The DIY thread - DIYourself
- Thread starter rlb
- Start date
rick81721
Lothar
One more shout out for Brian - how often does a contractor charge less than his initial estimate? And not just a little less - almost 20% less. Plus he threw in furniture foot pads for everything and a floor cleaning kit.
iman29
Well-Known Member
wow that really looks great!
iman29
Well-Known Member
Well now that all my ceramic tile problems are over the bathroom renovation has begun.
This all started because the 1960s sink started rotting at the bottom and leaking. So I got a new used vanity and countertop off FB marketplace real cheap and then it snowballed from just the sink and vanity into let’s renovate and paint and since we can’t fix the tiles we need to replace the floor. FML.
Can’t say I did not want to do it just not now while I’m still looking for a job isn’t ideal. But then again maybe it is since I can do a lot of this myself.
Day 1 was yesterday. Remove all cracked tiles and level the voids in the floor with quickcrete
Remove baseboard tiles which will be replaced with nice base Moulding
Check out that old wallpaper behind the tiles.
This all started because the 1960s sink started rotting at the bottom and leaking. So I got a new used vanity and countertop off FB marketplace real cheap and then it snowballed from just the sink and vanity into let’s renovate and paint and since we can’t fix the tiles we need to replace the floor. FML.
Can’t say I did not want to do it just not now while I’m still looking for a job isn’t ideal. But then again maybe it is since I can do a lot of this myself.
Day 1 was yesterday. Remove all cracked tiles and level the voids in the floor with quickcrete
Remove baseboard tiles which will be replaced with nice base Moulding
Check out that old wallpaper behind the tiles.
iman29
Well-Known Member
Day 2 went better than I thought it would. It went late mostly because I didn’t want to miss my weekly group ride in the morning.
and because I had to let the wall compound dry for wall repair. And I had to drive an hour round trip to Bridgewater HD since they had the color toilet in stock wifey wanted. ??♂️
Goal was to demo the old vanity , remove massive wall mirror and prep the walls and ceiling for primer/paint.
Only significant issue was that one of the water valves for the sink is pretty stiff and I couldn’t shut the water all the way off initially. Lucky for me in the basement somehow there is an intermediate cutoff for this bathroom so problem quickly solved. The other issue was a few holes in the Sheetrock during vanity removal but those will be behind the new one so no big deal. I patched them anyway tho.
By midnight I had the ceiling painted, walls patched and prepped and most of the corners cut in.
Today will be finish wall paint, remove old toilet and lay down new vinyl tile plank floor. First time doing this floor so it’s the only part I am nervous about but since I watched 20 YouTube videos I feel like an expert.
Bought some new tools to help with the job like a jigsaw so we will see how it goes
w
and because I had to let the wall compound dry for wall repair. And I had to drive an hour round trip to Bridgewater HD since they had the color toilet in stock wifey wanted. ??♂️
Goal was to demo the old vanity , remove massive wall mirror and prep the walls and ceiling for primer/paint.
Only significant issue was that one of the water valves for the sink is pretty stiff and I couldn’t shut the water all the way off initially. Lucky for me in the basement somehow there is an intermediate cutoff for this bathroom so problem quickly solved. The other issue was a few holes in the Sheetrock during vanity removal but those will be behind the new one so no big deal. I patched them anyway tho.
By midnight I had the ceiling painted, walls patched and prepped and most of the corners cut in.
Today will be finish wall paint, remove old toilet and lay down new vinyl tile plank floor. First time doing this floor so it’s the only part I am nervous about but since I watched 20 YouTube videos I feel like an expert.
Bought some new tools to help with the job like a jigsaw so we will see how it goes
w
iman29
Well-Known Member
Day 4. Nice weather out Sunday. This already sucks.
I skipped any riding yesterday because I needed to get the painting done and since I could start that early without too much noise I went right at it around 9am.
First thing i noticed was ceiling needs another coat of paint the first one didn’t look great since I probably used a Shitty roller and it was too dark in the room to see it well. Decided to get the first coat on the walls and take a quick break during lunch to get the paint.
By 12noon I was pretty much on track I had to stop a few times and smooth out some more spots on the wall. I also yanked out the old toilet finally since I needed to paint behind it too. It didn’t take too much to remove it since I planned to cut the bolts connecting the tank and bowl anyway.
Of course lunch break got full of house distractions and other nonsense by the time I could start the floor it was late. Like after dinner late. ??♂️ FML.
The short version is that it took me the better part of 2 hours to measure and figure out the layout so I had the right spacing. Thank god I bought a jigsaw the other day because I had a feeling the scoring and snapping the Vinyl tiles would be a problem.
I did 3 rough layouts before I decided how I wanted to cut and trim and got 3 rows done in like 4 hours. Hopefully today goes faster and I can install the toilet and vanity. I know. Way too optimistic. At least it’s not Sunday and all the places will be open if I need to spend more money.
The pictures don’t seem to load in order but you get the idea.
I skipped any riding yesterday because I needed to get the painting done and since I could start that early without too much noise I went right at it around 9am.
First thing i noticed was ceiling needs another coat of paint the first one didn’t look great since I probably used a Shitty roller and it was too dark in the room to see it well. Decided to get the first coat on the walls and take a quick break during lunch to get the paint.
By 12noon I was pretty much on track I had to stop a few times and smooth out some more spots on the wall. I also yanked out the old toilet finally since I needed to paint behind it too. It didn’t take too much to remove it since I planned to cut the bolts connecting the tank and bowl anyway.
Of course lunch break got full of house distractions and other nonsense by the time I could start the floor it was late. Like after dinner late. ??♂️ FML.
The short version is that it took me the better part of 2 hours to measure and figure out the layout so I had the right spacing. Thank god I bought a jigsaw the other day because I had a feeling the scoring and snapping the Vinyl tiles would be a problem.
I did 3 rough layouts before I decided how I wanted to cut and trim and got 3 rows done in like 4 hours. Hopefully today goes faster and I can install the toilet and vanity. I know. Way too optimistic. At least it’s not Sunday and all the places will be open if I need to spend more money.
The pictures don’t seem to load in order but you get the idea.
Attachments
iman29
Well-Known Member
Day 5. Was yesterday. I think that means it was Monday. I have lack of sleep and lost all concept of time.
Since I worked on stuff the night before until midnight I slept in until 10:30. I still wanted to get the floor done, vanity installed and toilet done too.
The floor tiles went along much faster I really got the hang of it and I even got the hole correct for the toilet opening in one try without wasting a tile.
The floor being completed felt like I climbed a mountain. I needed to get the vanity up into the room from the garage since my 17 year old was not gonna be around Tuesday (today) and I needed his muscle.
All I can say is he’s stronger than me. That vanity was a steal off FB marketplace for $150 but it must weigh 300lbs or more. Good thing the corian top was removable or this was not happening.
After I almost died getting it up the stairs and into the room i decided to get the toilet in since I knew that would be easier than messing with the sink. I knew I would need parts for it anyone once I saw how it lined up.
Toilet literal took me only 20 minutes and it didn’t leak on the first try. I did some cleanup at 11PM and at least the bathroom was functional again.
Next update will be for today’s adventure will post later. Some pics of the days work.
Since I worked on stuff the night before until midnight I slept in until 10:30. I still wanted to get the floor done, vanity installed and toilet done too.
The floor tiles went along much faster I really got the hang of it and I even got the hole correct for the toilet opening in one try without wasting a tile.
The floor being completed felt like I climbed a mountain. I needed to get the vanity up into the room from the garage since my 17 year old was not gonna be around Tuesday (today) and I needed his muscle.
All I can say is he’s stronger than me. That vanity was a steal off FB marketplace for $150 but it must weigh 300lbs or more. Good thing the corian top was removable or this was not happening.
After I almost died getting it up the stairs and into the room i decided to get the toilet in since I knew that would be easier than messing with the sink. I knew I would need parts for it anyone once I saw how it lined up.
Toilet literal took me only 20 minutes and it didn’t leak on the first try. I did some cleanup at 11PM and at least the bathroom was functional again.
Next update will be for today’s adventure will post later. Some pics of the days work.
iman29
Well-Known Member
Day 6 update. Yesterday. The final push.
The goal yesterday seemed simple enough since the big tasks are done mostly just need to get the sink operating and get the wall mirror hung up.
As it turns out getting the sink and drain connected to the point where it’s not fucking leaking takes a while. And 3 trips to the store. And a lot of cursing.
I think it took me like 3 hours just to get the right combination of parts to make it work. The stupid drain and tailpipe were offset by more than an 1.5 inches and nothing would fit. Everything leaked. Finally the good folks at Hanover plumbing supply came through again. I took some pics and brought the problem pipes with me and he set me up with a solution that’s not pretty but functional.
Then I also put in the side medicine cabinet. In the process I broke my new impact drill which led to more cursing but middle son looked it up on YouTube and he fixed it!
So the wall mirror didn’t get done but the bathroom is fully functional now and I get time off for good behavior to finish the floor trim and replace the door until after the Gran Fondo.
I did find some really cool retrofit LED lights that just screw into the old recessed canisters and boom LED lights. Only 17 bucks each and nothing to rewire it’s genius. Makes such a difference in the lighting too.
Here’s a few pics of the days work. Now I am off to clean up the garage and cut my grass which is like a jungle.
The goal yesterday seemed simple enough since the big tasks are done mostly just need to get the sink operating and get the wall mirror hung up.
As it turns out getting the sink and drain connected to the point where it’s not fucking leaking takes a while. And 3 trips to the store. And a lot of cursing.
I think it took me like 3 hours just to get the right combination of parts to make it work. The stupid drain and tailpipe were offset by more than an 1.5 inches and nothing would fit. Everything leaked. Finally the good folks at Hanover plumbing supply came through again. I took some pics and brought the problem pipes with me and he set me up with a solution that’s not pretty but functional.
Then I also put in the side medicine cabinet. In the process I broke my new impact drill which led to more cursing but middle son looked it up on YouTube and he fixed it!
So the wall mirror didn’t get done but the bathroom is fully functional now and I get time off for good behavior to finish the floor trim and replace the door until after the Gran Fondo.
I did find some really cool retrofit LED lights that just screw into the old recessed canisters and boom LED lights. Only 17 bucks each and nothing to rewire it’s genius. Makes such a difference in the lighting too.
Here’s a few pics of the days work. Now I am off to clean up the garage and cut my grass which is like a jungle.
behind the eustachian ring, there is a slip nut that lets you move that pipe backwards (or cut)
which would allow it to line up.
really nice job pulling it off part time, first time, in a week!
iman29
Well-Known Member
Thanks a lot it was hard work and it tried my patience more than once but it came out pretty good for a DIYer. And thanks to YOU I didn’t make the mistake of that glue down tile.
As for the drain the plumbing supply guy told me the same thing and I was all excited until I found it’s been soldered in place.
I almost cut it and installed a new section with a rubber coupler but I took the time to try to make it fit just with the new trap and it worked out. The old pipe just needed a new washer under the nut. I loaded up some plumber putty under the nut and around it just in case.
It passed The toilet paper test with flying colors the last 24-48 hours no leaks. Whew.
I finally have a job interview tmw or the wall mirror would be done but it Will be done before the weekend.
^^^ i've never seen that - i've seen soldered copper all the way to the sink...
is that "epoxied" in? or really soldered (which doesn't adhere to the chromed/stainless well.)
the "better way" would be to pull it, then sweat this on...which requires new skill and tools...
but working is working!!!
GL with the interview.
glad my $.02 was worth it.
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iman29
Well-Known Member
Thanks - totally great advice worth at least a beer when I see you next which i hope is not HoH in March 2020 ;-)
serviceguy
Well-Known Member
Is it getting covered with wooden planks?
Big surprise coming. Couple of weeks.
Wait what?
How am I gonna use this in that condition
Is this the start of a sweet teardrop, inquiring minds need to know.
So you bought a real Shelby Cobra for your wife, and you're towing it home on a Harbor Freight trailer?