Home ownership

Thanks for the thoughts, guys!

Due to the window right above the tub, I don't think a shower works there. It is, in fact, glass blocks now.

Was also my initial idea, but I couldn't figure out a way to protect the sill/drapes/blinds from the shower. Sill is probably shoulder high, so can't really go under it either.

The window points SE, so I really want to keep blinds and drapes. Otherwise, the rising sun comes right in, then reflects off the mirror into the sleeping area. Though it's probably not as bad as original, since I've hacked in a sliding barn door thing between the two. Might be an idea.

Keeping the natural light (but not Natty Light) is important to me as well.

Maybe whoever I hire will have an idea that works.

AquaSwing, you're right. My guest bath (really for the kids' rooms, but thankfully I've avoided that) has a bath/tub combo.

For the shower, I'm thinking tile walls and the tile sheet thing of sliced river rock for the pan. Have the fiberglass pan now, not a huge fan.

In terms of the heated floor, thanks for the idea. Don't think I'm interested. Not due to budget, just don't think it does anything for me. I don't get out of bed until the furnace has been running and warmed the place up (even though I'm often up beforehand). 😀

Also, I have the advantage of having all the votes that matter. Though that may not be an advantage?

Two people in today to discuss ideas.

First one was a nice enough guy. I'm sure competent, got recommended by friends. Listened, took some measurements and drew some stuff on his pad.

Second guy was high energy, with a ton of ideas. We fed off each other, which may be a bad thing. Was more engaged. I was having trouble visualizing one of the key ideas, we'll see if seeing a sketch makes me see if better.

Third guy coming in just a few minutes, then somebody tomorrow.

Are you just getting preliminary ideas or are getting quotes?
I am curious what pricing is like

golddog, i'm going to channel my inner ninetynine99 with an offer:
if you don't mind posting a few pics of the space i'm happy to give ideas worth the price you paid for them

psst! Roll them REDeYeS back about 007 posts.

Both. Let guys know on initial call that I had some ideas, but was looking for professionals' opinions and ideas. They are to send me quotes.

Another guy texted me earlier today, saying he couldn't remember whether we'd set for today or tomorrow. I replied that we hadn't set anything. He then wrote that he'd text/call later today to set something up.

Haven't heard yet (it's only 5:20), but not looking good for his level of organization.

This 😉

Met with third set of guys. Liked them best so far. They seemed to understand that I'm ready to spend money, but not just to spend it. I felt as if they were more detailed in taking notes, asking follow-up questions, etc, and more followed what I was trying to do. They were recommended by neighbor behind me, I may go over tomorrow and ask Lorraine if I can see their work.

They also were to only people who, upon leaving, set an expectation for hearing back. Said end of next week they'd be in touch with a proposal and some sketches so I could visualize.

In terms of the pictures, my idea was to push the closet wall (where the shower controls are back a way to accommodate building in a bench, for future years when I need to sit. Second guy and I started talking about moving the toilet to that side, rebuilding the closet on the other side, and opening up those areas with partial walls, taking out the doors. Then, extending the shower to be as wide as the tub area is now, and putting the shower door on the side next to the window.

While great ideas, I kinda feel like that's a bit much. Also looking at dropping the bench idea; I can go buy one of those shower chairs when the time comes, or buy and install a flip-down seat. I don't think having a bench does that much for me.

The truth is, it will be fine--even if something unexpected happens which causes me to do nothing.

apologies, got it now
pics were on the previous page and didn't see them

and i always appreciate a five gallon mud bucket for scale

first thought is to listen to Aqua advice in regard to removing a water tub
a sellable house has gotta have at least one

to be clear, i meant water tub not an aquaswing

Why not both? Aquaswing in the master, tub in the secondary.

The five-gallon bucket is to collect "warm-up" water. Somebody told me years ago to do this, as it's free(ish) water for the lawn, and it keeps clean water from going down the drain to be reprocessed.

Two (?) years ago, National Geographic had a sidebar article confirming this. Supposedly, if everybody did this, it would save quite a bit of energy and saving from having to build new processing facilities quite so fast.

I have a hard time believing that my saving a couple gallons (or less)/day makes any difference. But, I do the things I can.

Never heard from guy who was going to call back yesterday. Pretty sure he's off the list.

Had a couple ideas overnight. I suspect there will be a few iterations before we're go.

Oh yeah, on the resale concerns. I'll be dead. It's a full-time job; I won't have time to care about the resale value.

I appreciate the need for an AquaSwing in the bathroom for resale value.

Never thought about a bucket in the shower, that is a good idea. I solved the "warm-up" issue by installing a recirculating hot water pump so my hot water pipes always have hot water so my shower is hot in 5 seconds. My hot water tank is a good 40ft from the master shower so I was wasting a ton of water each shower.

My initial ideas were based in saving some money because moving plumbing around can get very expensive and can lead to some major construction, especially with regard to the toilet.

I moved my toilet about 13" and had to install two new 2x12 joists to accommodate the change due to the fact a joist was where I wanted the drain. Since I was doing the work myself and I'm an idiot, I did it without hesitation but shudder to think what it would have cost if I paid a contractor. I did get a structural engineer to sign off on my proposal. Bathrooms with tile are heavy and my youngest would not appreciate the shower falling on them from above.

Keep us updated.

I think I've received this generous offer too, and need to take you up on it. My master bath is next on the list and somewhat similar to what goldie's thinking. I'm also planning on a no-tub bathroom. Thinking I'll leave the water supply and drain behind so I can put one in easily if I ever sell.

Right, what we're talking about doing is leaving the tub drain and supply cut off but capped under the floor. I guess I wouldn't call it easy to replace (tile would have to come up), but shouldn't be the end of the world, I don't imagine.

Had a few more thoughts overnight. Made notes. At this point, assuming they all do a decent job staying in touch, getting proposals together, and costs aren't too out of bounds, I'm inclined to go with the third people I met. May steal an idea from guy #2 though.

One thing I mentioned to all as we met was that I don't want to be involved with the permitting process, other than to sign checks and/or forms; they handle the paperwork/inspections/whatever. Everybody agreed that was part of their business. However, the third guys said (IIRC) permitting is really only necessary for resale time--it allows the seller to demonstrate that mods were done with up-to-then code.

Does anyone have experience with permitting vs not? I was figuring it was a required part of reno, now it sounds optional. I'm not inclined to spend money just to spend money; I trust whoever I choose to do a quality job, definitionally.

Ive got twin opposed sinks that I like, but that bath tub is a complete waste. I would like to turn the existing shower into storage and lower the 'bath tub' area down a bit so the step into isn't so unnatural and turn it into a shower.

I am not even sure it is even feasible

Depends on the rules in your area. I would guess if you need it to sell what "optional" means is - If they don't catch us, we're good!

MSchu, I imagine it's feasible. Just need to spend the money.

I like your ideas. Maybe some nice built-in storage where the shower is. Put the shower in the bathtub area; take out the lower and right and left walls to open that area up, and put a nice glass door/wall there.

One thing to think about is, where does the towel go? Don't want it to be where you can't reach it from the shower, so you have to drip water across the floor to get to it.

Seems like the shower space would be big enough to have a towel bar on the inside, on the far side from the showerhead, if nothing else works.

Maybe put a pickleball court in there instead?

I thought my bathroom had some wasted (?) floor space ...

goldy,
not knowing the requirements of your particular jurisdiction, replacing similar fixtures in the same place typically falls under maintenance and shouldn't need a permit.
when it comes to moving around pipes, wires, or wood; different jurisdictions have various rules to make you pay them a permit fee
if unpermitted work is found at time of sale the title won't be clean and the deal will fall through

so when you stand at the shower and look past the tub to the door opening, is that the primary bedroom?

same question other direction

Red,

Thanks for the info on the permits. I will discuss further with whomever I select.

To answer your next post, yes, the bedroom is just past the first picture. There's a barn-door slider hacked in, as they didn't build with any kind of door.

In the second, the door to the left leads to the toilet, on the right is a closet. Smallish closet by today's walk-in standard. Roughly 6 or so feet squareish (too lazy to go upstairs and actually measure).

So the initial plan is to move that front closet wall (which also holds the shower controls) back to enlarge the shower, so we can build in a bench for my old age years (which aren't too far off). This is where guy #2 and I got carried away; talking about moving the toilet back behind that, then making the closet on the left, removing those doors to let more natural light back there.

I think that's going to end up being a bit much. Also think the bench is out; I'll just buy a shower seat when that day comes. But, we'll see what the various proposals have to say.

Walked up to HD yesterday and brought back one tile each of the floor and shower tiles I liked to see what I thought. Set them right next to the tub, with the wall tile leaned up against the tub's front.

Of course, I forgot to move them out of the way, and knocked the upright tile over, cracking it roughly in half. I guess I didn't buy one tile in advance. Sigh.

Maybe we'll have a spot where we can use a partial piece though.

While out & about today, got a text from guy who didn't get back to me yesterday. Said he got really busy at work (too busy to send a text?)

Anyway, he asked if today would work. Tired and I didn't feel like dealing with it, so said it wasn't good. Asked about tomorrow afternoon, and I said Saturday's not good either (this is true). Then his response was, "ok".

No idea if that's an "ok, I'll get back next week" or an "ok, I'm not really interested either."

Was going by City Hall and stopped in to get info on the required-ness and what I get out of permits. The person I talked to said it would need a permit, so they could ensure that capping off the ex-bathtub supply and drain was done properly. That's what we get out of it; somebody with experience to oversee the contractor.

The money varies with the estimated cost of the job; for what I guesstimated, she ran some software and ballparked $250-360. So not so bad, will probably do that.

do you use the closet for just linen and extra rolls of tp, or do you also store clothes in there? seems too awkward to be practical for clothes but thought i'd ask.

next time you get off your ass and go upstairs, mind taking a pic of the window above the tub with the curtains drawn? you said it's class block?

I can only draw stick men.

The closet is a clothes closet. Two shelves on the back wall, and one on the side, with rods below each. Don't use much of it. For whatever reason, things have evolved to where I keep most of the clothes I don't wear regularly (suits/dress shirts/off-season stuff) in the closet in one of the front bedrooms, so here it's just jeans/T shirts/sweatshirts in this closet.

It didn't expose too well, but the tile samples I got are next to the shower. The front one is kind of a sandy-tan color for the floor. The one on the right is the shower tile. (The one behind-left is another floor tile sample I like less).

something else worth asking about
how important is the movement of textiles in your daily life activities

my apologies for all the jokey questions goldie

what my free advice is really wondering is if you could succussfully incorporate that glass block window into a feature of a combo tub shower

yes you would want to tile the entire thing
paying extra attention to the interface between glass-block window and waterproofing

might need a couple of thousand custom dollar solutions but please talk to others to see if they can find something else already made