"Small Bathroom, Big Project": Week 4

Day 17: Monday. Tiling began. I was at work, they were at my house. My eyes not there to ask, or for me to change things. I got a call mid-day about tiling on the curb, and asking me about the glass shelf unit to be installed in the shower corner, that came with my shower doors and base kit, in regards to tile placement.

Got a voicemail while at work, called back end of day. Asked if he could explain when I got home in 20 minutes. Turns out while I was at work and the guys were trying to figure out this shower shelf and the fact that the corner of my walls is not a perfect 90 degrees, they decided to plan to notch into tiles so the glass shelves would be set in them and I wouldn't need the glass wall. Too bad I wanted it installed they way it was intended and they had started tiling that wall where there is a design detail of a glass strip, distance of which depends on the width of the shelves. Too bad their plan resulted in not enough width of rows of 4x20" tile. 

I was disappointed that I wasn't told about this "problem" or "solution" when it presented itself, instead of coming home to a decision made without me. So discussion had, tile rows in corner needed to be wider by a row to be the right aesthetic look for intended install of shelf, and therefore the glass tile row they did had to come down too. Since he had to take down a tile row, well actually was only 2 tiles in that row as was just bottom of wall tiled, I asked if he could make the glass tile row wider than 4 inches. So that meant a total of 4 1/2 - 4x20" tiles taken down and what would be equivalent to a 4x20" tile of glass tile taken down. Not a lot. And best to do now before mortar dried and set.

Well, given that situation, I sat in my shower to be and looked around, was wondering about tile layout of shower tower wall due to possible off-centeredness, and emailed my tile guy what I figured was a clear and easy to change. Images below included in email.

But not wanting to feel forced to make a decision due to time and general exhaustion of brain, I asked if he could work on the other walls while I thought about that one.

Day 18: Tuesday. I texted my tile guy (soonest I could was noon-ish) to ask if he got my email, it was almost midnight after all. He texted back "yup". Also texted back "[Boss's right hand man] was trying to get a hold of [me]". I called and turns out my tile guy wasn't at my house today, they wanted to meet with me that day to nail down the tile layout, because they didn't want to have to redo work. 

Fair enough. 
But here's the thing about communication...

What was said to me is that "[Tile guy] called last night saying he had to take down all the tile they laid". Thing is, it was 4 1/2 tiles and a bit of glass tile. Not all tile, not a big deal, not a crazy change. Boss man pulled tile guy to another job, because of fear of changing things again and work to have to be redone. So we met at end of day and guess what? Ended up with the exact same thing I had clearly expressed to tile guy the day before. And, no work to be done tomorrow because he has to finish the other job he started today. 

In the moment, non verbal 'Argggghhhh' is all I could express; 
via my expressions and a lack of usual Jess pep.

And what perturbed me so much, was not the work delay, but the miscommunication, the end result being exactly the same as the day before, the lack of communicating to me that the tile guy was not going to be there today (he was told not to tell me as it was determined that it was the right hand man's job), also what was said to me was not accurate, and was not what the tile guy had actually reported. 

But this is construction, and life. 
Changes are to be expected. This I knew. 
I just thought they'd know too? 
Moving forward. Too many words from too many mouths. 
Remember the telephone game?

Day 19: Wednesday. Tomorrow, supposed to have a few guys in here doing tiling, I was told tiling would be done Friday. And as a hopefully clarifying act, and non-douchey act, I put up sticky notes about what we agreed, as it's not written down and memory can be fallable. And now with more workers having instructions told to them, and many different ears possibly hearing something different, I hope this will keep my frustration down too. 

"Communication is about being effective, not always about being proper" -- Bo Bennet

All I can picture is a sardine can of men and too many hands in the jar. I have to trust. I have to trust. I have to trust. If I say it enough times, maybe my Type A stressed brain and discerning eye will relax.

Day 20: Thursday. End of the day I was sent a pic from my tile guy with the text "Need one more box of glass tile Jess!" Picked up another box at Tile Town. Forgot how expensive it was.

Sneak Peak

Tiling almost complete, bathroom so close to being done. It's looks amazing so far.

Day 21: Friday. All tile set in mortar. Grouting of tile on 80% of my whole bathroom to happen next week. So Much Tile! Crazy amount! But I Love.

Thank You Time Line Construction

www.timelineconstruction.ca

"Small Bathroom, Big Project": Week 3

Day 12: Got the call this morning, update on bathroom plans. My not finishing painting wasn't an issue, but my plan for painting tonight is postponed to tomorrow. Boys were putting in the Kerdi waterproofing membrane and flex. It has to dry, so no walking on it for 24 hours. Painting tomorrow. I have time as the boys are being pulled to another job again. Works for me. I have to pick up the tile for the shower floor tomorrow. Finally at tiling stage. Well, Almost. Yeeee!

Day 13: Picked up my tile for the base of the shower. Thank you William at Tile Town West End, in stock and a discount.

Time to paint. First coat done tonight. Love it! Other tile to come in tomorrow, boys to return Thursday, giving me time to do one more coat of paint, and my small bathroom is so close to being complete! 

Day 14: Second coat of paint done tonight. Subtle. I swear there is colour there. See...it's not white.

No tile today. Thursday I guess. Which means tiling starts Friday and no work tomorrow. I still have to pick out and buy my bath towel rods, and a shelf I want above the toilet. I wonder how far they'll get on Friday?

Day 15: Green painter's tape removed, a few touch ups needed. Communication entered into. Notes left for Paul. And tomorrow my anxiety of the tiling happening without my Type A eyes seeing it being done, until it's all done. And can't change. Eeeeep! 

Day 16: Tiling started today! So excited! Final steps! Base of shower and floor laid down. Monday; grout and more tiling. So much tile!

Thank You Time Line Construction

www.timelineconstruction.ca

"Small Bathroom, Big Project": Week 2

Day 5: After the news of my shower base not being as friendly as I had once thought it was, I researched and got measurements on the Kerdi Base, the membrane used, the flex for tiling, the thickness of mortar expected, etc. We figure it will just make it. Okayed with the head contractor, and as of Monday, no lost time, work to continue and I get a tiled base. I only hope the added height won't bother me for eternity. To be determined. Know any one who needs a base for 32" x 60", center drain? I have an extra.

The drywall was being taped, and broken plaster patched. Making the transition between plaster to drywall seemless. Thanks Paul. Sadly the plumbing once again needs to be moved as the center drain for the Kerdi base is different due to different thickness of curb. Sorry Paul. Electrical to have fan on a timer, new fan installed, electrical for a power outlet in bathroom, and 1946 is maintained in the rounded walls, and original vanity mirror, but befriended by the 21st Century. I hope they play nice.

Day 6: Today was an unexpected day. I was sure my bathroom guy was not stoping by today. He had an exam this morning. I came home to a nice surprise. The Kerdi base, curb and drain have been installed. I finally was able to see my vision coming together. It's starting to look like a bathroom again. And the height of the curb is not an issue, it was all in my mind. It's going to look so good! I love how sometimes things just have a way of working out. I may not be able to use the base I had, but now I have the base I actually wanted to begin with and thought I couldn't.  Seriously people, if you're doing a shower, Kerdi Shower Kits are the way to go. Yes, there was a happy dance today.

Day 7: No work done today. Workers got pulled to a job they have to finish by Friday. Questions asked, answers received. Plaster had to dry anyway.

Day 8: Another lovely Time Line employee sanded down the patches in the plaster, so that I can paint this weekend. Good thing it's a small part of the bathroom.

Day 9: Off to Rona to pick up my primer to seal plaster, paint made specifically for bathrooms, paint roller and tray. Let the fun begin. I also had to return the tile I had purchased a couple months ago, as I had changed my mind and went looking for the tile size I really wanted. Why settle when you literally have to look at it everyday?

Day 10: Priming almost done today. Looks like it might have been oil based paint originally. Needs a few coats.

Day 11: Plaster sealed, old paint covered. Ready to paint. After work Monday? Gotta find out contractor's plan. 

Thank You Time Line Construction

www.timelineconstruction.ca

"The Things You Learn"

The insulation behind my walls was originally introduced in 1931 by Kimberley-Clark. Made of wood pulp insulating material for thermal insulating purposes, vapour seal paper for construction purposes to prevent the passage of moisture through walls, and wood fiber panels for use as interior and exterior walls, doors, and table tops. And Non-Asbestos.

Kimsul was promoted as an insulation with many-layer construction, unlike then-typical lose bulk insulation. Kimsul had layers stitched together to form a blanket of uniform thickness. Easy to install, resistant to fire, moisture, fungus, vermin and termites. Kimsul was the standard material for insulating Navy huts during World War II.

Better insulation than they thought I had. Good to know it's Asbestos-Free.

R value? No idea. Feeling the history? Completely. Loving it? Absolutely.

http://www.trademarkia.com/kimsul-71587386.html

"Small Bathroom, Big Project": Week 1

So it begins...The Upstairs Bathroom Meets its Maker.

Before:

Day 1: Almost complete tear out of bathroom. The vanity and mirror are staying. The rest is going. Bye-Bye iron tub, you had a good life. Go in Peace. Plants will find new life in you.

I was sitting in the next room when they were doing this, and it was actually hard to hear. They say demo is cathartic, maybe if I did it myself, but even then I can't even imagine. This house has been here much longer than I, and I felt terrible having the plaster wall torn apart. Now that it is done, I have adjusted. And the curiosity returned. The insulation behind my walls and the processes they used to build were awesome to see.

Day 2: Need to move floor joist to accommodate placement of my shower floor drain. New drain is centered, old one was right handed, and cast iron, and huge, and dipping into ceiling below. The sparks flew, literally, disconnecting connection. They definitely don't make it like they used to: Made to last and take a beating. Or give one in this case.

Day 3: Electrical below floor unsafe. I knew that. Three electrical boxes, one room, each feeding each other, can't be good. The electrician needs to move lighting in downstairs bathroom, so electrical box and random wires are not directly under where the tub was (with water leakage I might add) and where new shower is to go.

Day 4: Drywall up, plywood floor down, squeaks gone, floor drain in, electrical half done. But I find out the shower I got such a good deal on isn't going to work as is, due to my window height and shower door height. Bah! Work stops as of now. New ideas to be sought. Because of this window, the small size of the bathroom, the location of the toilet, it makes it difficult to find the right fit. Custom is way too expensive, and may not be able to fix issue with glass doors anyway. It's not off the table, but if I can keep shower doors and maybe switch to Kerdi Shower base and it's higher curb, and put another layer of plywood down on the floor, I may just be able to make it high enough to get those extra few inches I need for my shower glass to work. An hour of figuring and calculating later, I still need an extra 1.5" and I don't want to make the curb too high or the threshold change from tile to my hallway hardwood to odd either. Unless I change the floor plan. But that means moving plumbing, and redoing work already done. Bah squared! To be continued...Hopefully soon.

• Thank You Time Line Construction

  www.timelineconstruction.ca

"Too Much Time"

At the root of insanity

Is having too much time on your hands-- 

Too much time to think-- 

Too much time to remember past hurts 

And to wish things could be different.

Too much time spent alone, 

Staring at these four walls 

With too much time to think, 

To remember past hurts 

And to wish things were different.

Got to rid myself of this insanity. 

I'll busy myself with a flurry of activities 

And seek the companionship of others. 

They´ll tell me time heals all wounds,

But for now I'll still cry-- 

When I have too much time to think 

And remember past hurts, 

Wishing things are different.

--Jo A. Witt (1994)