Small bathroom repair

kjbarth · Sep 15, 2022

I'm tackling a small upgrade/repair in my master bath shower. Replacing the old faucets with a new single knob unit. Have removed and saved most of the tile (some broke and need to be replaced), and removed cement backing, plaster, and metal lath. Next step is shutting the water off and draining water pipes, removing the old faucets, cutting some new pieces of 1/2" copper to connect the new unit, sweating all the connections, and then turning the water back on temporarily to flush out any crap in the pipes so no dust or dirt in the new plumbing and fixture. Then to the tile store to try to match up new tile as best I can, get some metal lath or rock lath, some plaster, and some cement to reset the tiles. Also, SWMBO want some new shelves so I'll get some marble shelves and set them in the wall when I set the tiles in. Hope to be done and showering in there again by or before next weekend. I'll post more pics as I progress further along.

HazMat Shaver · Sep 15, 2022

Good luck with the job. It's fun doing these projects yourself. I've done almost everything you can think of. At least when I was younger. Some things are too hard on the old body nowadays.

It's fun to learn. And don't forget that a lot of info about DIY can be found on Youtube.

ctr · Sep 15, 2022

Nice project. Wonder if access was available from the back wall?

Be sure to turn off the water heater before cutting the whole house water supply. Run a hot water tap after turning the water back on and before turning the heater back on.

kjbarth · Sep 16, 2022

ctr said:
Nice project. Wonder if access was available from the back wall?

No. Wall is a double thick wall shared with kitchen. Cabinets and built in refrigerator are on wall behind the shower.

Whisky · Sep 16, 2022

kjbarth said:
No. Wall is a double thick wall shared with kitchen. Cabinets and built in refrigerator are on wall behind the shower.

It’s never works out to be the easiest way does it? I’ve got a stand-alone bathtub in out bath that’s giving me fits right now due to leaking. May have to replace the entire tub.

kjbarth · Oct 13, 2022

So it took a little longer than expected due some hard to find supplies or ordering delays, but I’m now done with the renovation. 75+ year old tile is hard to match and, of course, I had to replicate the mud job on he wall. Here are the rest of he pics as thumbnails to save a little space. I think I did OK.