Let’s Build a Walk-in Shower!

Master Bath Remodel Part 2 – Rebuild

In Part 1 of the Master Bath Remodel, I was able to prepare the bathroom for the rebuild and be ready to ‘pass the baton’ of the project to the capable hands of my Contractors, John & James.

Master Bath Remodel Part 1 – Demo

Now that the old tub surround, tile, drywall/greenboard were removed, it was time to call J & J and turn over the project to them for the build portion of this remodel. I called and they came over to view the new space for the walk-in shower. They commented on what a great job I did removing the tub and tile which was so nice to hear! I got the impression they were a bit surprised that I was able to do it all by myself – but not quite as surprised as I WAS that I was able to do it all by myself!

In Part 2 – Rebuild, we’ll see:

• Window installation
• Shower bench created
• Plumbing updated
• Shower pan installed
• Two niches built
• Installation of new greeenboard/hardibacker
• The wall being built between the toilet & new shower

The first decision the 3 of us had to make was the size of window we would be installing in the new shower so it could be ordered. I had placed a canvas on the wall in the space where the shower would be at a height where I thought the window would work best. We all agreed that is where it should go in the new space but just a bit to the left of where the canvas was hung. It wasn’t like there were a lot of options – it was there or right by the shower head and that was just a bit out of my comfort zone. I wanted the maximum size we could use without having to remove more than one stud and that size ended up being 16″ x 22″ . The order was placed for a custom-built window from the local glass shop J & J use for all their window installations. Since the window would be a custom one, it would take a couple of weeks before the order was ready for pick up.

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Once the window arrived, the guys began the installation of it while I was at work — well, they would do most of their work while hubby and I were at work since we all have ‘day’ jobs. I have to say that it was a bit of a shock to come home from work and see the siding removed from the back part of the house where they were installing the window! Amazingly, once they finished the installation and the siding was replaced, it looked like the window had always been there. We are SO thrilled with the light the new window brings to the upstairs hall!

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While the window was on order, the rebuild began. When I removed the bathtub, I also removed the drywall that was on the buffer wall at the end of the tub but left the studs for J & J to work with. Removing that wall was going to add 6 inches to the shower area. However, instead of asking them to remove the studs completely, I thought it would be nice to have a bench built for shampoo & soap to sit on and also to be used as a prop for shaving legs. So, the first step in the rebuild was to decide what height I needed that bench to be. The process to choose the height was simple, I stood where the shower pan would be and lifted my leg to a comfortable height for leg shaving which was about a foot and a half then marked the spot on the studs – 21″.

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Like I mentioned above, most of the work on the rebuild was done while I was away at work. I did make several trips home during the work day when J & J wanted my input on particulars of the construction. I so appreciated them asking for my input instead of just making all the decisons on their own. We did find a couple of areas where I had something different in mind than what they did. One of the questions they had was where I wanted them to build niches for shampoo and other showering items. Well, what I wanted was to have them on the outside wall next to the window…. but…. they said due to the winters here, it would be best to have them on an interior wall. I considered having one by the shower head but then decided not to have them build one there. (Now that the shower is done, though, I wish I would have had them also create one there)

We settled on having two niches built into the wall at the foot of the shower and place them between studs to prevent cutting into the supporting studs in the wall.

It’s so funny how things look either too small or too big during the construction process. I wasn’t at all sure that these were going to be the right size but trusted that J & J knew from their experience building niches on other projects.

Another idea I had for this new shower space was to have a 2nd shower head installed so we would have one at the foot of the shower. That idea was also nixed for the same reason the niche couldn’t be placed on the exterior wall – too cold during winter months for the plumbing to be on that wall. Ok, no plumbing running along the exterior wall, got it…..so I suggested having the plumbing run under the shower pan. I thought that was a brilliant option…however, J & J pointed out that if there were plumbing issues or a leak, it would be difficult to get to the plumbing to fix. Drat! (After the shower space was completed and with the overall design of the new shower, it wouldn’t have worked to have a shower head at the foot of the shower anyway so staying with one shower head located on the original wall worked out just fine)

There was some plumbing work that needed done as we were changing it from the bathtub set up to a shower one and after that was completed, J & J installed the shower pan. When I shopped for a shower pan, I decided to get a cast iron one. Even though it was more expensive, I felt it was the better choice for durability and cleaning. I am so happy with that decision! So easy to clean and feels solid!

Next up, greenboard installation. I’ve worked with drywall and some greenboard but do not have enough experience to feel comfortable installing it in the entire shower for fear of doing it wrong and having water issues. Besides, since I was planning on doing the tiling, I was just as happy to leave this task to James.

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See?! Starting to look so much purdier! A little mud, a little tape and voila! Beginning to look at lot like a shower!

After the greenboard was installed and taped, it was time to decide details of wall that would divide the shower from the toilet area. So many decisions with this wall:

• Should it be on the shower pan or outside the shower pan – Outside
• What size studs – 2″ x 4″ or 2″ x 6″ – 2″ x 4″
• What type of wood – Hemlock
• How wide, 28″ or 36″ – 36″
• How large for the opening for glass – 24″ x 28″
• What height for the window – 48″ (above boob height)
• What size opening at the top for venting – 24″ x 8″

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In the pictures above, you can see the progress of the wall build. When the wall construction was complete, it was starting to look like my vision! I was the one who applied the wall texture and did the painting on the drywall insert. I considered staining the wood on the wall but then decided to paint it instead to help prevent moisture damage. (Since I would be tiling and working with grout & thinset I decided to wait to paint it until the tile portion was complete) Rebuild complete and project baton passed back to me to do the tiling!

New shower wall

Below are the next steps in this project

• Master Bath Remodel Part 3 – Tile
• Master Bath Remodel Part 4 – Tile the Floor
• Master Bath Remodel Part 5 – Finishing Touches

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