Did your kitchen remodel turn into a bath remodel too?

12 years ago

Hi, we are wrapping up a kitchen remodel. Plugging away at installing the lights (electrical in proper boxes waiting for final install). Waiting on backsplash because....

We have enough granite to do both our upstairs bathroom sinks! So the question is, have you grown a project like this? Did you regret it?

We may have to scale back our vacation plans (again!) to pull this off. I am still figuring out a budget and scope.

We have the granite on hold and must decide by the end of January if we want to use it for another project. Otherwise we lose it to the granite yard.

Part of me wants to be done, yet this is a few thousand dollars worth of stone AND there is valid need for the project.

Our bathroom sinks do need replaced desperately. The plumber--whom I had work on the tub handle while here for the kitchen--said in passing that the sink's carry-away holes for extra water looked like they were near failing. He said that if we couldn't do a full remodel, we ought to replace just the sinks.

I had already done the master bathroom flooring, toilet and tiled shower about 5 years ago. Front bathroom needs new toilet and flooring as well.

Specific questions:

1. We did custom red birch cabinets in the kitchen. I am thinking of going IKEA for the bathroom cabinets. Good idea? Bad with the extra moisture in the room?

2. I want more drawers than doors in my bathrooms. Things get lost in those cabinets. So do people do drawers everywhere but the sink base?

3. For front bathroom, the tub/shower combo is a question. I would prefer not to change the tub as it is not stained and now quite functional. But, if we pull up the flooring and there is rot, does that mean a whole tub replace?

4. Also for the tub, I am thinking of replacing the shower curtain with a sliding shower door. The kids hate the curtain and like to shower in the master bath. I am hoping to change that with a door. However, I was thinking of not replacing the tub/shower because it is sturdy and unstained. If we find rotted flooring under the vinyl flooring, then we are pulling out the tub, correct? Any advice on installing a door?

I will post separately with color questions and photos of my granite and the current room.

Thanks for any suggestions,

Colorfast

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Comments (4)

Billl
12 years ago
Since nobody has chimed in yet....

1) IKEA is fine. If moisture is a concern, address that with a fan, not the cabinets. Timers work wonders.

2) I don't know what everyone does, but we have a double vanity with cabinets under the sinks and drawers in the middle.

3) If there is a lot of water damage, the water is getting there from someplace. It could be as simple as improper calking or it could mean you have to replace the tub. If the tub is in fine condition, you can lift it, replace the floor, and reinstall the same tub.

4) They sell glass doors all over. The ones with a complete track can be a DIY job. Frameless glass is much more expensive and not DIY friendly.
colorfast
Original Author
12 years ago
Hi, Bill,
Thanks for your thoughts. There is not water damage by the tub that we can see. The tub is the original to the house (30 years old) so we're thinking it's a possibility. We want to replace the flooring so we may get our answer when we pull up the old stuff.
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Kirkhall, thanks for the input. I think this is W/D idea is doable now. My idea might not fly, as the room is kind of small. If I have to move a wall this project will certainly have to wait. I have to get my current BR project finished. I haven't drawn anything up yet. Lyvia, we live in the Midwest and can have a lot of humidity. Since the room is small I don't think 2 fans would work but that is a great idea that I will keep in mind. I had thought about a solar tube in the room as there is no window currently and I would love natural light. If a solar tube goes in, then there probably wouldn't be ceiling room for 2 fans as well. Tuesday_2008, thanks for your input. I am getting the idea that it is common for people to put the W/D in the BR. It would be so convenient to not go up and down those stairs. Alan_s, my upper floor is the only floor besides the basement. The house is our farm house that had been moved here from town in the 30's. It was a small square house (Sears kit house I believe) that was built in the 20's. The joist are 16" on center with 2x8" joist. They are cross-braced every 16"? I have heard that there could be a lot of vibration so I was thinking that beefing up the area would be something to take into consideration. I hadn't thought about cracking of wall tiles or plaster. There still are plaster walls in parts of the house. The dryer would be electric. Thanks for the link to the switch it is a great idea. The current laundry would remain. It is well situated in the basement. Oh, and there is no way that there is room for a full laundry in this pint sized house Ã¢ÂÂº With regards to resale, the house is part of the farm and has been in the family for 3 generations and probably will stay in the family. If it ever goes to sale, the house and farm will likely go together. This isn't a typical house scenario. So, I don't consider resale value when I remodeled something, instead I consider reuse value - by another farm generation. This thread was created for me to get an idea if moister was a concern, because if it was something that couldn't be worked around I wouldn't even consider this BR/laundry option.
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pricklypearcactus
12 years ago
As billl said, moisture should be addressed with proper ventilation (fan). If you do not have one already, plan to put one in. I don't have personal experience with IKEA cabinets, though I have a disassembled one in my basement waiting to be installed as a utility sink. I read very positive things about the quality:cost ratio.

Personally, I generally prefer drawers rather than cabinets. Anything you can do to get extra drawers would be good.

Unless the subfloor under the tub is damaged or you damage the tub while removing the flooring, there should be no reason you need to remove the tub. And even if you remove the tub, you could probably still reinstall it. I replaced my tub (it was harvest gold) and there had been a small amount of water damage. I pulled up the underlayment and the subfloor was in good shape. With water damage, you really don't know what to expect until you finish demolition.
colorfast
Original Author
12 years ago
Hey, there, we do have a fan and it does vent to the outside. We do use it because whoever installed it attached it to the ceiling light. It works even better than a timer. You need the overhead light to see much of anything in the shower.

But, this is the kids' bathroom and before we owned the house, other kids used it. I actually fold a towel along the length of the floor to catch drips and then hang it later.

I am relieved to hear you were able to reuse your tub.

I am thinking that I would like as many drawers as possible. I find my current bathroom cabinets to be a dark hole. Hopefully I can work out the IKEA angle. Early on, I decided I didn't want IKEA for my kitchen (even though I liked the look a lot) so I am a real newbie with their site and planning tool.

Did your kitchen remodel turn into a bath remodel too?

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Billl

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Did your kitchen remodel turn into a bath remodel too?

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Billl

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pricklypearcactus

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