has been grouted for several weeks now. Last weekend we found out the vanity we wanted was not made in the finish we like best. The finish we liked second best was available for the vanity we wanted. We bought the matching mirror and storage cabinet last Saturday. I returned the other mirror and storage cabinet and bought the new vanity last Sunday. I replaced the old light switches and outlet. We installed the vanity and dry fit the counter top. Monday we attached the counter top, back splash, and side splash. Tuesday Kelly cut the base moulding. I hooked up the water to the faucet and drain to the sink. Kelly started staining the base moulding during the day on Wednesday and I applied the flexible grout next to the tub and transition at the door. Kelly finished staining the moulding on Thursday. We applied polyurethane to the moulding yesterday and I hung up the mirror. Today we finished everything off. We installed the moulding, adjusted the light fixture to be centered over mirror, reinstalled the toilet, hung up the storage cabinet, put the blinds back on the window, and hung the door back up. Now we can look at the bathroom and feel great about how it turned out. See for yourself below.

After Grouting

Before

After

Before

After

Master Bathroom project Part 2

The second weekend of the master bathroom project included laying out the tiles, measuring cuts, making cuts, and attaching the tiles with thinset. Yesterday with the help of my neighbor Tom, I laid out the tiles and measured where the cuts needed to be made. Tom showed me how to use his wet saw to cut the tiles and I made the cuts. It was a very wet process. Water sprays up from the blade and shoots directly back. It went pretty well and I set the cut tiles in place for a complete dry layout. Today Tom came back over and we mixed the thinset. Tom laid the first row of tiles against the bathtub. I took over and did the next two rows. Tom gave me a little break and set two more tiles. I finished setting the rest of the tiles. Next weekend I will apply the grout. We have ran into some problems with our new vanity. The one we picked out originally is discontinued and Home Depot hasn't got their new dark color one in and doesn't know when they will get it in. Last night, we got the mirror and a wall mounted storage cabinet to match the new dark color vanity, but we have to wait until they get the vanity in now.

Dry layout
(you can see white vinyl floor between tiles)

Dry Layout

Set Tile
(you can see gray thinset between the tiles)

Set Tile

Master Bathroom project

We picked the "remodel" of our master bathroom as our next project for the house. We are going to put in a tile floor and replace the vanity and countertop. I attended a Home Depot clinic on installing tile last weekend. Saturday we bought the tile, grout, thinset, and most everything we thought we would need for the floor. That night I started the demolition of the bathroom. The demo went pretty well, but I discovered the existing vinyl floor did not go under the vanity cabinet. I plan to put the tile thinset directly on the vinyl tile floor per the Home Depot expert's suggestion. When I took out the vanity and saw there was no vinyl underneath, I was a little worried. I ran to Home Depot this morning and asked the "expert" what he thought I should do. He didn't see it as that big of a deal and suggested that I apply some adhesive sealer to the particle board and then put the thinset directly on it when I set the tiles. So I payed $3.97 for the sealer and left the store happy. After I got back from the store, I consulted with my neighbor, Tom, who has installed tile in two of his bathrooms and we came up with a plan to tackle the tile next weekend. Tom learned about installing tile from the same Home Depot "expert" and he has all the tools for installing tile so I don't have to go buy a bunch of tools (like a wet saw for cutting tile). Before the Super Bowl I sanded the existing vinyl floor to roughen it up and applied the sealer to the particle board. Next weekend we will start to install the tiles.

Before Demo
Before Demo

After Demo

After Demo

Our new tile