Thursday, March 22, 2012

My name is Reena and I'm a rehab addict


I thought I'd start this post off with something pretty like the view across my yard this morning.  Because what follows isn't all that pretty.

As promised, I said I would share with you my DIY home project but before I jump right into that, I should let you know I love construction. I love watching shows like Renovation Realities, Rehab Addict, Holmes on Homes, Income Property, or Disaster DIY.  Love watching the transformations that take place.  They make it look so easy and get it all done in 30 minutes!

When we moved to our current home in 2005, we hired an architect and contractor and pretty much had the home gutted out.  Everything was updated, or moved or replaced.  Everything except one upstairs bathroom.  It was outdated but in very good shape and besides, the last child was off to college, so why update it anyway.

Well, seven years later and that bathroom has become an eyesore ... at least to me.  The more rehab shows I watched, the more I believed I could rehab my bathroom myself.

How. Hard. Could. It. Be.

So, two weeks ago, I began my own DIY project.  Here is my story.

Cost to remodel a bathroom:  $15,000
Cost to do it yourself:  $3,000, 2 bottles of ibuprofen and 23 band-aids
Knowing where the water lines are:  Priceless!







This is the place I have inhabited the last 2 weeks.

These were my best friends.


This was my old retro bathroom.

 Capturing evidence of outdatedness.

 And the demolition began.
Breaking through the tile and cement!

 All ready to begin laying a new floor.

 First, half-inch plyboards are cut and stapled down.

Things are moving right along.  Cement board is measured and cut.  And then ... first snag.  Screws are not going in easily.  Having to pre-drill each hole.
Can you tell where the water pipes are hiding?

This is what happens when you drill into a waterline in the floor.  Main water is shut off until the plumber can come the next day to cut a hole in the master bathroom ceiling below to repair the water line I have damaged.  I write a $650 check to the plumber.

Upon discovering that the Lowe's employee handed me the WRONG screws for cement board, I obtain the CORRECT screws and finish the installation of the cement board.  Unfortunately, having to countersink each screw hole.  The beginning of my first huge blister.

Knowing there was no way I was going to attempt to remove the wall tile, I hired a company who repaints the tub and tile.  Here, they have prepped the room for it's coat of paint.


No more yellow tile!  Woot Woot!

With the painter gone, I return to my next task.

Laying out the 1-inch hexagon black tiles.  Next time, (if there ever is a next time!) I'm choosing very LARGE tiles!!!  Do you have any idea how hard it is to cut a one-inch tile on a wet saw????

Took two days to lay the tile.  One day to set it into thin set mortar.  The second day to grout.  Oh, my aching knees and hands!

Of course, I had supervision.  But Boss Kramer was not very encouraging.  In fact, he was downright skeptical of the work in progress!

 But finally, the day had come.  All tools could be put away.

 So, come and take a look.

 What do you think?  Like it?

 Now I can rest.  All is well.  
Well, not all is well.  I still have a large hole in
my master bathroom ceiling.

And then there is our unfinished basement.

Oh, I need a 12-step Rehab Program!