Accidental bathroom remodel

[mattblast]

Last night while sitting down for dinner I heard an odd noise which seemed to be coming from the kitchen light. Kind of a faint crackling noise. The fixture has three bulbs which I recently replaced with LEDs. I’ve had a few LEDs go bad prematurely but never heard a sound from them.

To test my theory I unscrewed a bulb but it made no difference. Same with the other two bulbs. Still the same faint noise with all the bulbs removed!

Maybe I was imagining the sound. So I flipped the switch off and sound went away. On again and sound was back. Odd...

So with the power off I opened up the bottom of the lamp and water poured out onto the table!



The lamp is suspended with a chain to the ceiling and a closer look at the electrical box revealed some dampness in the drywall.



The kitchen was gut renovated maybe 5 years ago and there were no prior leaks.

Directly above the spot is the master bath of this 1974 house. The bath is mostly original but previous owner replaced the floor.

 

[dogdog]

Only way to find out is to open the bottom ceiling and turn on the water,. turn off the electrical of cause.... everything else is a guess...

I have a friend that had a similar leak. we were even able to pin point it to the bathtub area, that is about it... not too sure if it was the kids over flooding or the drain or the water supply pipings... it turned out the valves for the shower/bathtub was bad and seeping water... means there is no way to tell until you open something up. You would hope it won't be the toilet

 

[Marctrees]

It appears to be very very small amount of moisture damage on the sheetrock , so I'm thinking this is a leak that is just starting.. not one that has been seeping long term at all.

Maybe a clue.

Marc

 

[Bill Wright]

Odds are your leak is either the toilet bowl seal or the rubber gasket in your shower pan. If you haven't reset the toilet in a long time start there. See if you can isolate the fixture leak before you open the ceiling. For example use another shower and see if the moisture condition goes away. Likewise the toilet.

 

[mattblast]

We stopped using the shower once I found the leak last night. The hall bath is much nicer anyway. I remodeled it a couple years ago.



When remodeling it I pulled a new 12g dedicated 20a circuit but figured one day I’ll need a new circuit for the master bath. So I pulled an extra wire up and tucked it behind the wall to use once needed. (The two bathrooms share a wall).

I’m convinced it’s the shower and not the toilet. The shower tile is over drywall and the grout is not in perfect shape, and when I looked in the access panel it looked wet (confirmed by touch)

Hard to see but here is view from access panel.


The plan is to start demo later this week and assess the situation.

 

[gahrajmahal]

Good luck. You are going to have to pull down the drywall ceiling just to check out the mold situation.
When you do the new shower walls check out the Kerdi shower system.
https://www.schluter.com/schluter-u...Schluter®-KERDI-SHOWER-KIT/p/KERDI_SHOWER-KIT

 

[48RON54]

pretty much how my bathroom remodel got rolling back in may. I had a lot more water damage though so to insurance it went.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Directly above the spot is the master bath of this 1974 house. The bath is mostly original but previous owner replaced the floor.

WOW !! The pink is right out of the early 1950s. Just add a contrasting colored border. (In my neighborhood, all of the bathrooms are pink/black, gray/black, light blue/black or turquoise/black.)

 

[mattblast]

WOW !! The pink is right out of the early 1950s. Just add a contrasting colored border. (In my neighborhood, all of the bathrooms are pink/black, gray/black, light blue/black or turquoise/black.)

Here is what the hall bath looked like before I got stared on it. Just as bad. Actually it was in worse shape which is why it got done first. The strip of white tile was a repair and patch the former owners did.



The funny thing is that I was able to sell the old blue toilet on eBay for $325! Hopefully there is just as much demand for vintage pink toilets!

(Plus I sold the blue bull nose tile for $7 each). It cost about $5000 for the reno back then and took 2 months of weekends. I expect the master bath to be faster but it may be a bit more costly since we’ll upgrade some of the surfaces.

 

[mattblast]

Forgot to show the “best” part. The hide away toilet paper holder!

Plus a hide away toothbrush/soap/cup holder





(I recently sold the two from the hall bath on eBay for about $50).

 

[LXCam]

Wow those are some prestige vintage pieces. I bet you don't have any issues dumping the crapper.


Ya, ya I'll be here all week. Try the veal


And best of luck on the remodel. I'm still trying to finish up mine after 6 weeks of misery.

 

[quattro_sinko]

The toilet paper holder is a gem. 100% serious I would reuse it. They project 1/2 or less the distance (from the wall) that "modern" ones do. Plus, no free-wheeling.

 

[JR 42]

Here is what the hall bath looked like before I got stared on it. Just as bad. Actually it was in worse shape which is why it got done first. The strip of white tile was a repair and patch the former owners did.

The funny thing is that I was able to sell the old blue toilet on eBay for $325! Hopefully there is just as much demand for vintage pink toilets!

(Plus I sold the blue bull nose tile for $7 each). It cost about $5000 for the reno back then and took 2 months of weekends. I expect the master bath to be faster but it may be a bit more costly since we’ll upgrade some of the surfaces.

I'd be interested to know what you get for the pink toilet... I used to sell salvaged building materials, and the most common, least popular '50's bath set color was pink.

I like the hide- away bath fittings, and yours are in great shape! Makes you wonder if your kitchen is missing its original blender...

JR

 

[fasteddie]

I have that same blue in one of my bathrooms. It was done some time in the 60s. The fixtures and tile were coordinated by American Standard for color match. The sink and crapper are gone, replaced with white. Still have the blue 4'X4' high wall tub/shower base.

 

[rjn2649]

WOW, when I did my "surprise" remodel, we would have LOVED to find that toothbrush holder.... I would re-use it.

 

[biggziff]

Shower pan for sure.

 

[Marctrees]

I think... UNLESS one just plain really wants to totally re do the bathroom, that the investigatory demo should be carefully thought out.. not at all a kneejerk action.

Marc

 

[Marctrees]

VERY intelligently calmly thought out, to keep unnecessary work and $ down as much as possible.

You have another bath you can use in meantime.. do your best to drill down to find the leak source using your brain, BEFORE you bring out your BFH.



Marc

 

[cptn_zippy]

Forgot to show the “best” part. The hide away toilet paper holder!

Plus a hide away toothbrush/soap/cup holder





(I recently sold the two from the hall bath on eBay for about $50).

Snap-on chrome isn't that good.

J

 

[Marctrees]

It all goes back to USA made, in the past, not so much anymore.

Marc

 

[CraigStu]

I started using these 4 yrs ago.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Westing...te-Finish-Ceiling-Medallion-7773200/203077491
I was installing a fan in a room w/o anything in the ceiling. So I used one of those expanding mounts to put a metal outlet box in the ceiling. The fan had maybe a 6 inch diameter base and I couldn't get that mount up in there through a 5 inch hole. So I made the hole large enough to install the mount and used the above piece to cover up my hole. Later I replaced an existing fan in another room so I bought a slightly smaller medallion for it. I like the look and it sure is nice to be able to mess up a some of the drywall and not have to worry about patching it..

 

[GirchyGirchy]

I'd fix the floor and keep the pink stuff...I love the 50s-60s tile bathrooms.

 

[Homerr]

Mid-century is cool, consider keeping it.

http://savethepinkbathrooms.com/

 

[LS6 Tommy]

WOW !! The pink is right out of the early 1950s. Just add a contrasting colored border. (In my neighborhood, all of the bathrooms are pink/black, gray/black, light blue/black or turquoise/black.)

Mine is from the 40s. Gray with seafoam green borders.

Tommy

 

[930dreamer]

Vintage is in baby.

 

[CJ7VFR]

My house was built in 1955, and the upstairs bathroom is gray tile with maroon bullnose on top and a maroon accent tile below the first course of gray.

My downstairs bathroom was yellow tile with black bullnose and accent tile! I say was because it has been upgraded since I moved in.

Around me, most homes are the same age. Besides the solid pink, blue, gray, and other color combinations already stated by myself and others, I have also seen maroon tile with black bullnose and accents, pink tile with black bullnose and accents, blue tile with black bullnose and accents, and also blue with maroon bullnose and accents.

Jim

 

[fasteddie]

Two hours ago, lady next door ringing my doorbell in a mad panic "help me, my whole house is flooding!". I grab a pair of channellocks and charge to the rescue. The plastic nut that holds the flex feed to the toilet tank had cracked right off and was ******* all over the room. I shut the valve and she called her plumber. Coincidentally it was this exact toilet.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180912/abfc4382fa64cae9af47b44dfd55e5b9.jpg

 

[mattblast]

My wife had to run to Target so I had about an hour to get some demo done tonight. It’s not so much about doing it behind her back but it makes a mess and it’s better if she isn’t around until after I clean up a bit.

First step was to remove the shower door which was secured with screws and lots of silicon caulk.



Now I can get a closer look at the tiles.





The bottom layer peeled right up (due to damp base)


Evidence of long term leak and a previous repair.

For the walls I hammered a line then grabbed and pulled off in big chunks (sqft or more).





And here it is 45 mins later. That gave me 15 mins to sweep before my wife got back.





I’m away tomorrow so demo will continue on Sunday. The plan was to leave the toilet and sink in place a few more days and continue to use them, but it smells bad with all the dampness and mold in the walls I opened up so that won’t happen.

 

[Marctrees]

I'm just wondering.. is there an Ebay market for carefully removed vintage tiles?

Obviously buyer will have to clean the backs, but if intact, and in decent quantity ???.. just askin.

I've never had a reason to check, so have noooo idea.

Second... recommendation.. Next time let Wife use car.. so she does not have to run.



Marc

 

[mattblast]

I'm just wondering.. is there an Ebay market for carefully removed vintage tiles?

Here are some recent eBay sales of used pink tile.

 

[Marctrees]

Thank you Mattblast...

Yup.... the lesson is... when trying to learn "what something is " Worth" "...

ALWAYS look at "Sold" and "Completed".... NOT at what anyone is "Asking"

This extremely simple concept holds true for EVERYTHING for sale... Real estate, everything.

WHAT exposure to the open correct market will currently PAY... is the "Value" of EVERYTHING.

An original Van Gogh, a ratchet, .... ANYTHING and EVERYTHING.

Marc

 

[Marctrees]

Such a simple Business 101 concept, but somehow, .... ALOT of people don't understand it....usually when it applies to selling THEIR stuff, ... like the crazy high CL prices.

Marc

 

[Marctrees]

" One Man's Trash is another Man's Treasure" is often true.

Marc

 

[James-W]

Looks like you are in for a total re-do of the bathroom. That isn't all bad though because now you can make it the way you want it to be.

 

[mattblast]

Had an hour this morning so I got the rest of the shower tile down and carried all the debris outside.

There was definitely mold behind the walls. It gave my wife an allergy attack last night when she tried to use the bathroom and took 2 benadryl to calm. So before stirring up any dust and mold I put an exhaust fan in the window.



Found a dried up bat in the ceiling.



All cleaned up and ready for another round tonight or tomorrow.





I saved a lot of the bull nose tile (highest resale value)


There are about 20 more I hope to save.

 

[Marctrees]

Interesting page on Homerr's link -

Marc

http://savethepinkbathrooms.com/95-colors-of-pink-bathroom-replacement-tile-and-where-to-get-it/

 

[chaosracing]

You would be surprised if you listed the regular tile to. Lots of people look for that stuff all the time. I thought it was illegal to sell the old toilets due to water consumption?
Looks like you can raise the ceiling as well.
Good luck with your endeavor.

 

[LXCam]

I thought it was illegal to sell the old toilets due to water consumption?.

Now just how ****** would that be being arrested by the crapper cops.

 

[mattblast]

Demo complete except for the shower pan which appears to be attached with a poured lead joint. I’ll drill it out tonight.

When floor was redone the wet bed was pulled out (except in the closet) and replaced with a sheet of 3/4 plywood and the tile was attached to that. Most of the tile came up in full pieces. I pulled up the plywood and will replace with cement board. It made it a lot easier not having to remove a wet bed.



The sink shut offs were not sealing so I shut off water at the meter to remove the vanity then soldered in some stubs for drywalling later. The only problem is that I left toilet shut off on to drain the water and forgot about that when I turned water main back on. It took me about 30 seconds to notice since I was getting a big glass of water first.

The excess water is leaking out of the kitchen ceiling!



Time for a break! (I still hear it dripping as I write this)



The only other thing I want to accomplish today is to load up the trash and take it to the dumpster. Tonight my wife and I will go to Home Depot to look at finishes.

 

[Homerr]

Interesting page on Homerr's link -

Marc

http://savethepinkbathrooms.com/95-colors-of-pink-bathroom-replacement-tile-and-where-to-get-it/

Pam does the pink bathroom thing, but Retro Rennovation is her main site. Lots of cool mid-century resources there.

https://retrorenovation.com/