January 2025 - Bathroom x Bathroom
After getting married in December, I had to finish up the bathrooms for obvious reasons. I have been using the the bottom unit bathroom while the top one is gutted, but the bottom unit has been leaking into the basement.
The persistent shower leak in the basement proved to be a stubborn adversary. Despite replacing the toilet's wax ring, recaulking the tub edge, and addressing minor tile issues, water continued to infiltrate after each shower. Diagnostic testing, including prolonged tub water flow without leaks, narrowed the problem to the shower wall below the window.
I investigated further and found that grout cracks were allowing the water penetration. Upon removing several tiles, it became evident that the underlying drywall had severely deteriorated, leaving the tiles unsupported. Six tiles were removed to expose the damaged area. Structural supports were added to the studs, and new drywall was installed. To enhance waterproofing, I applied 10-inch Kerdi-band, followed by a mud layer.
The salvaged tiles required extensive cleaning to remove residual mortar and grout. A diamond cutoff wheel on an angle grinder proved effective for this task, despite some minor surface irregularities remaining. After tile reinstallation and fresh grouting, a deep clean and grout impregnator was applied around the entire shower for added water resistance.
Taking advantage of ceiling access, an exhaust fan was installed to improve ventilation. I used my SUV as a temporary platform for cutting the outside wall opening and securing the vent. There were many small roadblocks during this installation that required moment by moment problem solving and a lot of effort to stay calm.
The upstairs bathroom renovation continued with tackling the subfloor. I utilized old floor planks and oak flooring pieces to level the existing subfloor, ensuring a stable foundation. Additionally, I reinforced areas where joists had been previously altered, providing added structural support. My M18 Fuel impact driver, one of the best $100 I have spent.
The shower pan installation presented a new challenge: creating a mud bed. This process required careful mixing and placement, and I found myself needing to mix additional batches of mud mid-installation to ensure proper support for the pan.
Shower panel installation required unexpected vertical clearance due to their snap-together design, this required more drywall removal. The durable composite material, not plastic, ate a multi-tool blade, making my Dremel with a cutoff wheel the tool of choice.
Following the panel installation, I installed green board and mudded to create a smooth surface, then PVC trim was added for a clean finish around the panels. To enhance water resistance and provide a stable base for the flooring, 1/4-inch Hardie board was installed over the subfloor. My angle grinder equipped with a diamond blade proved invaluable for cutting both the existing lathe and plaster walls and the Hardie board. The bathroom was now prepared for the cosmetics phase and hardware installation.
Closet Shelf
Shortly after my wife moved in, I tackled a small organizational project. To clear my tools off the dining room table and out of sight, I built a tool shelf. I added a support bar on the right side and may need to add another along the front edge of the shelf, against the back wall. So far, it's working well!
