My bathroom is in desperate condition. Visitors agree it is highly impressive we have lived with it for 5 years. Photos attached. This thread will document my progress in replacing. So far my only DIY remodeling experience was a kitchen that came out OK, so any pointers from knowing people are welcome. I propose to replace everything except the bathtub, the 1x shelving, all framing, and the window. Hopefully some of the sheet rock can remain also especially the stuff that holds up the ceiling insulation. I will document progress here.
The vanity is the center of the effort.
I plan to use this for the vanity. I need a "floating" vanity to stay above a heater vent. Various sizes are possible, but to allow the door swing and keep a minimum 27" travel path at all locations this pushes the limit, and be 37" at the counter top. Existing is a POS Glacier Bay vanity that is tiny, scratched, and shoddily screwed into the wall from the outside of the cabinet. $595 (%495 after 100 AmEx Houzz discount).
Toilet &
Lid. My Rough-In distance will be 11.25 inches, which is retarded. Existing toilet is another POS Glacier Bay with 12-in rough-in pressed against the wall with the tank at an awkward angle, but I will be tiling which will remove about 3/8" so I need a 10-in rough-in I am nearly sure. Which will leave a huge gap, but oh well. Not many cost effective 10-inch rough in toilets. I want a small toilet, my bathroom is only 5 feet across and the existing toilet takes more than half that which is awkward. My connection is flat rate and unmetered, but if hypothetically metering stopped in the future this 1.28 gallon toilet should have a payback period of under ten years vs. a 1.6 gallon toilet.
Light/fan. I only have one switch. I accidentally burned the old one out a few weeks ago leaving it on during a holiday. That size is not commonly stocked now, hope this lasts a long time. I framed the old one to a new size, I have no desire to repeat even that small amount of framing hence the pricier unit.
Lighted mirror :-) Total overkill. Will replace tiny garbage looking medicine cabinet and cheapo lamp. It’s not really harder to install than a new mirror and vanity light, and not much more expensive. But will look kick ass and be way more useful.
Door. Door is a nightmare. It must go around a blockout for the furnace exhaust which limits the options. It is 28”x80”, and I have no plans to redo the framing around the door. It takes up the space that would be very useful in a vanity. A sliding door cannot work because not enough space. Outward opening doors cannot work because not enough space. An accordion, bifold, or French doors cannot work because the effective opening after accounting for hinges and door with is about 24”. It should either be 6” to the right or expanded to a 32” opening. The only option that makes sense for the effort I want is to keep the existing frame, replace the door slab, but change from right hand to left hand swing. I’ll have to swap the light switch.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/JELD-WEN-28-in-x-80-in-Princeton-Primed-Smooth-Solid-Core-Molded-Composite-MDF-Interior-Door-Slab-THDJW137200132/203617800Other tasks include replacing floor tile per my wife (already selected), swapping a light switch to the opposite side of the door, adding an electrical outlet as bathroom currently has none, and adding a switch and connection for the mirror light. I will also place cement/hardiboard and sheet rock as needed, paint ceiling and part of the wall, sand paint and restore shelf, and possibly add top and bottom doors to shelf. The dominant theme of the new bathroom will be "almost everything white." Existing shower fixtures are new and will stay, but I need to replace the valve and handle. More about tile to follow.
If you have comments or suggestions on the above feel free to say, I am ordering this stuff tomorrow and won't start the big installs until next week.
Fixed links.
Spent so far:
$2,353.86