Phew! This DIY shower remodel was my biggest and longest project yet! Why I decided 3 weeks postpartum was a good time to rip out a shower, I’ll never know, but DIYers have to have a little bit of crazy in them, right?
So here we are, 7 weeks later, and the shower is DONE! I never thought I’d get emotional over a corner of plumbing and tile but after all that work (LITERAL blood, sweat, and tears) I’m definitely having all the feelings. Theres just something about seeing a vision in your head come to life and using your OWN HANDS to achieve it.
Any big project is essentially just a bunch of small projects and steps, so lets talk about what went into making it happen. You can view the whole detailed process in my Instagram highlights but as usual, I don’t claim to be a professional and I urge you to do you own research before beginning any major project.
The DIY Shower Demo
My husband and I tackled ripping out our existing shower and a wall in just a few hours using only a hammer and pry bar (this is where that little bit of necessary crazy comes in). The wall between our shower and tub was a huge eyesore and the main source of our shower feeling small and dark.
The Preparation
One of the only things we hired out (aside from glass) was the shower pan. We paid a local plumber $350 to frame it, line in, install the drain, and pour concrete with appropriate sloping. We did run into an issue where our bathtub plumbing stuck out but rather than losing much needed space, we framed it in to create a small shaving foot ledge.
Next came framing out the shampoo niches with 2x4s, walling the shower with cement board, taping and mudding the cement board seams, and finally waterproofing with a paint-on membrane. I did lots of research to determine these to be the appropriate steps for building out a shower and preparing for tile.
The DIY Tiling
I had tiled before, but never at this scale. It took me about a week to tackle it all by myself and it was a pretty messy job. I find tiling to be simple. It’s less about skill and more about attention to detail. I feel without the distraction of my kids, I could have done an even better job on this DIY shower remodel but it was a huge accomplishment despite some minor imperfections.
I used an inexpensive wet saw and these large format porcelain marble tiles. One thing I wish I had taken the time to do was use a leveling system to get my tiles flush with one another where the walls were wonky. There was only a few spots this was an issue but its one of those things that can make a DIY look more professional. Continue reading to find out where things went majorly wrong…
So What Went Wrong?
It’s never truly a DIY without some drama right? Problem solving can be part of the fun! This however, was NOT fun. I had decided to use a pre-mixed thin set mortar because I thought it would be more convenient while tiling with kids and all the stopping and starting. The product came highly recommended and I didn’t think that I needed to research it further. Well because of the nature of pre-mixed mortars, my tiles weren’t drying. I gave it a day… then 2 days… then 5 and they were still sagging when spacers were removed. I knew something wasn’t right, my previous tile jobs dried within the hour, so I started reading reviews where I discovered hundreds of people having a similar problem.
Pre-mixed doesn’t work well with waterproof membranes, large format tiles, or porcelain because of its need for air flow. All 3 of those factors were not allowing enough air to get to my tiles. Traditional mix-yourself mortar has cement properties so it only needs to CURE rather than DRY. I realized I had no other choice but to pull down all the tiles, scrape off the thin set, and start over with the correct kind. Luckily I had only tiles 1.25 walls when I realized my mistake but I was out a day of work and $50. Still, with a DIY shower remodel like this, it wasn’t the worst thing that could happen. It was messy and humbling but it was fixable.
The DIY Shower Reveal
In the end it was all worth it. This had been a project I was itching to do since the day we moved in. I felt silly getting a bit teary eyed over a shower but it felt so good to have accomplished this and to finally have the bathroom I always wanted. This was my most expensive project but some saving and the insurance claim from the pipe burst helped. Glass was by far the most expensive part. Keep reading for the budget break down.
The DIY Shower Remodel Budget
- Cement Board: $50
- Professional Shower Pan Install: $350
- Waterproof Membrane: $50
- Tile (Wall and Floor): $250
- Tiling Supplies (Mortar, Shluter Edging, Spacers): $150
- Grout and Caulk: $50
- Custom Shower Glass: $1600
Total: Approximately $2500
Shop The Images Here.
Product Links
- Olive and Linen Mila Turkish Towel
- Olive and Linen Dune Turkish Towel
- Pfister Shower Head and Faucet
- Gold Double Towel Hook
- Faux Eucalyptus
- Vancouver Rug (CODE DWELL60)
- Matte Black Squeegee
- Bamboo Roman Shades
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Coreen says
Well well ask me if I’m impressed and you motivate me young lady
Job well done
kelsey.mackall says
Thank you!! I hope you tackle some projects of your own! 😉
Melissa says
It came out amazing love the darker floor you will be happy cause they floor is always the first to get stained from water or whatever else life brings. I have loved watching your diy projects and seeing your home all come together. Sending peace love and light always
Melissa
kelsey.mackall says
Thank you so much Melissa! I definitely think the black floor was a good call!
Elizabeth says
Holy moly girl! You inspire me so much! Pulling this off with a newborn in tow? It’s been so great following along over on IG, it’s absolutely gorgeous!
kelsey.mackall says
I might be a little crazy for that 😝
Lauren says
This has been so much fun to follow. It turned out SO good!!
Lauren says
This has been so much fun to follow. It turned out SO good!! Excellent call on the darker floor!
kelsey.mackall says
Thanks so much for following along!
Merrie says
Love it Kelsey! It looks great!
kelsey.mackall says
Merrie!! I’ve gotta hop over and follow your blog as well!
Sneha says
Wow Kelsey! This is an amazing makeover. Shower looks stunning.
Bernadette Anderson says
I love your perseverance. You (and your hubby) did an amazing job. Be proud of your accomplishment. 👏👏👏💥
kelsey.mackall says
I’m so proud!! Especially with no experience remodeling bathrooms! Thanks for the love❤️
Toni says
Absolutely LOVE it!!!!! It’s gorgeous and YOU did that!!!!
kelsey.mackall says
I can hardly believe it!
Josee W says
Turned out beautifully! Your hard work paid off!! Thanks for taking us along. 🙂
kelsey.mackall says
Thank YOU for following along! ❤️