master bathroom remodel

[dizzyj]

First off, let me say hi, and nice forum. I've spent the last several hours reading as many threads as I could.

I'm in the middle of a master bathroom remodel and I was hoping to get some advice (yes a little late, but still not to late to change the plans).

my new bathroom is going to be be just about 8'x15'. Not huge by any means. One side of the bathroom is going to be a garden tub and walk in shower. The tub I bought is 6'x42". I've currently got the tub placed along the 15' legth of wall in the corner. this leaves me just about a 4. wide x 4 1/2' shower.

so the width of the tub + the width of the shower make up the 8' width of the room. With this setup, I will be entering the tub from the front.

My question is, has anyone ever done this? it seems like it would make a nice cozy tub area with the main drawback being that it will be difficult to clean (you might need to get in the tub to clean the back), but I would like to know if im doing something I really shouldn't be.

also, I would like to undermount the tub. I searched and did not come up with many hits. has anyone had any success undermounting a tub? (the directions say to build a deck for the tub, then buid up the side to match the sides of the tub, then tile right on top of the tub/deck).

thanks for any advice.
-dj

[muskymike]

Hi DJ, welcome! I haven't done an undermount tub but lotsa over mounts. With the size of you bathroom sometimes you hafta make due. Entering from the front of the tub is kinna the norm.

[dizzyj]

Thanks for the reply Mike,

I'm probably not saying it right. I would be entering the tub from the 42" side, not the 7' side.

[johntrent]

DJ - I have never done an undermount tub but have done a couple where you do enter the tub from the end like you are trying to do. The layout of this particular condo building has all tubs being entered this way. It is no different from an entering stand point than to enter on the long side. Only thing is cleaning as you mentioned - and some owners have put the spout & controls in the back even though there was room on the front/side. That is a decision only you can make though - as long as it works for you there isn't any law your breaking that I am aware of

Got any pics?

[Tool Guy - Kg]

dj,

Since this tub isn't being used as a shower, have you considered using a single stone slab for the horizontal top instead of tile? It might look awfully nice and could be matched with the vanity tops...just an idea.

[dizzyj]

lots of work done. I've got pics, and will throw some up soon. The wife was thrilled with me jack hammering out a big hole in the floor

drains for the tub and shower have been added, and I filled in with concrete today. Electrical has been run in the bathroom/bedroom. I've got to run some last minute plumbing (I realized that im working under my kitchen, and while I have everything ripped apart, I might as well run plumbing so I can switch to a gas stove later).

I've got some noble niches on order, but in reality I have a lot of work to do before I start the shower, but have some shower questons.

couple silly question, but ones I have not been able to find answers to:

1) to build the shower curb, do I just use concrete nails to secure the first 2x4, then just nail the other 2 boards? should I embed the first 2x4 in thinset first?

2) when cutting the liner to fit the shower, do I need to make the liner go up the wall right where the curb is? or just over the curb is fine? I havent seen a close up picture of the liner being fitted over the curb.

3) what do you use to cover the weep holes in the shower drain?


and finally, one more on undermounting the tub. The tub I bought is this one: (er, im not allowed tohave links in my posts, so its a porcher tetsu, recctangle tub)

porcher says it can be undermounted in the manual. Now, the top of the tub is finished, so I seriously doubt that tile would stay. would I sand the top of the tub down? im a little worried about doing that, then having to do a drop in, but having my tub ruined. I had wanted to do a granite top to the tub, and the vanity, but my project cost is spiraling out of control, so I think travertine will be the best Ill be able to do.

The main reason I want to undermount is that with such a small bathroom, I dont have any room around the tub for a shelf for shampoos, etc. If I undermount, I can get ~ a 6" shelf all the way around the tub



thanks again for the help.

[dizzyj]

one more question. If I just do the tub as a drop in, do I cover the top of the deck with durock, then tile, then drop the tub in, hook up the connections and drain, then tile the sides/access panel? seems like the only order it could go, but want to double check.

[Deckert]

Hi there.

1. I wouldn't use 2x4's at all. I would build my curb out of bricks, thinset to the slab.

2. Your liner will get folded, have a small cut, and then a corner piece gets glued onto the spot where the curb and wall meet. I'm gonna look and see if I can find you a picture. I'm almost positive there is one in the library. Here we go: http://johnbridge.com/mortar_bed_shower_floor.htm

3. I use gravel or a handful of tile spacers/wedges/etc.

4. If you do it as a drop in, then that is probably the order you need to do it in (top first, then side or at least the access panel portion of the side). In addition to the proper framing and backer, I like to use a surface applied waterproofing like Redgard on the tub deck.

[dizzyj]

thanks for the help. Its no great being able to ask questions..


another weekend down and a bunch more work done. This weekend, I:

- finished the electrical
- installed plumbing for a future gas stove in my kitchen (above the bathroom im remodelling)
- installed sheet rock and cement board in the ceilings (cement board over the tub/shower).

So, my question for today is this: I had to cut 2 can lights in the cement board. The tool I bought only cut a 6" hole, where as my can lights have a 7" diameter. is there any easier way besides pulling down the 2 peices of cement board and using a carbon blade on my jig saw to make the holes bigger? im really hopeing I dont have to pull anything down. Its not a big deal, but was a lot of work to get the ceiling all up.

[sandbagger]

is there any easier way besides pulling down the 2 peices of cement board and using a carbon blade on my jig saw to make the holes bigger?

yes - find some 6" cans. Seriously, that would be far easier than the alternatives you've mentioned.

[dizzyj]

as promised here are some pictures

here are a couple while the cement was dug up. you can see the frame for thhe tub and the shower

[dizzyj]

a copule with the cement poured and floated. this was my first time doing cement. I thought it turned out ok.

[dizzyj]

spend the weekend getting the ceiling up. put durrock over the whole tub/shower. overkill yes, but wanted to do it anyways.







and finally, a couple shots to show why im going through the headache. these will be the views out my master when its done.

[bbcamp]

DJ, what dam is that?

[dgunnels]

Bob! No foul language on the forum please. DJ those views are beautiful. Keep those project pics coming!