Industrial/garage bathrooms?

[Number21]

I lease a small industrial building for shop space. I've got a little bathroom in the corner, 6x10, with a shower/toilet/vanity and beat up drywall disgusting/concrete floor.

I want to remodel it somewhat, probably with black/white tile floor. I'm curious what you guys have done for "shop" bathrooms, right now it just kind of feels like you're in a dirty old house. What can I do for the walls? I could repair the drywall but I've never been a fan of drywall in an industrial environment...

It would be nice if I could hookup a hose in the corner and just hose the whole place down every once in a while. I was thinking about installilng a urinal, but, that's what the wooded area out back is for.

Anybody got some pics of some nice bathrooms?

 

[catmech]

I have not seen this in a bathroom but think that it would look pretty cool to do a half wall out of aluminum diamond plate. You could use clear caulk in the corners and that would allow you to use the hose on it. Finish the wall/floor seam in the same way. Put a fresh coat of paint on the upper half and hang some cool tin signs up, maybe something from a pay toilet, or service station restroom.

 

[Kevin54]

Tile. IF it is a bathroom that gets used frequently by a number of people. Any splashing on the walls you want to be able to hose. mop, or scrub down. If not tile, then the fiberglass panels (can't remember the name right off) that you see used in carwashes, etc. But you want to use a cement board behind it due to moisture. This is for at least 4' up from the floor. And if a number of people use it, daily cleaning is necessary.

 

[larry4406]

If you want industrial, I would use ceramic tile on the floors and FRP (fire retardant plastic) panels on the walls with rubber cove base or ceramic base.

 

[malibu101]

If you want industrial, I would use ceramic tile on the floors and FRP (fire retardant plastic) panels on the walls with rubber cove base or ceramic base.

X2 on the FRP. It is virtually impossible to ruin the stuff.

 

[sasquatchpa]

FRP = Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic

 

[CamarosRus]

Is FRP the "bumpy" surfaced material you see in many commercial kitchens and baths ???

 

[malibu101]

Is FRP the "bumpy" surfaced material you see in many commercial kitchens and baths ???

Yep. Stands up to most anything, hence why you see it in those applications.

 

[nate379]

Yup, only downside is that it's around $30-35 a sheet and very thin so you need drywall or OSB behind it.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Since it's leased space, is there any sort of agreement with the landlord about making improvements to the building? Like, who pays for it and who's responsible for making the improvements.

 

[malibu101]

Yup, only downside is that it's around $30-35 a sheet and very thin so you need drywall or OSB behind it.

Yes. Important info for someone who doesn't know what it is.

 

[autoist]

My shop bathroom (shower, commode, pedestal sink)...floor is done in 1' square ceramic tile I got from Lowe's for 79-cents per tile; bottom 4' of walls are bead board paneling:

Looking at the toilet & pedestal sink with the shower showing in the reflection of the wall-to-wall mirror:

Close-up of bead board paneling first 4' of walls:

 

[Number21]

Since it's leased space, is there any sort of agreement with the landlord about making improvements to the building? Like, who pays for it and who's responsible for making the improvements.

I pay for it and do it all. Landlord is a cheap skate *****. I especially like improvements I can take with me when I leave, like light fixtures.

I thought a little bit about the FRP stuff, I like the ida of doing just the bottom half of the wall. I probably wouldn't need more than 4 sheets that way.

I like the aluminum diamond plate idea too...how much does a 4x8 sheet of that stuff cost? If I installed it carefully enough I could remove it and take it with me when I leave...

How about light fixtures? I need something manly to replace the girly strip of bulbs above the mirror...

 

[tcianci]

You can get the diamond plate prices on line, just do some web searching. There are places that will cut it to size for you too. What is on your walls now? You don't need cement board or OSB behind the FRP panels, if the place is drywall right now, you can apply the FRP and be done with it and then just paint out the top. Ceramic tile is the best and cheapest bet for the floor especially if you aren't too fussy on the color or size, you can usually find it for under a buck a square foot.

 

[mrb]

careful with light fixtures and being able to take them. Typically in a commercial lease, anything screwed to the building is a 'fixture' and you are required to either leave them, or remove them at your expense' at the sole discretion of the landlord. If you spend enough on lights that you want to keep them, hang onto the fixtures that were there, and get a letter from the landlord -or at the least inform the landlord that you are installing new fixtures and when you move out you will replace the original fixtures and keep yours, and give them X days to object. See how this is addressed in your lease. Its stupid stuff like this that becomes a big hassle when the lease is up.

 

[King Me IRL]

A urninal is not a good idea IMO. You can't take it with you when you leave, and if there is not one there already, they are a PITA to rough in. Plus, they aren't cheap. They only save about .2 gallons per flush at best (unless you get a waterless). And you gotta make sure you have the room for it and if you need a partition. I would put the money toward the walls and floor like the guys in the above posts stated.

 

[Number21]

careful with light fixtures and being able to take them. Typically in a commercial lease, anything screwed to the building is a 'fixture' and you are required to either leave them, or remove them at your expense' at the sole discretion of the landlord. If you spend enough on lights that you want to keep them, hang onto the fixtures that were there, and get a letter from the landlord -or at the least inform the landlord that you are installing new fixtures and when you move out you will replace the original fixtures and keep yours, and give them X days to object. See how this is addressed in your lease. Its stupid stuff like this that becomes a big hassle when the lease is up.

Yeah, it's a long story, but I just moved into this shop from another one with the same landlord. Technically the lease does say I need to leave anything nailed or screwed down basically. I told the landlord when I moved into the new place we'll need to subtract $45 from the rent for three GFCI outlets I needed to install according to code and my own safety rules. I reminded her I bought and replaced all the outlets in the old unit with new industrial grade stuff. She told me to "put the old ones back" in the other unit and use those GFCIs.

I did exactly that - I was going to GIVE her about $200 worth of new industrial grade outlets, switches, and stainless steel cover plates...so I replaced all the OLD **** that was so worn out cords wouldn't hold in the outlets and painted three or four colors, with dirty/cracked/broken plastic covers. I believe it cost her the new tennant that WAS going to move in there, he saw it with my stuff, then later the "upgrades". Still empty now.

Basically what I'm trying to say is she's a clueless idiot, doesn't care a whole lot about the wording of the lease, or building codes, or commercial laws. Doesn't understand one bit that a few dollars in upgrades to her building could net her thousands more in rent. She probably won't even notice if I install something and take it back down. I always keep the old parts, no matter how ridiculous and insignificant it might seem...

 

[Number21]

A urninal is not a good idea IMO. You can't take it with you when you leave, and if there is not one there already, they are a PITA to rough in. Plus, they aren't cheap. They only save about .2 gallons per flush at best (unless you get a waterless). And you gotta make sure you have the room for it and if you need a partition. I would put the money toward the walls and floor like the guys in the above posts stated.

Actually I was looking on craigslist and saw a few industrial used ones in good shape for like 20-30 bucks. Not to save water, just easier to piss in. I do have a perfect spot for one. But like I said, I'll probably skip that since I have a private area out back.

 

[7echo]

You can get that bead board like Autoist mentions that is PVC. Doesn't rot, you can paint it or not.

 

[nate379]

I have rented for many years and have added things here and there, never really expected to remove or get my money back. The $100-200 here and there was worth it for convenience.

You could clean up the walls/coat of paint, maybe throw down some cheap vinyl floor tiles on the floor or something. If you are messing up a bathroom to the point where you need to hose it out, stop eating at Taco Bell!

 

[sberry]

This saves wear and tear on the conventional bathrooms. Be lost without this sink and the other one I have on the shop floor.

 

[Number21]

Stupid me, I totally forgot half the walls in the bathroom are cinderblock covered with spray drywall texture, and paint. Looks a lot like the FRP stuff already, would match well, and I'll only need like 3 sheets!

Does the FRP come in any other colors besides extra extra white? A sort of industrial grey color would be nice...(back to the diamond plate idea...)

Edit: seems like I've seen sheets of "fake" diamond plate before, like made out of vinyl or something. Anybody know of any product like that I could cover the wall with?

 

[Steevo]

If you use any kind of diamond plate on bathroom walls, be sure to spray a clear coat on them. Splatters will etch the surface and make them look really bad in no time. The clear coat makes them easy to wipe clean.

 

[kidatari]

This saves wear and tear on the conventional bathrooms. Be lost without this sink and the other one I have on the shop floor.

Is the bucket next to the sink used as a urinal?

 

[Number21]

Oh, wow, I found the FRP motherload!
http://www.frpshop.com/liner-panels-c-3_4.html

Think the red would be a little too over the top?

 

[Number21]

PS - holy frickin' christ - diamond plate is like $250 for 4 x 8 x 1/8" sheet!

 

[car99r]

PS - holy frickin' christ - diamond plate is like $250 for 4 x 8 x 1/8" sheet!

Check ebay! I seen some awhile back on there believe it or not. You could buy 4x8 sheets for less than half the cost locally and shipping was only like 30 bucks for first sheet and 10 for each additional. It has been a few months but couldn't believe it. They ship them as flat stock through UPS I believe.

 

[Number21]

Check ebay!

Yeah, that's where I looked! I don't think my heart can take it if I ask a local place...

 

[fireguy]

Check the trailer mfg. My cargo trailer has cheap diamond plate. There is a moulding that matches the diamond plate also. One of my body shop accounts did two walls of his bathroom in diamond plate, looks sharp. The wall plates are diamond plate also. The walls and ceiling are white paint. A large mirror behind the sink looks nice. He painted the floor gray.

 

[catmech]

I have bought scratch and dent at the local yards for real good prices, and the damage was on a corner so I could work around it. Just saying its worth asking.

One other option is the corrugated steel in galvanize. I have seen it in a couple shops on here and it does look good.

 

[Number21]

What do you guys think about using diamond plate as countertop material for the sink/vanity in the corner? That would be a lot more affordable than doing all the walls. The green laminate and matching bad tile job have to go...

 

[nate379]

Would be hard to keep clean I would imagine. A cheap MDO/laminate counter top would be easier to just wipe down.

Personally on a rental place I wouldn't get too carried away with it. A coat of paint and maybe some vinyl tiles on the floor and call it a day.

Dunno about you all, but the bathroom is probably the room I spend the least amount of time in... well maybe the kitchen is #1, but still. Get in, do my thing, and get out. I'm a ****, shower, shave in 15-20 mins type of guy.