We Love Our Insurance Adjustor

[diane_holmes]

Well, this last weekend we had a kitchen fire that took out our microwave/ventahood, range/oven, and charred the cabinets.

If you don't have a fire extinguisher at your home... get one now!

Also, found out our riding mower is broken.

So picture this... Ripped out carpet over entire house (due to severe allergies), ripped out shower, fire-damaged kitchen, 4 acres of weeds.

I know what you're thinking. Thank goodness it's not my home! I'd like to be thinking that too.

Anywho, had the adjustor come out to inspect the fire damage and took this opportunity to claim the shower. We hadn't claimed it up until now because (1) it was going to be a simple project of just replacing the shower pan (laugh, laugh), and (2) if it wasn't over a certain amount, it wasn't worth claiming because of the deductible AND losing the status of "three years - no claims," which is a nice break on the insurance price.

So, tomorrow, we have a company coming out (Total Restoration), who can do both project. I interviewed a manager at length about how they install tile, and to see if I can set the standard of what I want. I can. So I'm tempted to like them.

As you can see, we are to the point of hiring the project out. And I harken back (yes, an underused phrase) to my first post, and how I was told then that a shower was no way to start learning tile.

Yes, you were right.

Questions: Can we make a simple checklist of How The Shower Should Be Done? I want an agreement up front from these folks that they understand what I want. Things like slope the floor first, then put down liner. Vinyl liner should be installed like XYZ (reinforced corners?). Etc.

I do know they plan on using greenboard, then cement board. How do we feel about that?

After all this is over, I think I may try a nice little tile project. My desire to tile has not gone, it's just buried deeply under home upheaval.

Best,

Diane

PS Scott sends his best from the sanitarium.

[Bud Cline]

Diane (whispering here) you can make a lot of money on this project now if you get rid of Total Restoration and do all this yourself, and hey, we can do that right here, where do you want to begin? This is really easy and won't take more than three to four years to complete.

[John Bridge]

Okay, so Diane torched her kitchen to get out of doing the shower. Well, that's just great, and after six pages, too. (just kidding).

Diane,

Send Total Restoration down the road. Find someone who will do an old fashioned mud job for you. He'll have to be an old sucker like me or Bud or Bri or . . . .

Bud,

Didn't you say you were hurting for a job? Think Austin, man. You know, "Hill Country." Diane's gonna have this big insurance settlement. She can buy beaucoup red wine and muchas Dos Equis!

[Bri]

Jeeez....you don't want me..I haven't done a mud job in so long...I forget how!...and who you calling old?!

Bri

[Bud Cline]

I would go to Texas Hill Country in a heartbeat, well may two heartbeats. Spent a month out at Marble Falls one time staying in a condo and remodelling the one next door.

[diane_holmes]

I have this fantasy where a tile celebrity, like one of you, comes to my house. You stay in my guestroom (right across from the charred kitchen), where you and the wife have a second honeymoon. I make homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast. And all my shower worries just go away.

Any takers?

Diane

[diane_holmes]

Dear Really-Smart Tile Setters,

Here is a little checklist I have created for Total Restoration to use. Every time I read John's Tile book, I know that with your help I can take it on and do a Real Mud job. But... between everything going on in the house, threats of layoffs at Scott's job, and my uncooperative health... I must settle for getting it done.

I know, it goes against my nature, too. <grin>

But if you could help me get the best shower possible (give these limitations), I would sure appreciate it!!!

1. Fill hole in cement house slab (where the shower drain comes up), with latex-modified mortar. Let dry 24 hours.

2. Install prefab curb/threshold.

3. Put down 15 lb. Tar-Paper on shower floor. (What about the bench???) Cover this with Galvanized expanded wire lathe.

4. Create sloped shower floor using latex-modified mortar bed. Compact. Harden over night.

5. Put up wood blocking 8-9" high around shower floor. (Between wall studs??? What about the bench???)

6. Install CPE membrane (Chloraloy, by Noble Co.), using Noble Sealant 150. Use prefab dam corners. Let cure (time???)

7. Test liner, fill with water, let sit overnight.

8. Install prefab nook.

9. Put wall substrate on wall (green board, followed by cement backer board), coming down over pan top. (What about plastic Liner? What about bench?)

10. Create window sill slope (outward) using the mortar.

11. Tile walls, window sill, bench, doorframe, and nook with thinset, making sure tiles stop 1/8" – ¼" COMPLETED shower floor.

12. Set drain to correct height and surround with gravel or spacers to keep weep holes from plugging up.

13. Use ½ on the intended latex-modified mortar on shower floor. But down 16/16 gauge 2x2 mesh. Follow up with remaining mortar.

14. Tile shower floor. Let dry 24 hours.

15. Grout. Let cure three days. Seal walls only.

16. Install Shower door.

I could really use your guidance on this list!

Many thanks,

Diane

[diane_holmes]

Oh, yeah... the ceiling should be included too!!

D.

[diane_holmes]

I met with the guys today, and cross-examined them on shower theory. They are willing to step up to the plate… in writing. So I look forward to your feedback on my list above.

A new question: Apparently I have the alternative of doing the vinyl pan liner or having a cultured marble liner made (one piece, no seams). What say you?

Respectfully waiting to take down all suggestions and send thank-you beers.

Best,

Diane

[John Bridge]

I'll let the others run your check list.

I was serious about the mud job. If you can find a mud man, you'll get the thing done properly, and it won't cost any more than what you are contemplating. The mud guy will know the answers to all your questions before you ask them.

Wish I wasn't so booked up. I'd bring my helper up and we'd blow that shower out in a couple days.

I don't like cultured marble (fake marble) bases. They wear and they crack.

[Bud Cline]

Batter's ready at the plate, here's the pitch, curve ball, ball one.

Have you seen the "Better Bench"? Pretty slick deal I think. Installed many of them. Hangs from the wall, imbeds in the tile, doesn't interfere with the liner at the receptor. Fast, inexpensive.

[chip]

Just a couple of changes so far.

#7- TEST FOR 24 HOURS.

#10- SLOPE THE SILL INWARD, TOWARD THE SHOWER, HENCE THE DRAIN.

If I spot any other things, I'll be back.

Art

[diane_holmes]

Thank you, thank you. I have two calls in to talk to these folks. Was actually expecting the bids today. Not even a call back... Sigh.

But I'm all set to see if there isn't someone there who does MUD. (Because John says it's good! And he can't be the only person in Texas that does this.) Also I want to talk to them about Bud's Better Bench. (Say very fast for fun.) Also I wanted to nix the need for getting a cultured marble estimate. Don't want anything that is going to crack!

John, by the time I get a call back, you may be free. What year will that be?

Art, thanks for the list updates.

So... I am still curious about the liner thing. Do you put a liner up over the studs, then the greenboard, then the cement board? Or do you not need a liner?

And on an up note, nothing broke, caught fire, or flooded today.

Best,

Diane

[Bud Cline]

Diane,

Here's a look at the Better Bench:

http://www.ctile.com/better_bench2.htm

[Craig Meston]

hello, i pity the poor bugger who comes to your house to quote your little shower pan. hahahahaha. way too many questions for the average (and above average) tradesman. just get the price you want from a competent tradesman and go with the flow. you wouldnt see me for the rubber burning tyre marks if you brought out that little (hehe) checklist if i came around. anyway, i will come and tile your house for you, expcept the plane ticket may cost a few extra bucks to the other boys. i'll meet john there and we can tile it together and we will teach each other all of the wonderful things we each know about tiling, and by the time we are finshed you will have 4 shower recesses beautifully tiled because he and i will be arguing and trying to prove our point!! anyway, bear in mind that when most tradesmen know that its an insurance job, we absolutley slather the cost on the project just in case we get the job, so the pricing of that one is a bit here and there. john may yet have smething to say about my inflammatory statements. who knows. all the best, craig meston.
Craig Meston Tiling (please put the checklist away!!)