Bathroom Project Week 8

First on the agenda was to get the painting done before the tile is installed.

Two coats of primer are used on the drywall. We didn't worry about painting the bottom of the wall because it's getting covered by wainscoting.

Here's the future home of the medicine cabinet.

Sometimes you have to go backwards to go forwards. We had a few issues to fix before proceeding.

I noticed that the tub was rocking very slightly, so we had to screw this side of the tub into the masonry exterior wall. Initially I had thought that fastening the other two flanges would be sufficient, but I was mistaken.

I had to cut out a portion of the floor so that I could access the area behind the tub and wedge a 2x4 between the flange and exterior wall.

Here's a view from the basement looking up at the tub with the new 2x4 in place. With this in place, I can screw through the flange into the wall.

Here's another boo-boo that we had to fix. There was a bubble underneath a piece of drywall tape so I removed it with a razor. This is the aftermath of scraping the spackle from my first attempted repair of the bubble.
Hopefully a couple layers of spackle will do the trick. After sanding, the ceiling will be ready for paint.
Next is a layer of plywood for the subfloor. I thought I had cut this piece perfectly, but it was just a tad too long. I almost got stuck between it and the tub when it got wedged against the back wall and door opening.
After escaping, I returned with the circular saw so that I could cut the piece free.
After a few dozen galvanized nails are hammered home, the plywood is finished.
Now some fun work - paint! We chose a warm blue color (Glidden "Soft Sapphire" semi-gloss, to be exact).
After two coats, the walls are finished. This color will complement the shower tile nicely.
Before we tile the floor, we need to install the backerboard. With a floor installation, the backerboard needs to rest on a bed of tile mortar.

First, a skim coat of mortar is applied.
Then the notched side of the trowel is used.
Then the backboard to placed on the mortar.

And, then it's pressed into place.

Using special backboard screws, it's secured to the subfloor,
A strip of fiberglass mesh tape reinforces the backerboard joints.
The tape is embedded in mortar.
And we're done!

Stay tuned for a busy Week 9 as Cendy's party is less than 7 days away. The goal is to have the bathroom facilities 'functional' for the ladies' visit.