Monday, being a holiday, I was off work when I decided I would tackle the part of the bathroom tear down that really made me nervous - I decided to cut out the subfloor. Now, when the carpenter came in to do the wall, door and tub, he was supposed to tear out the floor and replace it. But he decided not to because the part under the bathtub was still sturdy (and fairly new). Never mind that I had told him that other parts of the floor were dry rotted and/or water damaged. ever mind that I told him that I needed a nice smooth surface to lay linoleum on. Never mind that then would have been the best time to remove flooring since EVERYTHING was out of the bathroom except the toilet. Oh no, he decided I didn't need a new floor so put in the two walls on top of the old floor.
AARRGGHH! So, I have known that somehow I would need to cut out part of the floor and replace it. Around Christmas, on one of my numerous visits to the BBS, I saw a great deal in-store on a Dremel UltraSaw and extra blades. Plus, I could get another 5% off for using their credit card. So, with the bathroom floor specifically in mind, I bought it (and as an added bonus, got free 2 year replacement plan because I was nice to the cashier)
Anywho, Monday I decided it would be a good time to disconnect plumbing, move the vanity out, empty the linen chest and remove it, then figure out how to cut the floor straight enough, remove said floor, and install new plywood. One would have thought I would at least start the project on Sunday, giving me two days (just in case), but no - I loafed on Sunday :)
Part way into the start of ripping up the floor. I was experimenting on how it would work (you can see the linen chest on the right - I hadn't removed it yet).
Oh good, below the current self-stick tiles set on plywood, there are older self-stick tiles, oh and what? Hardwood flooring? Who in their right mind puts hardwood flooring in a bathroom?
And don't even get me started on the hole in the middle of the floor. I have no idea what the original configuration was (there were after all, 3 door headers in this small room), and I can't even conceive a configuration that would have a hole for a toilet or shower/bath there!
I actually made good time on this project. The hardest part was cutting the two pieces of plywood to install. I replaced an L-shape 83" long and 57" at its widest (no-o-o, couldn't be 48" or less, could it?). Eventually it all came together though.
So now I still have to do the are around the toilet - only because they used massive amounts of super glue on the self-stick tiles so they don't come off the plywood. However, my main mission was accomplished - with the floor replaced under where the new vanity will go, I can sheet rock the walls. Which at the rate this project has been going, will probably be some time in 2020 :D
Hmm, are you sure thats an original bathroom? Maybe they moved it, added walls, and the tiles after they modified? Looking good though! I've had my eye on that saw.....
Posted by: Ruth | June 05, 2016 at 08:18 AM
It's a good thing that hard work doesn't scare you!
Posted by: Cop Car | June 07, 2016 at 07:28 PM
Ruth - that is the original bathroom. The type of the FHW fins are from the 60's and the way they are placed means it has always been there. And the state of the hardwood flooring that I uncovered, pretty much ascertained the same.
Posted by: bogie | June 11, 2016 at 06:42 PM