PHOTOS by Marc LaBossiere / Free Press
The only features from the old bathroom kept through the remodel were the tub and shower-surround unit.
A heated towel rack was installed at the homeowners’ request.
A new one-piece toilet was mounted once the flooring was completed.
The vanity introduced new features including a new faucet, tiled backsplash and circular mirror below the new light fixture.
The existing oak transition was removed and remounted once the vinyl flooring was in place.
Much like the argument to keep existing cabinets during a kitchen upgrade, provided the cupboards continue to serve the desired function and remain in decent condition, the same logic can hold true for retention of certain amenities during a bathroom makeover.
During a recent main-floor bathroom facelift, the homeowners decided to keep their existing tub and shower-surround unit, while updating every other aspect of the space.
Although the fibreglass tub surround had begun to show signs of wear, removing it altogether and replacing it with a new tub and tiled shower stall would tip the project into cost-prohibitive territory.
As such, minor upgrades to the unit itself would render the stall updated, while remaining intact. These updates include a new shower head and hand wand combo, as well as an added LED slim light along the ceiling of the unit for in-stall illumination for the very first time.
The rest of the space, however, did receive considerable attention. After removing the existing toilet and old vanity sink and cabinet, the old vanity light and various towels racks were discarded.
With the walls bare, the existing electrical circuits were recycled to introduce two new LED slim ceiling lights on a dimmer for the main room lighting.
The entire room was then given fresh coats of a mould-resistant bathroom paint. A new vanity light fixture was then mounted on the old wall light-box, above the new circular vanity mirror. To power a new heated towel rack, a new GFCI outlet was also mounted in close proximity.
Once the electrical work had been take care of, new vinyl flooring was installed throughout the space, with the existing hardwood transition temporarily removed and subsequently repositioned.
New PVC casings were added at the door, with PVC baseboards along the perimeter of the bathroom.
With the bathroom shell fully decorated, the new 48-inch vanity was positioned along the back wall, whereby the existing rough plumbing was then slightly adapted to accommodate the elevation of the new sink placement atop the vanity cabinet.
Once secured to the wall, the hot and cold mesh hoses connected to the shut-off valves on each respective water feed were then connected to the new faucet, and the repositioned trap was tied in to the new sink drain.
After passing all leak and drainage tests, focus shifted to mounting the new toilet on to the floor flange using a new wax ring and bolt kit. Once secured to the floor, the cold-water feed was connected to the toilet, and the system was fully tested.
With the amenities in place, the last major task involved creating a tiled backsplash that did not overpower the space. To achieve this, a long and slender white subway tile that mathematically meets the quartz-countertop dimensions was chosen and arranged in a horizontal and vertical alignment pattern for a modern look.
White grout was then applied to fill the gaps between tiles, and a brushed nickel edging matching the fixtures and features within the space was used to conceal all visible tile edges.
Beyond the typical sealing steps using white silicone along the top edges of the white baseboards, and clear silicone along the floor, additional PVC trim was introduced along the perimeter of the tub surround, and white silicone was used to hide any visible seams. It’s always the finishing touches that truly reveal the vast improvement of a bathroom facelift.
Although the homeowners deliberated over replacing the tub and shower surround, they ultimately determined the costs of doing so far outweighed the benefits.
No matter, the secondary plan involving a less-obtrusive approach resulted in a clean and modern aesthetic, with several added features that are sure to increase functionality, despite keeping the old tub and shower-surround unit in place.
This bathroom truly feels as though it has been completely remodelled, despite holding on to the old tub unit. I suppose holding on to the past sometimes does have its benefits.
RenoBoss.Inc@outlook.com
