how much skill needed to gut and remodel a bathroom?

i already planned on using this system, especially if i do it myself. i need to see if the foam shower pan feels right. i love the "mass" feel of a mortar bed.

there is a schluter shop nearby. i'm gonna check it out.

 

You still mortar...the foam just gives the slope you need instead of using a ton of mortar

Basically it will go like this. Floor > Layer of thinset > Foam Board > layer of thinset > Ditra mat > Thinset > Tile > People, Dog's, Small woodland creatures, toys, etc.

 

...depends on your wife's patients!

 

Is his wife a doctor? I didn't see that mentioned...

 

Lol

 

hahha. no my wife is actually unemployed.

i am seriously thinking of doing this myself. i work the crap state of california, so the governor makes me take 3 days off a month without pay. i am gonna bank them until after spring turkey hunting season, and take several weeks off in a roll to get it done.

in the meantime, i will start stockpiling materials and fixtures. i have called in all my favors to every tradesman i know. they will heed my cries for help.

if i get stuck, i post up a picture and question on some website for advice. i am essentially gonna be the contractor on this..i'll hire out the hard parts, and call for inspection myself.

 

my next door neighbor is attaching an extra ILLEGAL bathroom to his house. it is gonna look retarded. the foundation isnt square.

 

Best of luck , don't be afraid to ask questions

 

I spent several years (long ago) as a framing contractor, tiled my entire house and have built cabinets for retail stores. I still volunteer at Habitat For Humanity and have done just about everything there is in homebuilding. When it came time to remodel our kitchen and bath I hired it out to guys that do it do it every day. Best money I ever spent. 'Cause if Momma ain't happy you will be one miserable son of a gun.

 

So you've got help right next door.

 

do you have the internet? If so, no skill necessary. Just have to look on the internet before trying something new..

 

All of this... My step-dad and I gutted/remodeled one of the bathrooms in the house. Luckily we had a second bathroom to use but it was a long process. There are a ton of steps. Honestly, the dry-walling, tiling and cement boarding were the worst parts. Tiling probably the toughest. You need a tile cutter, measurements need to be exact. As said above, we didn't even change the layout of the bathroom. Just replaced the tub, toilet, sink, put in a medicine cabinet, tiled, and painted.

 

Lol

 

Its not that hard I did my master bath when I bought my house. The only thing I left alone was the toilet. I even changed the plumbing in the shower. It was easy took me about a week and thats with going to my normal job. I changed the sink, tilled the floor, tore out my bath tub and built a tile shower. Stand by for pics.

 

Nice job man , what system did you use to waterproof the shower pan and walls ?

 

The bottom of the shower I poured concrete using the 4 triangle method to bring the water to the middle then used slate over it. The walls I used the mold resistant sheet rock and tiled over it from the floor to the ceiling. Then sealed the tile. We reseal it about every 3-6 months to keep it looking new.

 

Any membrane in the pan , or between the pan and your slate?

 

Yes and I used the cement board as well. I forget the names exactly of what I used it was 3 years ago and Im no builder so I cant remember for shit! The people at lowes and Home Depot said I was going way over board but it was ok with me because I saved a ton of money doing it my self.

 

Looks great

 

Thanks, We like it a lot. It was a new experience for me and I feel it turned out well.