Plumbing connections in concrete? Tile bathroom before or after tub?
Peke
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (17)
Peke
2 years agoRelated Discussions
Bathrooms without bathtubs
Comments (61)This must be a regional thing because where I live (in the San Francisco Bay Area) a bathroom with a shower, sink and toilet is considered a full bath, not a 3/4 bath. My DH is a realtor and I confirmed this with him. I do think people here expect bathrooms that will be used by kids to have bathtubs, but master bathrooms are different. Adults just don't usually take baths. Maybe it's because we don't have time. I used to enjoy baths but haven't taken one in quite awhile. In an area which is prone to droughts, a large tub is wasteful. Even if water were plentiful, it also takes a lot of energy to heat the water for a bathtub. As people become more concerned about their carbon footprints and green building practices, the large tubs that were popular in the '80s and '90s may become obsolete. I had a friend who lived in a Victorian which had one bathroom on the second (bedroom) level with a lovely claw-foot tub and no shower. Her entire family bathed in a little shower off the kitchen, which was quite a trek from their bedrooms. To me, that really illustrates our society's preference for showers. So if you prefer showers to baths, skip the tub and go for that luxury shower....See MoreExterior uninsulated bathroom wall and tub drain question:
Comments (6)Bill, thanks for the reply.. Attached is a photo of the exterior wall. The tub lip will be near the top edge of the lower piece of blue insulation. With the window, the additional furring around it, and the cross furring there is not that much rigid insulation. The plywood on the exterior wall was to take the place of furring strips to move the durarock out to fully overhang the tub. This would also give me more to screw the durarock to. As a byproduct, I hoped to gain a bit more insulation. Is the concern more the plywood (as opposed to furring strips which would allow more air movement), or is it the rigid insulation trapping moisture, or the combination? Would plywood be ok if there was no rigid insulation? From other posts, it was recommended that if using fiberglass with kraft facing, to cut the kraft paper face every foot. This would allow moisture to escape. Since the rigid insulation is not wider than a foot I thought it would allow sufficient moisture migration. As an alternative, I could just peel 1 inch of unfaced fiberglass insulation and place it on the exterior wall instead of the rigid insulation. I did this in the paneled basement that has a similar exterior wall (and it helped). Or if the concern is more the plywood, I could put furring strips in. Yes the existing furring strips were not very level. I replaced 2 (both sides of window), and added another just above the tub lip (for screws). Then with the plywood, shims and screws planned to make the surface more level for the durarock. From your post, I interpret that you may also be suggesting durarock directly on the existing furring strips (with vapor barrier). Thus no plywood or additional furring strips to move the durarock out farther and fully over the tub lip. Floating the wall might be easier, but I have my experience with thinset and tile so hoped to stick with that. For the 1.5 2 inches on the ends, I was going to again use plywood to furr the wall out. I planned to split the difference and make up some of the gap on each end. However, based on your suggestion I now plan to sister the 2x4 on the back wall and put most of the 1.5-2 inches there. Attached is a photo of the floor for completeness. I added another joist (2nd out from wall) between a steel I-beam and a wall that sits on a concrete floor below. The new joist was cross braced to the existing joist along the exterior wall. It was placed to sit under the left set of feet on the tub. The position of the tub feet are marked with white paper in the photo. I then used joist hangers to support the joist to be cut (3rd out from wall). I placed the cross support to sit almost under the right front tub foot. I then cross braced to support the tub left back foot. So all the tub feet will sit directly over a structural member. The tub feet are referenced from someone sitting in the tub facing the drain....See MoreHelp! Need advice on 1950's bathroom tile & tub/shower
Comments (21)Thank you everyone for all of your replies! Sorry for the absence...I have no internet here at the house yet. In response to questions/comments: kudzu9: There are areas of the grout that are missing, and the remainder has turned yellow. I would like to replace the missing grout and whiten the yellowed. We hope to rent out the home, so I don't trust tenants to wipe down painted walls. I'm hoping to find a complementary alternative. benjesbride: Unfortunately, the reason I have little budget now is that most of the original plumbing has to be redone. The drains are all old cast iron, and have degraded...there are lead pipes too. So, since they are replacing them, I figure that now would be the time to relocate. Thank you for your advice on "embracing the retro" and your link! nosoccermom: I cant really remove the shower head, as its the only bath in the home. I LOVE your idea of glass, and will research it. Have to figure out how to seal it from moisture and how to make area where it meets tile waterproof. Fori is not pleased: LOL!!!! I'm not pleased either! Thanks for the laugh and suggestion. I will def head over there once I have internet at the house, and am ready to make all the decorating decisions.polly929: I had considered having a company reglaze the tub & tile white, but the many opinions of keeping the original intact have made me reconsider. I am keeping the home, but am trying to fix it up to rent out for now. bpathome: Thanks for sharing your experience. I was considering adding 4x4 tile above the existing, but someone else said it wouldn't look good and hearing your experience too really gives me pause. I agree that the glass sounds like a cool possibility, but I need to research the installation issues. Would wallpaper hold up in a shower??? Yes, I absolutely need to redo the floor. Its a pier and beam home, so I am avoiding any real tile. However, I have looked at black & white LVT alternatives in both the hex and penny. jesshs: That is amazing! I cannot believe someone on here has actually had this tile! And its funny you mentioned grey....that is exactly the color I was thinking of going with on the walls! As far as paint on the shower walls, as I said above to kudzu9, we are planning to rent the home out and I worry about tenants taking the time to do that sort of maintenance. I want to go with something I don't have to worry about them taking care of. cpartist: Another retro vote! I'm coming around :) The grout is yellowed, and missing in a few areas. I'm hoping there is a way to bring it back to white. I agree with you, and everyone else, about the grab bars, as well as the shower head. And so glad to get another grey vote! I am absolutely redoing the floor. Just haven't decided what would go best. Again, THANK YOU everyone for your opinions and suggestions. Please, keep the ideas coming!...See MoreDIY bathroom reno finally complete! Before and after pics
Comments (43)Just one side note, it was mostly DIY- all of the plumbing and tub installation was done by a plumber. And the plaster walls were resurfaced by a professional. They were pretty bad after removing the tile. And my husband wanted plaster not Sheetrock....See MorePeke
2 years agoPeke
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoPeke
2 years agoPeke
2 years agoPeke
2 years agoPeke
2 years agoPeke
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoPeke
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoPeke
2 years ago
Related Stories

BEFORE AND AFTERSBefore and After: 6 Bathrooms That Said Goodbye to the Tub
Sleek showers replaced tub-shower combos in these bathroom remodels. Could this be an option for you?
Full Story
BATHTUBSBefore and After: 6 Dream Bathrooms That Free the Tub
Freestanding tubs replace bulky built-ins in these beautiful bathroom remodels
Full Story
BATHROOM DESIGNBefore and After: 4 Bathrooms That Ditched the Tub
See how designers removed bathtubs in favor of sleek walk-in showers in these bathroom remodels
Full Story
BATHROOM MAKEOVERSBefore and After: Tub-Shower Combo Gets a Major Update
A mother-daughter bathroom in Toronto now has function and style, thanks to clean design and custom storage
Full Story
BATHROOM MAKEOVERSBefore and After: 7 Bathroom Makeovers That Keep the Same Layout
See how designers transform bathrooms without the expense of relocating the plumbing
Full Story
BEFORE AND AFTERSBefore and After: 4 Spa-Like Bathroom Makeovers
See how designers use soaking tubs, spacious showers and luxe materials to make these rooms feel like a day at the spa
Full Story
BATHROOM DESIGNBefore and After: Room for a Tub and Shower in 84 Square Feet
A Canadian couple replace the shower-tub combo in their bathroom with a walk-in shower and a built-in tub
Full Story
BATHTUBSBefore and After: Tubs That Say Hello to Glass
Clear glass enclosures give these 5 tub-shower combos a sleek new look. Could this be an option for you?
Full Story
BEFORE AND AFTERSBefore and After: Stylish and Streamlined Small Bathroom
A design firm helps a New York couple update a 45-square-foot bath and avoid surprises by limiting material choices
Full Story
BEFORE AND AFTERSBefore and After: 19 Dramatic Bathroom Makeovers
See what's possible with these examples of bathroom remodels that wow
Full Story
formulaross20