Bamboozeled! Update

[f6john]

About two weeks ago I finished a project that had been in the works for over two years. I wanted to swap our my 30 space 200 amp breaker panel for a 40 space box. The 30 space box was full and I figured I might want or next a few extra circuits. So I got that done, had a nice RTE last Saturday, been driving the Corvette a little more than usual, taking care of my grass at my leisure, just enjoying the summer.

Then I don’t know what happened. My wife engaged me in conversation and the next thing I know, I’m doing a complete bathroom remodel in our basement that will no doubt drift into the entire basement living area. I had big dreams for my man cave in the basement but I see that evaporating in favor of a massive she shed! I guess when I am completely broken down and having to be hand fed by her it will seem worth it. On the other side of the coin, when she has to start wiping my butt she may think it was a price too high!

[f6john]

That's why I profess to be crap at home DIY 

My only hope would be to fake injuries as I earned my living doing home improvements for 30 years. I would have to give up riding to be convincing and maybe a few other things I haven’t even considered.

[..]

That's why I profess to be crap at home DIY 

My only hope would be to fake injuries as I earned my living doing home improvements for 30 years. I would have to give up riding to be convincing and maybe a few other things I haven’t even considered.

 

[Mn. Norseman]

If she mentioned a bidet in the remodel she be trying to cover that.

[f6john]

If she mentioned a bidet in the remodel she be trying to cover that.

No bidet in this bathroom for sure! I’m not going to start sawing concrete. No way!  Did that sound convincing??

[Rams]

If she mentioned a bidet in the remodel she be trying to cover that.

No bidet in this bathroom for sure! I’m not going to start sawing concrete. No way!  Did that sound convincing??

Yeah, that's your story now.   Please keep us abreast of your progress with pictures. 

Rams

[f6john]

Got some water lines and drain lines to move and since I’ve got all this exposed, I’m probably going to put a kitchen type sink on the other side of the bathroom wall too.

[carolinarider09]

A bidet, interesting.   When I had our house designed one of the things I required the architect to do was to ensure that the master bathroom had both a sepeerate tub, a separate shower, and an enclosed toilet room with both a toilet and a bidet.   In hindsight (no pun intended) a very, very good choice in my humble opinion.  As one gets older one understands the benefits.

[Jess from VA]

I just lived through a full basement (family room) bathroom tear-out and rebuild.  (smaller than yours)

It included a jackhammer, concrete, plumbers, tile man, drywall man, and carpenter.

I helped (and did all the painting), and manned the checkbook (ouch).

It's now the nicest room in my old house.  But there's no TV in there.    

[f6john]

I just lived through a full basement (family room) bathroom tear-out and rebuild.  (smaller than yours)

It included a jackhammer, concrete, plumbers, tile man, drywall man, and carpenter.

I helped (and did all the painting), and manned the checkbook (ouch).

It's now the nicest room in my old house.  But there's no TV in there.    

I’m the plumber, electrician, carpenter, drywall and tile man. Maybe paint but there won’t be much. Just materials will give the checkbook all the stress it can handle! Bet you enjoy your new surroundings especially now that it’s complete, tv or not!

[Jess from VA]

Bet you enjoy your new surroundings especially now that it’s complete, tv or not!

I do, mainly the shower stall.  Once the drain was broken, I had to shower in the upstairs tub (10 years), and I hated that.  I have no use at all for bath tubs (especially pink ones like mine, and you know who's idea that was).  

My only complaint is, the tile guy used one of those kits that gently angles the floor to the center drain.  That has the effect of raising a number of corners of the small floor tiles, which are pointy sharp on the old feet.  I can get a small file on those ceramic corners, but can only make eighth inch strokes.  Slow and tedious work.  And it just now occurred to me this may be the perfect job for my Dremel tool.

BTW, for a basement, it looks like you have nice tall ceilings.   

[f6john]

Bet you enjoy your new surroundings especially now that it’s complete, tv or not!

BTW, for a basement, it looks like you have nice tall ceilings.   

Yep, this basement has all poured concrete walls so the forms made sure I had 8’ ceilings. Of course the main duct for hvac and air returns encroached on that in a few areas. I learned from my parents home where I could stand flat footed and touch the ceiling no problem. I do have a low ceiling in one of my favorite rooms in the house. It’s sort of a bonus room because it is under the upstairs, ground level, 2 car garage. The steel I beams used to support the concrete floor above cut down the headroom. It’s my tv , lounge around room and a good place to be when it’s storming outside.

[Jess from VA]

My basement ceilings are low, moreso for ducting.  I can reach up and open and close the ceiling HVAC vents.  I'm only 5'9".   I've lived in little places my whole life.  Rooms, dorm rooms, Q rooms, and my house is 1050SqFt (3-level split).  But it's all mine.  

In three days dawn to dusk (because we had a cool spell), I have powerwashed my big pressure treat deck and long 7' backyard fence, and then stained the whole thing (cedar).  I painted to get through school, and know brushes are better, but I saved some time and my arms and used a thick nap roller to lay on the stain (where I could), then back-brushed it.  It looks beautiful, but I am whipped (and sore).  

[f6john]

It’s good to have a project, right? What else would you have done for 3 days except set around and watch tv? Well there is always going for a ride or a walk and bump into an Asian lady! I understand about being tired. The biggest detriment to me doing physical work is my shoulders. It seems that they are the first joints to show excessive wear, especially when I work with my arms above my head.

[Jess from VA]

Knowing I would be on my feet all day (and getting an early-cool start), I skipped two days of my daily first thing walking.  Just back from this morning's.  All this walking has paid off with weight loss, and stronger knees and ankles and endurance.  The sore feet never stops.  I haven't seen the Asian lady in weeks. 

The thing with physical work and aging, is to know your limitations and pace yourself (and work smarter not harder).  We don't bounce back from injury as quick as in our youth and middle age.  Still, I get up a head of steam and tend to power through. 

During my indoor carpentry and trim work, everything got piled up in the middle of the living room.  So after 30 years I don't need lights to navigate my house, and I walk in there in the dark and plow right into the pile, fall on hard things, and smash my nuts and gash both legs.     (Not smarter at all)

I have once section of fence out front to go, so do I get right on it or go for a ride?  My body says go for a ride, but my motivation says get right on it. 

[f6john]

Well it’s been a while but I finally got back to my own bathroom remodel!














It sure has been cutting into my riding time! It’s getting old having to run upstairs every time the call on nature hits too!

[Rams]

The exercise is good for you.   Hope everything comes out OK.   (The basement project.)

Rams   

[Jess from VA]

It’s getting old having to run upstairs every time the call of nature hits too!

You don't own a bucket?   

[Hook#3287]

Nice looking tile work

It's amazing how something as light as tile can be so back breaking to work.

[Jersey mike]

Well it’s been a while but I finally got back to my own bathroom remodel!














It sure has been cutting into my riding time! It’s getting old having to run upstairs every time the call on nature hits too!

Nice work, great colors. What sizes did you use.

[f6john]

Nice looking tile work

It's amazing how something as light as tile can be so back breaking to work.

It feels like you have to be a contortionist at times, especially once the body passes 70!

Well it’s been a while but I finally got back to my own bathroom remodel!














It sure has been cutting into my riding time! It’s getting old having to run upstairs every time the call on nature hits too!

Nice work, great colors. What sizes did you use.

The floor tile which are 12x24 I have used upstairs and even lined a shower wall in the master bath. This time I felt like I needed a lighter color on the walls due to no natural light in this bathroom. These tile I’m putting on the walls are 16x32 and quite heavy, only 4 tile per package and each package weighs 56lbs. I considered even larger tile and saw some I liked just as well which were 4x4 but they wouldn’t fit my wet saw and since I’m dealing with old construction the walls aren’t as flat as they could be and tile won’t bend! I have had to take a belt sander to my cement board in places where it followed a hump in the studs.


I do have a bucket for 911 emergencies!

[Rams]

I liked just as well which were 4x4 but they wouldn’t fit my wet saw and since I’m dealing with old construction the walls aren’t as flat as they could be and tile won’t bend! I have had to take a belt sander to my cement board in places where it followed a hump in the studs.


I do have a bucket for 911 emergencies!

Having the right tools and the experience is always a good thing.   Looking good John. 

Rams

[f6john]

Was setting tile yesterday thinking I was making good progress when we got a call that the wife’s sister was at Saint Thomas in Nashville with heart failure. Things went downhill from there on the tile work (things never go right when rushed) but nothing that can’t be overcome. I’ve been in Nashville since 8:00 last evening, we’re in that zone where the Doctors don’t see any intervention on their part would be of any benefit given her weakness and multiple heart problemss the moment . She probably won’t be going back to her residence but she has secured her eternal home! It’s reminding me that life can turn on a dime and family is the most important asset we have.

[Jersey mike]

Was setting tile yesterday thinking I was making good progress when we got a call that the wife’s sister was at Saint Thomas in Nashville with heart failure. Things went downhill from there on the tile work (things never go right when rushed) but nothing that can be overcome. I’ve been in Nashville since 8:00 last evening, we’re in that zone where the Doctors don’t see any intervention on their part would be of any benefit given her weakness and multiple heart problemss the moment . She probably won’t be going back to her residence but she has secured her eternal home! It’s reminding me that life can turn on a dime and family is the most important asset we have.

Wow that’s some news. Best of wishes and hope for a change in diagnosis.

[HayHauler]

Sorry to hear about the wife's sister.  Praying for her. 

What is this "basement" I hear you guys talking about???

Hay 
Jimmyt

[f6john]

Back home about 11:00 last night but I think we will be making that trip again soon. Possibly in the next couple of days. Her heart is giving out and her kidneys are failing too. She is still somewhat aware and responds to our voices but can barely utter a response. It’s heartbreaking to watch her struggle to breathe and it’s apparent she is uncomfortable most of the time. She will be called home soon.

[f6john]

You know basements are a wonderful thing and can be headaches too. Stop by when you’re in Kentucky and I’ll demonstrate one to you!

[f6john]

Back to the never ending bathroom remodel. Started the wall grouting process this week, the floor has been done a long time. I wanted to get two walls complete so I could install my water cutoff valves and set my vanity up. Sounds easy but nothing is easy once you’re past seventy unless, it’s holding down the recliner.




Had to go shopping for faucets, supply lines, p traps ect. That was a $400.00 trip and I still didn’t get any mirrors. But it won’t be long before I can at least wash my hands. Showers will have to wait a while longer, it’s not grouted either.



I’m hoping that the overhead leds will take care of my lighting needs as I didn’t really want any wall mounted lights so I didn’t provided power inside the wall for that. The tile I used on the wall is of a high gloss finish and so I get a lot of reflected light.

Showers grouting coming up!

[Jess from VA]

That really looks very nice. 

If any women will be in there, you need 4 more power outlets.   

[f6john]

That really looks very nice. 

If any women will be in there, you need 4 more power outlets.   

What you see is what you get! This was supposed to be my part of the house where testosterone rules. That would have to have been put in the deed restrictions or so it seems. So I have just learned to accept my fate and make the best of it.

[Hook#3287]

Looking good

I don't see any in the plug boxes in your pictures, so I'm hoping at the panel, you used a GFI breaker.