Bathroom Before |
NOT my bathroom, but kinda what the walls look like |
Options:
See the vertical seams? |
Problem: The hardware store guy said not to use this option for a house worth more than $188K (weird amount right? Our house is worth much more than this.). But it's cheap, and we could always replace it later. Two DIY types:
(a) Nicer white plastic surround that attaches straight to the studs ($250). Problem: we have a window over the tub and the drywall has to be put on after the surround is in place so we'd have to redo the 2-3 foot to the ceiling, including the window.
(b) Cheaper surround ($59) that just attaches right to the drywall (of course we'd have to repair where the hole is located). Problem: Cheaper is right! It looks really cruddy.
2. Just redo the plain white 4" tiles ($875-2400). It is just a kid bath and no one uses it but them, plus the shower curtain covers it all anyway.
Problem: This is dating the room as it is a "90's style" of way of doing tile in bathrooms. The house was built in 1995, but we don't have to advertise that.
transition between kitchen and main floor |
See the blue diamond tiles? |
White tile - grey grout |
Grey tile - white grout |
These would be 4" |
Alternative (c): Use a mix of 4" tiles. I'm thinking a random mix of white and 2-4 shades of grey. Shouldn't cost any more than alternative (a).
3. Use 12-16" floor tiles ($ same as option 2, plus the difference in the cost of the tile- at least another $500). This is the option recommended by the hardware store as being the most up to date alternative.
Problem: Most of the bigger tile options are either neutral beiges (which I find boring) or darker tiles like slate. I don't think either would go with the white tub and counters. Plus, the added cost means the project will be delayed that much longer while we save up.
Dark can look dumb with white tub! |
Slate is pretty, but with white tub? |
Part of me thinks I should be able to do the tile work myself. Another part of me wants to keep adding in other projects. If we're redoing the tile on the bath then I'd love to throw in the tile in the kitchen (which is white with a blue diamond trim) and doesn't match the rest of the kitchen which is now this beige and sapphire vertical stripe.
4 comments:
When we redid our bedroom we put in the fiberglass tub and surround. I really wish we had kept the old tub and put in tile. I HATE the new tub and surround! The fiberglass/plastic whatever it is gets moldy really fast(like within a week or two. It is not black mold but pink. I have heard more than one person say the same thing. It was much easier to care for the tile.
Good information Peggi! Thank you.
Mary
One thing about doing your own tile - you can take your time - especially if you are already not using this bathroom. I think labor is what makes tiling so expensive. We've done bathroom floors and just finished a kitchen backsplash. If you are creative you can mix the more boring cheaper tile with a little bit of something more expensive and still come up with something you like. Of all the DIY home improvement projects we've done, apart from painting, tiling has been the easiest.
Lookin' GOOD! Renovation can be time consuming and a tad heart wrenching, just take your time with the comfortable chaos and imagine!
-Bronx Shower Doors
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