bathroom remodel Archives - Page 2 of 4

Natural Light Is the Best Light. How to Install a Window!

August 26, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

What can I say? I like nice things. My primary bathroom wasn’t cutting it for me, it was dark and dingy and dated. I ended up taking the whole bathroom down to the studs. The room felt like a cave, and one thing I really wanted to do was add a window. Dismantling my bathroom gave me the perfect opportunity to do that.

Searching For the Perfect Window

I looked everywhere for the perfect window. A picture window was what I really wanted, but it was hard to find just the right one. I ended up buying a window from Home Depot because I was getting antsy. The window made it all the way home before I decided one last time to check Facebook Marketplace. And there it was… Exactly the window that I wanted! It was a beautiful, large, picture window. I rushed to pick it up and get started installing it.

A woman in an orange shirt shows off a window in the back of a car

Framing To Install a Window

Windows are really not that difficult to install. Since the bathroom had been demolished I mapped out the place that I wanted to install the window. The shower provided the ideal spot for a new window. I started out by adding framing to provide support and hold the window. I placed the window in between the studs, but the space between the studs was a little too wide. So I needed to install a new king stud on one side.

I then attached the header to the king studs on either side with the bottom at the height I wanted the top of the window. The jack studs (2x4s) were attached to the king studs flush with the bottom of the header. They were attached to fit the measurements I took for the width of the window. Then we attached the sill plate to the jack studs with the top of the sill plate at the height of the bottom of the window. I measured down from the header to find the right spot to place that.

Then the cripplers(2x4s) were placed in the center of the window. One went on top between the header and the top of the wall. The other went between the sill plate and the floor. All of the new framing was secured with wood screws and framing nails. Then I cut the siding with a reciprocating saw using the framing as a guide.

A woman looks shocked at cutting into the siding on her house

A man and woman use a reciprocating saw to cut the siding out of a window frame

A woman in black pants and a gray shirt sits in the space allocated for a window

Time to Install a Window

It’s finally time to install the window! I put it in and… it didn’t fit. So I adjusted my measurements and tried again. It still didn’t fit! I adjusted again. And again. Finally on my fourth try it fit! I installed the window using wood screws to attach it to the framing. The inside was finished off using PVC trim attached with construction adhesive. I also installed a stone window sill, I’m already dreaming of plants in the window. After that was attached all of the seams were sealed using a silicone caulk that is just for bathrooms.

The outside of the window needed to be weatherproof. I live in the Houston area and we get our fair share of weather here. I started by using a high quality silicone caulk made for outdoor use around the edge of the window. Then I installed window flashing on top of that. Expanding spray foam was super helpful to fill any gaps, then the exterior window framing was attached. The whole thing looks fantastic!

A man in a green shirt applies caulk to the outside of a window

Construction adhesive is being applied to a window sill with a battery powered caulk gun

This Window is EVERYTHING

I am so glad I took on this project. Having natural light in my bathroom changes the whole mood of the space. What was once dreary is now bright and happy. It feels so much cleaner. If you were to ask me my favorite part of the bathroom remodel the window would be at the top of my list.

Woman in White shirt excitedly shows off the finished window

Make Your Room Feel Bigger By Removing Useless Soffits

July 30, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

Old houses always seem to have those ugly, bulky soffits. Sometimes they conceal plumbing, electrical, or ductwork, but sometimes they are completely useless. I have had a few that I’ve had to leave as is. And I’ve had some where I had to reroute plumbing or ductwork to be able to remove the soffit. In my recent, and ongoing, remodel of my primary bathroom a big goal was to remove the soffit that ran the length of the room.

The Act of Removing The Soffit

This bathroom was so dated it was taken down to the studs. I started by pulling all of the drywall off of the walls. When that was done I turned my attention to the soffit. I always start with the soffit by cutting a hole in the soffit. Then I take a peek inside to see what it could be hiding. Luck was on my side with this one, there was nothing concealed inside that I would need to move. Since I didn’t need to move anything I took my hammer and prybar to the soffit and began to pull it down. For some reason, the soffit was so offended at being removed, that it took pieces of the ceiling down with it.

Woman in a white shirt with safety glasses uses a hammer to demolish a soffit

Woman in a white shirt with safety glasses uses a hammer to demolish the frame of a soffit

Eventually, the drywall had been removed and I started on the frame of the soffit. I easily removed it after a few whacks with the hammer and some tugging. I got that entire section clear and turned my attention to the shower for a bit. A hurricane blew through shortly after I finished tiling the shower. Hurricane Beryl roared by and knocked out my power for a week. What better time to work on electrical and drywall than when you don’t have power.

What To Do After Removing the Useless Soffit?

With the soffit gone the drywall was free to go to the ceiling. The ceiling was also able to be smooth all the way to the wall. I brought in my sheets of drywall and started to hang them. The corner is the best place to start. I lined up the first sheet of drywall and screwed it into the studs. Then I continued along the wall and ceiling hanging drywall by screwing it into the studs. Hanging it on the ceiling really takes two people. You need extra hands to hold the sheet of drywall up and screw it in. Sometimes a section of wall will need a smaller sheet of drywall. In that case I used my drywall saw to cut the drywall to the measurement.

Woman in a pink top hangs drywall in the dark

Man and woman stand on ladder and hold a sheet of drywall to the ceiling.

I usually hang all of the drywall and then use pre-mixed joint compound and drywall tape to tape the drywall. Using a drywall knife I add some joint compound to the seam and then add the tape and some more joint compound to the tape. I go over the tape a few times to make sure it is nice and smooth, although usually there is some sanding involved in drywall work when the joint compound is dry. Once it dries I prefer to wet sand using a damp sponge to get a smooth finish on the drywall. This wall is going to have tile so there is no need for texture.

It Feels More Open Without the Soffit

I am so glad that I was able to remove this soffit without any fanfare. Rerouting plumbing and ductwork is the worst. The wall looks so much cleaner without the soffit. Also, the bathroom feels so much bigger and more open. I love to update the look of my house and get rid of useless additions. Removing the soffit is a really easy way to elevate a space and make a room feel more modern. Follow along to see the progress of my bathroom remodel here.

Check Out This New Tile System That Gets Installed With Glue

June 29, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

I have done so many projects in this house, but I’m so excited to finally be renovating my primary bathroom. Other projects have taken priority because this bathroom was a full gut job. I needed to make sure I was ready to be without my bathroom for weeks. When I planned out the shower, I discovered a new tile system. These tiles are so cool and so easy to install.

Cool New Tile System That Installs with Glue

I started the bathroom renovation with demo. The whole bathroom was taken down to the studs and good riddance to the outdated tile in the shower. Once the shower was taken down to the studs I finished the walls in the shower with cement board. The cement board gets taped and mudded just like drywall and then painted with Red Guard to keep the walls waterproof. After the Red Guard was dry I could start tiling. Usually tile needs mortar to adhere to the wall and grout to fill the gaps. This new tile by Palisade is so cool. It’s made of PVC and is installed using glue! The Palisade tile is waterproof and mold and mildew resistant.

It is super easy to install. Just put glue on the back and a bead of silicone along the edges. Then fit it into the tongue and groove of the surrounding tiles. Rinse and repeat. The silicone bead along the edges seals the seams and keeps them waterproof. You can even score and snap the tiles to size, but I preferred to use my jigsaw. The tile goes up so quickly and so easily. They even make inserts for niches in the walls. Those install the same way, glue and silicone.

Woman is excited to show off new Palisade PVC tile

This Tile is Amazing

I am so in love with this tile. It went up so easily and so quickly. The look is so timeless and classic. I’m excited to update this bathroom and Palisade made tiling the shower super easy and fast. In addition to going up easily there was no waiting for mortar to dry before being able to finish the shower. I love the way it looks, it is so fresh and clean. Follow along to see how my bathroom turns out!