Introduction
After presenting the house in the first article of this series, it's time to tackle the bathroom renovation. You may remember that bathroom with its brown 1970s tiles? Well, here we go for a complete renovation, from screed to finishing!
This project allowed me to learn a great deal: plumbing, concrete, drywall, electricity... But most importantly, I discovered that all the plumbing was embedded in the concrete floor, which I hadn't anticipated. When removing the floor tiles, I unfortunately damaged several pipes, which ultimately led to the complete renovation of the entire house's plumbing.
The Challenge
The bathroom required a complete renovation. Everything needed to be redone: floor, walls, plumbing, electricity, finishes. An ambitious project that would teach me a lot.
Demolition Phase
The first step was to demolish the existing elements. I removed the old brown 1970s tiles, finishes, and exposed the underlying structure. It was at this point that I began to understand the scope of work ahead.
The Plumbing Surprise
When removing the floor tiles, I made an unexpected discovery: all the plumbing was embedded in the concrete floor. I hadn't anticipated this, and when using tools to remove the tiles, I unfortunately damaged several pipes.
This discovery completely changed the scope of the project. Instead of simply renovating the bathroom plumbing, I had to renovate the entire house's plumbing. An additional challenge, but also an opportunity to do everything correctly.
Drywall Installation
I started by installing the drywall on the ceiling. Since the ceiling is a hollow-core slab, I installed the rail structure for the drywall with hangers directly into the hollow cores of the slab. I then installed moisture-resistant green drywall panels for the walls. I created the bathtub enclosure and performed joint compound work.
Plumbing Installation
This time, unlike the old installation where all plumbing was in the concrete floor, I installed a new plumbing system with multilayer pipes arriving from the ceiling. I also installed the drainage system.
Since the sanitary boiler is very far away, located near the garage, I directly added a water heater (cumulus) in the bathroom for direct hot water availability. This avoids long waits and hot water losses in the pipes.
Screed
Once the plumbing was installed, I prepared the floor for the new screed. I installed metal reinforcement mesh and prepared the lean screed.
I then poured the lean screed. It was delicate work, as I had to work around plumbing and electrical while ensuring a perfectly level floor. I then poured a self-leveling compound to achieve a perfectly flat surface.
Electrical Work
I installed electrical conduits, junction boxes, and wiring for lighting and outlets. I also installed an LED lighting system for the vanity.
Bathtub Installation
I positioned the bathtub, created a cellular concrete block enclosure, and connected the plumbing. To ensure optimal waterproofing, I used triple joints (three-layer joints), a method that combines multiple materials or layers to guarantee maximum protection against water infiltration, especially around the edges of the bathtub and between it and the wall or floor coverings. This technique is particularly recommended for acrylic or synthetic resin bathtubs, which require careful installation to avoid deformation or leaks.
Tiling Work
I tiled the floor with large grey tiles and the walls with white rectangular tiles. I used a tile leveling system (clips and wedges) to ensure a perfect result.
Cabinets & Finishing
I installed the vanity cabinets, the double suspended vanity, faucets and fixtures, LED lighting for the vanity, shower fixture, and washing machine in the alcove.
Final Result
The bathroom transformation is now complete. The modern design with wood-grain tiles, the functional layout with bathtub, vanity, and laundry area, the double suspended vanity with integrated LED backlit mirror, the integrated laundry area with washing machine, and towel storage and drying solutions create a space that is both aesthetic and practical.
What I Learned
This project allowed me to learn many new skills: plumbing, concrete work, drywall installation, electricity... I faced many challenges, particularly the unexpected discovery of plumbing in the concrete floor, which significantly expanded the project scope. But each challenge was an opportunity to learn and find solutions.
Conclusion
The bathroom renovation is now complete. It was an ambitious project that taught me a lot and completely transformed this space. The bathroom is now modern, functional, and pleasant to use.