Bathroom Renovation - Part 2

My bathroom... where do I start!! I have learned the BIGGEST lesson about hiring contractors in the past few days.... DO YOUR RESEARCH!! The contractor (K-Tell Contracting... owner's name is Donnell) that I began with I ended having to let go, as he was trying to nickel and dime me because I am a young female. And on top of that he was completing work that I did not approve of and then was charging me for it!! Let me say there were a number of things that went wrong with this contractor and it was just a poor experience. I know for a fact that I will NEVER hire this contractor again. But on to brighter news...


That same day I let go of that contractor, I started looking to interview new contractors, as I was in(am still am) in desperate need of a bathroom with a shower. Having to call friends on a daily basis to get a shower is NO FUN!! Now I had to think... how do I find a trustworthy contractor that can get the job done in a timely fashion and for a decent price.  I got smart and decided to use the resources that were available to me the internet and family. A great place to look for contractors is website called Angie's List. It does cost to access this site, but well worth the 8.25!! $3.25 a month and a one time fee of $5 to sign up. I was able to find multiple contractors on this site, reviewed pictures of their work as well, and was able to read reviews from others who have used their services.  I ended up picking a new contractor that same day, but they could not start until Monday... it was Wednesday and I was going home on Friday, so waiting a few days would not make a big difference.


Well when the new contractor (Mr. Sims) saw the work the past contractor had done he just shook his head and said we will get you straight. We ended up tearing down some of the previous contractors work!! But it's all good. At least I know the bathroom will be right. At the moment I am still a ways from having a complete bathroom. I have NO bathroom floor... it got ripped down to the joists!! 


My biggest gripe in this whole things is the amount of dust and dirt that is EVERYWHERE. I just look around and just shake my head. I want to start cleaning, but what's the point it will all just get dirty again. So I take alot of deep breaths and try not to look around me because if I do I will have an anxiety attack... lol!! My bathroom should be done by the end of the week and I am bringing in a cleaning company as soon as this renovation is done... I can't even tackle the level of dust and dirt that is going on in this house right now. 


Hopefully everyone had a great weekend and a FAB Monday!!

Bathroom Renovation - Part 1

Happy Monday All:

Sorry I have been absent these past few days. I am in the middle of a MAJOR bathroom renovation! Yeah and Boo... Plus and Minus!! There are so many ups and downs ALREADY to this project. The yeah... I get a new bathroom... the boo... I have to knock out a WHOLE bathroom! This reno consisted of a FULL GUT JOB!! So guess who thought she was going to have fun with a sledge hammer... ME! Fun... not at all! My house was built in 1964 and things just weren't built the same as they are in today's time. They were built to withstand everything and I think they just mixed stuff up to make thin-set. Because that thin-set wasn't so thin!! It was actually over an 1 inch thick... then it had wire behind that. Oh yeah remember there is a tile you have to bust as well. The kicker the WHOLE bathroom is tiled!! I thought it was only going to take 2-3 hours to demo the bathroom... WRONG... can you say 12 hours... yes you read that right 12 HOURS!! 12 hours of blood, sweat, and tears. Yes there was some blood, a lot of sweat, and I had a melt down when I got done with the bathroom this morning because my body... mostly my hands hurt so bad. And on top of that I got had about 6 hours of sleep in 2 days. So not really my prettiness moment. 


Doing this demolition thought me a lot though. Withstanding pain and pushing through when all of really want to is quit... is really just mind over matter. This morning when I was staring at the floor that I needed to bust out... I really just wanted to call it quits. I had to take a few breaths, say a prayer and just go in! I took each area that I got done as an accomplishment and made small goals for myself. The prize for completing the goal... a break for lifting the sledge hammer! And when I was finally done at 6 am... all I could do was say THANK YOU... I MADE IT... AND I FINISHED!! 


But let me just say I will NEVER bust out a bathroom that was built before 1980's and never had a reno before. Naw not going to do it!! If its after the 80's... I'm all in and I will take on any room that is mostly sheetrock. 


So here are some pics of the before and during pics and will post some more during and after pics and let you know how this journey goes. I can already tell you cleanup doesn't look like its going to be much fun either!!

The vanity area. That mirror was really low... it was like in my chest. This use to be my granny's house and she was 4'11 and she put the mirror up so just she could look in it. Because I sure can't.

The toilet area. This was the beginning of my demo!

The inside of the shower. NASTY!! So happy to see it gone!

The back of the bathtub. See the big crack?!

Got all the tile ripped out of this part. Tedious process as I had to make sure I didn't bust any pipes!! We already had one water issue going on.

See the wire... Yeah was still struggling and really didn't see the end in sight!!

I was actually able to get this wall to come out in one piece, BUT because of the weight we had to break it down because we just couldn't carry it. It would take an army to move it!!