Friday, November 27, 2009

Yep, we're at it again!

We've decided it was time to seriously work on the bathroom project again. We've purchased all the needed tile and took a great, free, 4 hour tiling class at the local Home Depot last Saturday.

James took some time off work this week to make a dent (figuratively) in the project. He put up drywall on the closet side of the shower, so it's now two rooms again. The shower basin has been started. An additional layer of subfloor has been put down. Today, he's working on laying the hardiebacker, the tile underlayment material. The floor tile pattern and placement has been determined.

There were some setbacks this week... the shower membrane was installed and seemed secure. James went to many stores to find the test plug. After finally getting one at a plumbing supply house, he tested the membrane to find that it leaked! He figured out why and knows how to make sure it doesn't happen next time, but has had to wait for 5 days for the mortar under the membrane to dry! That's why we now have a wall and the flooring is going in - otherwise the shower stall would probably be done by now!

Here's some pictures of the work progressing...


James setting the first layer of mortar for the shower basin.



First layer of mortar complete.



The membrane going in.



The new drywall on the closet side of the shower, including the hole cut for the shut-off valve access door.



James working on cutting the tile underlayment. Note the stack of tiles in the foreground!