Remodeling bathrooms sucks

Jstas

I have the plumber in to do...well, obviously the plumbing work. Be kinda odd if I had him doing the electrical. It's mainly because I don't want to mess with it.

Well found two problems.

Problem 1 was with the toilet pipe. The brass flange around the mouth of the pipe that the toilet mount is attached to and the wax ring goes on was bent and cracked. Somehow it wasn't leaking but the new **** chute can't be attached to the borked ring. So that was a new piece that had to be ordered and attached.

Problem 2 was the cast iron drain pipe for the shower has a cast iron flange that the drain attaches to. Well, the bathroom, at one point, had a cast iron tub instead of the fiberglas one that we pulled out. I thought it was odd that there was a large hole where the drain was. I thought it was for access but after talking to the plumber this morning about what was going on, he informed me about it. The hole was apparently for a depression in the tub for channeling water and the mounting hardware to connect the brass downpipe to the iron sewer pipe. New installations do not need or use such an apparatus. However, the floor needs to be cut out to allow for that.

Well, to make a long story longer, that's why the pipe is cracked and needs to be fixed. The cast iron tub supported itself. The fiberglass tub that replaced it, not a structural floor. So the person who installed the fiberglass tub should have put support in for it. Well, they didn't. That left that flange on iron pipe to support all the weight of people, water and tub for the 22+ years. So the pipe was mangled on the end. So it has to be replaced. Thankfully, the run is short so the plumber is only replacing up to the first elbow because everything else seems ok.

All in all, this is adding another $600+ to the price of the remodel that wasn't planned for. It's also tearing a hole in the ceiling of the basement to get to the other end of the pipe. Granted the basement is getting redone but still, I'd rather not have a gaping hole in the ceiling so I can see the unsightly underbelly of the "facilities".

I can't wait to see what lovely stuff is waiting for me when I tackle the kitchen next year and start tearing down the basement walls to the studs.

edbert

At least you found it and got it fixed before the toilet started leaking into the basement! Sucks either way though. It sounds like you should have a really nice place once everything is done. My inlaws did a remodel about ten years ago and there were so many things done half way, it still drives me nuts sometimes. You on the other hand seem to be thinking through everything and making sure it is done right.

Good luck on the rest of the remodel.

NJPOLKER

At least you and the toilet didn't fall through the floor while sitting there reading the newspaper.
Good luck and I hope it does not put a damper on the Holidays.

Systems

I did restaurant remodels for 12 years. Well that and other areas of the restaurants. Try and keep the place open while you work at night, clean up and then they open for business everyday. But these little men's and women's restrooms were $100k+ jobs. I did my bathrooms at home in my old house before putting up for rent. All work by myself to include 1/2 tiled walls, full tiled showers, full tiled floors and new tubs and all other fixtures. I feel your pain but I inflicked my own pain. Took me almost 3 weeks to do 2 bathrooms by myself.

Now that I am remarried she has me doing a total remodel to this house we now live in. Here is a before and after picture of the fireplace I did. All millwork I did in my shop to her specs.

Jstas

Well, I would have done the bathroom myself but it's nights and weekend for me and I don't have 6 weeks to wait to get it done. I might save myself 50% of the cost if I did it myself but the convenience of just doing demo and having to source the materials is worth it to me. What would take me at least a month and a half is going to be done by next Tuesday and they started last Monday. That and there are certain things I don't like messing with because I want it done right. It's not that I can't do plumbing or electrical. I'm just not experienced enough to trust myself catching a problem that a plumber or electrician would catch. Kinda like the cracked flanges.

I'll probably be doing the kitchen myself. I don't plan on moving anything and kitchens really aren't that hard. Just tedious, PITA work like hanging cabinets. The basement will be a bit more difficult due to just sheer size alone but thankfully the plumbing in the half bath down there is hunky dory. That's going to be framing and running wires. But I'm going to have to get an electrician in to run a second feed 'cause the box I have is maxed out and there are places I need circuits run that aren't there.


BTW, nice fireplace 187CAM. Looks sharp!

I'd take pictures of the before stuff but I really just don't care about what it was. I care about what it will be. I already have two rooms done and they look spectacular. The general contractor doing the bathroom asked who I got to do the painting and trim. When I told him I did it, he looked at me with a slightly stunned look. I know he wanted to say "No way!" but he said he was impressed. But I'm waiting for the area rugs to show up before I pull up the rosin paper that is protecting the floors. I'm going to have to get backing for the rugs and tape it to the back of the rugs so they don't destroy the oak floors.

Yeah, it's tedious doing all the little details but it really does pay off in the end.

Speaking of details, I need to find an oil rubber bronze flow direction play and a drain screen for the tub.

nadams

I started a small bathroom update two years ago. It's still at unfinished drywall stage. I dumped over $2000 into it and it's still not done. By the time I'm ready to finish it, it'll be time to tear it out and do it again. I've just gotten used to seeing greenboard as a special "wallpaper"

raidersrule76

nadams wrote: »

I've just gotten used to seeing greenboard as a special "wallpaper"

^^^^Been there done that^^^^^^^:D


Mark

bsoko2

Try remodeling a house from the studs out that was built in 1900. We ahd an old house and it needed remodeling and it took myself and a crew of 3 (10 months to get the job done and I worked nights 8 to 5).

Bill

bikezappa

but the new **** chute can't be attached to the borked ring.

Love it when you quote Zappa.

Good luck on the **** house.

jimmydep

Jstas wrote: »

Speaking of details, I need to find an oil rubber bronze flow direction play and a drain screen for the tub.

Try here, it would be helpful if you know the brand and style of tripwaste they used.

http://www.faucetdirect.com/brasstech-267-tub-waste/p51809
http://www.faucetdirect.com/brasstech-275-tub-waste/p675754


Jimmy

SKsolutions

Adding a body spray is the bomb, if the wall is still open. This project had 4 sprays, a standard, a rainhead, and a handheld, for a total of 7. One of the nozzles does just under 2gpm if I remember correctly. Don't go cheap on the valves, some of the better ones can be completely rebuilt in-wall.

Jstas

I have old plumbing. The house was built in 1956. To do that "full body" stuff I'd need to upgrade feed pipe through the whole house. Not worth it. Besides, that's just more crap to clean.

danger boy

i feel for you.. i have to tackle a bathroom remodel in the next year or two myself. NOT looking forward to it at all. emphasis on NOT! as I see it... how much time do us he-men spend in the bathroom anyways? it's not like the most important room in the house.. LOL