After replacing the kitchen floor last year, we asked our contractor (Daniel) to look at our master bath to see if something could be done with it. Right away he said we could get a walk-in closet and
create a separate "water closet" for the toilet. We didn't see how it was possible given the limited amount of space we had, but he was able to explain that if we shortened our vanity by two feet he could
double the square footage of the 8 foot closet. Granted, the smaller closet would have to be eliminated as that would be the new water closet, but if that other closet doubles in space we should be able to
"share" it. He also talked about the possibility of adding a skylight.
Now, the crazy thing is the house already had a skylight above the bathroom, but it wasn't "tunneled" into the space. If someone were to go into the attic there was always ample natural light on that side
of the house because of the skylight. Since it was already there we decided to incorporate it into the new design.
Skylight - outside.
Skylight - inside.
Now that we knew how we wanted to proceed, we waited until the new year after the major holidays to see if Daniel was available to help us out. He visited several times and gave us some leads on where to
find tile, flooring, and fixtures. We spent several weekends searching for the right porcelain tile, and we found something we liked. After that, we found some LVP (luxury vinyl plank) to use in the closet.
Finally, Daniel joined us at a kitchen and bath store to help us with finalizing the fixtures (faucets, towel bars, shower head, etc.).
Tile.
Vinyl planks.
Once we had everything lined up, Daniel came back with a start date that began the day after the boys returned to school following their Spring Break. That was fortuitous because they could still help
us (along with Jordyn) move furniture to empty out the master bedroom and bathroom before they left. After three straight days of, seemingly, rearranging everything in the house, we were finally able to remove
everything from the bedroom and bathoom.
All furniture gone.
Pretty empty.
Just a few things left.
Looking at master bath.
Old 8 foot closet.
Old 7 foot vanity.
Looking toward shower & toilet.
Shower.
New bedroom for now.
Week 1 Day 1 Monday, April 7, 2025
Around 8:30 am on Monday, April 7th, Daniel and his crew showed up to start the bathroom demolition. We also asked if he could replace the old carpet once we saw how faded it had become over the years. We
figured since we had everything out of the room, now would be the best time to get it done. Almost immediately, the guys started removing the carpet. As soon as it was pulled up Daniel called us to take a
look at what he found. Turns out there's hardwood underneath and he asked if this was something we might consider refinishing instead of laying new carpet. We talked it over a little, and our good friends
Luann and Pat said to really consider doing it. Since this looked like a nice option we changed our minds and opted to refinish the hardwood. Unfortunately, upon closer inspection, the hardwood was only 5/16"
thick. It was also nailed down every 6 inches to the subfloor through the top so the nail heads were exposed and would have to be covered somehow. Daniel said he thought the wood could be refinished, but over
time the putty used to cover the nails and seal the gaps between the slats would deteriorate. Since the floor would be just about the last thing to finish, we didn't have to make a decision right away. He said
he would ask his floor guy to come out and give his opinion, so we'll wait to hear what he has to say. In the meantime, the crew began the arduous task of removing drywall and whatever else they could demo.
Wow.
No more closet.
No more vanity.
Almost to the shower & toilet.
Small closet & shower.
Looking into the attic.
Day 2 Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Demo would continue on Day 2. The first thing to arrive was the trailer to collect all the debris and eventually haul it away. Of course, at nearly the same time the port-a-potty arrived. By midday,
much of the debris had been removed from the space and thrown into the trailer. Demo continued with the removal of all the old tile (removal is a kind word as the noise from breaking up the tile was nearly
unbearable). By the end of the day, all of the old insulation was gone, so all that remained was the old framing and nails in the floorboards from the old subfloor.
Trailer & port-a-potty.
"Removing" tile.
Some of the debris.
The whole bedroom.
All clear.
Looking toward bathroom.
Old closet.
Toilet's gone.
Closet & shower.
Can see the skylight now.
Day 3 Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Day 3 meant removing all the old framing in the bathroom, pulling up the hundreds of nails in the floor, and scraping the popcorn from the ceiling in the bedroom. All told, the ceiling only took about
2 1/2 hours to clear, but since the old drywall was only nailed in they needed to add screws. Over time gravity would have taken effect and eventually pulled the drywall away from the rafters. Removal of the
old framing also meant removing the dropped ceiling in the bathroom. Once it was all gone we realized the space was pretty decent, but we knew that would change once the vanity was installed and walls were put
back up.
With the old master bathroom demolition complete, it was now time to envision what the new layout might be. Daniel came by in the morning and started to layout where everything was going to go. He nailed
2 x 4's to the ground to give us an idea of where the walls would be, how big the doorways would be, which way the doors would swing/slide, where the new shower stall bench was going, etc.. This was an
excellent way to visualize the new space. After some time, we gave final approval of the layout and work began by removing the old drainage system and prepping for the new drains.
Proposed floor plan.
Prepping for new drainage.
Day 5 Friday, April 11, 2025
The day began with the pick-up of the new toilet at Home Depot and the beginning of framing. A header was installed for the new pocket door that would separate the bathroom from the bedroom (something
that didn't exist before). By lunch time we had a good idea where both the water closet and the front of the walk-in closet would be. At the end of the day, the water closet and walk-in closet had both been
almost completely framed. Once the framing is complete we hope to begin the plumbing and electrical next.
The crew arrived around 8:15 am to begin the day. Shoring up of the water closet and shower floors continued. Work also continued in the shower where the seat was framed. Daniel stopped by to talk about
the placement of the grab bar in the shower and the possible location of lights. He verified with us where the new medicine cabinets would go. He also proposed putting a niche in the wall on the right side of
the vanity for Deb and creating a storage niche in the water closet above the toilet. Once we finalize the size of the water closet niche we can ask our vanity contractor to see if he can make a matching door.
He also gave an update where we are in the timeline. Once framing is complete the plumber will be out to plumb the shower, toilet, and sinks. We will have to let him know the heights of the shower head,
diverter, and in-wall faucets for the sinks. There is also the question of whether we should install a third pipe from the water heater to the back of the house where the bathrooms are located so hot water will
be more readily available. From there the electrician will install new receptacles and lights. Eventually, they will fireproof any holes in the wall frames where the pipes and electrical penetrated. Lastly,
the invoice arrived for the new window to replace the french doors in the master bedroom. Daniel will stop by later some time to verify the measurements and the direction the window will slide before we sign
off. The day ended when UPS dropped off the new bidet.
Shower floor support.
Shower bench framed.
Water closet floor.
Support above water closet.
Day 7 Tuesday, April 15, 2025
The morning started with more framing particularly in the shower and water closet. They also partially removed a plumbing vent to frame for the new medicine cabinets. Daniel stopped by again to verify
where we wanted the shower grab bar to go and the size of the niche in the water closet. He also remeasured for the window replacing the french doors and placed the order. The noise level was pretty loud this
day as there was a lot of old stud removal to reframe for the medicine cabinets and niche. Damage to the adjacent hall bathroom wall was notable, but expected, as framing of the water closet niche would
require adjustment of two wall studs.
There was a welcome break yesterday as enough framing was completed on Tuesday so the plumber could start work today. He started by clearing a lot of the old vent pipes and creating all new drainage pipes
under the floor. He also drilled a new hole in the water closet for the toilet. Finally, Daniel added some angled framing to the skylight to show how he envisions hanging the drywall to take advantage of
the natural light. He also said that he ordered all the doors (both swing and pocket) so they should be available soon. Tomorrow we will need to have an idea where we want the sink faucets to be placed in the
wall, how high we want the shower head, where we want the hand held shower head to be placed, and what style of shower drain we want. The timeline looks like we're on schedule, or maybe even a little ahead.
Friday and Monday will continue with plumbing, and the electrician is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday.
Old vent pipe removed from shower stall.
New sink drains and vent pipe.
Vent pipe for new sinks.
New hole for toilet drain.
Proposed left side framing for skylight.
Proposed right side framing for skylight.
Day 10 Friday, April 18, 2025
The day started bright and early before 8:00 am when Daniel stopped by to mark off where we wanted all the fixtures to go. Since we knew we had to have those measurements, we stopped by Pat and Luann's the
night before to see where their sink faucets were placed. We took measurements and Pat sketched out some rough drawings that we used as templates for our sinks. After that, we talked about where to place the
exhaust fans, where to place the new lights, and which shower drain we wanted. The plumbers came while we were talking and they started all the finishing touches on the PVC work. By mid-afternoon we gave the
approval for a dedicated hot water pipe to the back of the house. At the end of the day all the vent pipes were in place, the faucets were roughed out, and the shower head & diverter were mounted.
Faucet height.
Faucet over sink.
Flange in place.
New vent pipes by shower.
Using existing roof hole.
Faucets are roughed out.
New vent pipe through the roof.
New shower diverter.
Shower head placement.
New panoramic of partial framing and rough plumbing.
The plumbers arrived just after 8:00 am. They began installation of the third hot water line to the bathroom by running a long copper line in the crawlspace beneath the house. They also connected and
soldered all the copper lines for the toilet, faucets, shower heads, and shower diverter. Water was turned off most of the day and didn't come back on until about 4:45 pm, but it looks like they'll have to shut
it off again tomorrow as they need to finish connecting the third hot water line to the water heater. Also, the shut off valves below the sinks still need to be installed.
The plumbers arrived in the morning ready to finish connecting the third hot water line to the water heater, add insulation to all the new pipes, and complete the shower drain. Obviously, they had to
shut the water off again, but, this time, it was back on around noon.
Left side sink.
Right side sink.
Shower.
Drain.
Dedicated hot water line.
Day 13 Wenesday, April 23, 2025
The electricians arrived before 8:00 am to haul in their equipment and all the fixtures. Daniel followed a little later to verify where the lights, fans, and receptacles will all go. Hopefully, the
electrical will be done in good time so the pocket door installation can begin. Tomorrow, the plumber will return to add shut off valves to the sink pipes. Of course, that means turning off the water again.
Water Closet
Switches.
Light & fan.
Receptacle.
Walk-in Closet
Receptacle.
Switches on closet wall above vanity.
Closet light.
Main Bathroom
Entry light.
Receptacles above vanity.
Lights above vanity and shower.
New fan in skylight light shaft.
Day 14 Thursday, April 24, 2025
The plumber and Daniel's crew arrived around 8:15 am and immediately started work on adding shut-offs to the two sinks and setting up blocks in the frames for towel bars. The plumbing was complete by 10:30
am, and work began on insulation and more framing.
Shut off valves (left).
Shut off valves (right).
Walk-in insulation.
Walk-in ceiling insulation.
Water closet ceiling insulation.
Blocking for towel bars.
Blocking behind shower diverter.
Blocking in shower for grab bar.
Framed left side of skylight.
Framed right side of skylight.
Day 15 Friday, April 25, 2025
Daniel's crew arrived before 8:00 am as the old window in the master bath had to be removed and filled in before drywall could go up. Framing on the interior continued with more blocking added for grab
bars and the eventual hanging of the tv on the bedroom wall. They also wanted to continue with insulation and installing one of the pocket door frames.
Daniel stopped by around noon to give an update on where we're at. So far, things have been moving at a pretty good pace. By the end of the day, they should be far enough along that the remaining pocket door
frame can be installed on Monday. That should be perfect timing as the doors are scheduled to arrive at the beginning of next week.
He will also follow up with our vanity contractor and ask for a sample of the material we selected the vanity to be made of so we can find a suitable stone for the countertop. He'll also ask him for an update
on the timing of completion. Other than that, we confirmed that we will choose a new carpet and select paint color this weekend. Based on everything so far, we believe completion should be in another 2 1/2 to
3 weeks.
The crew arrived around 8:30 am and began work on fireproofing the holes where pipes and electrical wires penetrated the framing. Once that was complete they began insulating the walls and ceiling. The
first sheet of drywall they hung was in the walk-in closet since it was almost completely insulated at the end of last week. By the end of the day a good portion of drywall had been hung, and we were beginning
to get a sense of the space.
Toilet pipe fireproofed.
Shower vent pipe fireproofed.
Vanity fireproofed.
Old pipes under the new bench fireproofed.
Vanity and shower wall insulation.
Insulation above vanity & shower.
Water closet insulation.
Soundproof insulation between bedroom and bathroom.
Work began at 8:00 am. Right away they started in on drywall. Behind the vanity they used a common moisture resistent drywall, while inside the shower they used a tile backing drywall with a built in
moisture barrier.
Around 8:30 am work began on waterproofing the shower area. A product called Kerdi was applied to the shower walls. This membrane will provide a continuous unbroken layer of protection that is designed
for tile application. Unlike red waterproofing paint, this product is less susceptible to cracking or damage over time, but it requires patience and a skilled hand to complete.
A crew of 3 arrived at 8:00 am with the new doors! This meant they could finish framing, insulating, and drywalling the entry into the bathroom and the walk-in closet. They also finished drywalling the
light well for the skylight. It's really beginning to take shape now.
Daniel stopped by in the morning to drop off some material and to let us know one of his crew will finish the drywall in the skylight light well and begin taping seams this afternoon. If there's time he
will also begin laying the membrane down for the tile floor. More importantly, he'll take measurements for the shower wall and floor tile. We'll also have to schedule a time in their showroom early next week
to let them know what direction the veins in the tile should go when they install it. At the same time we'll check out stones for the vanity countertop too. Plastering will begin next week and hopefully the
frame for the vanity will be ready to install. We talked about some other things as well like the color of the door handles and pulls, installing tile instead of LVP on the water closet floor, and fitting a
mirror on the walk-in closet pocket door. Things are moving along and at the end of week 4 we're starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Plastering began today and will continue through Wednesday. The bedroom ceiling was first to be plastered followed by the water closet, walk-in closet, and then the main bathroom. We have an appointment
first thing tomorrow morning in the showroom to look at the tile and choose a countertop. Thursday and Friday are slated for installation of the porcelain in the shower and on the floor. It's really kicking
into high gear now.
The day began bright and early when we drove out to Daniel's showroom to take a look at the porcelain tile we chose. We had to determine what direction we wanted the veins in the tile to run before they
installed it. We also looked at an example of a smoked glass door that we'll be using on the niche above the toilet. Finally, we rummaged through some stone remnants in Daniel's inventory that we could use
for the countertop on the vanity. We think we found something we liked, but will wait until we receive a sample of the vanity laminate before we make a final decision. When we got home Gustavo, Daniel's
plaster guy, was waiting for us in the driveway to get started. By mid-afternoon he was finished.
The plastering was finished a day early but needed to cure so no one worked on Wednesday. Thursday, however, Daniel stopped by in the afternoon to make templates of the walls to cut the porcelain tile.
On Friday they will cut the tile at the shop and begin the process of installation on Monday. Daniel also said the vanity should be ready either next Wednesday or Thursday.
We received a message Monday morning from Daniel that the floor tile would be installed in the afternoon. Sure enough, after lunch two of his crew pulled up in a truck with our new floor tile. They were
able to place two large pieces in the main bathroom. The piece for the water closet can't be installed until the underlayment is in place, and the final piece of floor tile in the shower will have to wait
until the vanity next to the pony wall is installed.
On Tuesday, one of Daniel's crew arrived and installed the underlayment in the water closet. This had to set before they laid the tile. At this point there was little else to do until the vanity arrived
on Wednesday.
Underlayment.
Day 28 Wednesday, May 14, 2025
On this day, Felipe, our vanity contractor, arrived with the vanity. He cut holes for the drain pipes and set the whole piece into place. He'll return to install the drawers and pulls once more of the
bathroom is complete.
Vanity!
Day 29 Thursday, May 15, 2025
Now that the vanity was installed, Daniel's crew arrived to waterproof the ponywall and the edge of the vanity. Once all this cures they'll be able to install tile in the shower area.
Week 7 didn't begin until Thursday, May 22nd. Earlier in the week we were all in SoCal attending Tyler's Commencement at CSUF and
moving Connor out of his dorm. Daniel asked us to be at his shop first thing Thursday morning to finalize our choice in vanity stones. We looked
around a little bit, and with a sample of our vanity laminate in hand we chose a matching countertop. Deb headed to work after returning home while Ran waited for Daniel's crew to arrive with the porcelain for
the shower. The day was spent fine tuning the porcelain slabs so they would fit perfectly in the shower, and altering some of the plumbing to accommodate the new vanity. In the end, the finished product looked
tremendous.
Comparing samples.
Vanity.
Before...
...after
Bench and nook.
Niche cut out.
Vanity prepped for stone.
Day 31 Friday, May 23, 2025
Friday was spent installing all the doors. Both pocket doors were completed with soft opening and closing hardware. The water closet door was put in place as well. Once that was all completed, lining the
water closet niche with porcelain to match the rest of the bathroom had begun. It's painstaking work cutting pieces to make everything fit just right. Even the shelves had to be made by hand.
Next week, the niche above the counter will be cut out and framed, plastering will continue, installation of the countertop will begin, and maybe the vinyl flooring will be laid in the walk-in closet. We'll see.
We didn't know if any work would take place today as it was Memorial Day. However, Daniel let us know his guys would be by some time between 8:30 am and 9:00 am. Sure enough, around 8:40 am a bunch of his
crew arrived with lots of tools in hand. All told, there were 4 guys all day cutting, sawing, and nailing. When they were done around 3:45 pm we took a look at what they accomplished. There was a lot of new
mud on the walls, tile baseboards were installed, door mouldings were in place, and some new drywall in the master bedroom was up and textured. Last but not least, LVP was laid in the walk-in closet.
After two down days, the crew was back early Thursday morning. They worked over 9 hours to complete the tile work before the glass contractor was scheduled to take measurements on Friday. Work included
installing the vanity countertop, laying the shower floor tile with linear drain, continuing the work on the water closet niche, and completing the cut out in the pony wall between the shower stall and vanity.
When we looked at the finishes we were amazed at the detail and craftsmanship needed to make everything come together seamlessly. Unfortunately, there was a problem. Our faucets are mounted on the wall. The
countertop was cut for faucets that are mounted on the counter. This meant the sinks were too far forward and the wall faucets would not reach the basins. So, Daniel said he's got his guys looking for another
stone for the vanity. We're hopeful they'll be able to find something similar if not the same. In the meantime, the glass contractor was rescheduled for next Wednesday.
Originally, the glass contractor was to stop by today to measure for the shower door and panels. Unfortunately, the vanity countertop has to be removed because the holes for the sinks were cut wrong.
Since one of the glass panels is supposed to sit on the edge of the countertop Daniel postponed the measurements until next week after, we hope, the countertop has been replaced. In the meantime, Daniel
stopped by in the morning to finalize the dimensions of the niche above the vanity. One of his guys cut tile all day roughing out what will eventually become the niche. He also finished cutting tile for the
niche above the toilet.
Friday afternoon, Daniel contacted Ran saying his guys found the same exact porcelain used on the original countertop. That was the good news. The bad news was they couldn't get it into the shop until next
Thursday. This would mean receipt on Thursday, cutting on Friday, and installation on Monday. This scenario essentially pushed everything out one week. So, Daniel suggested Deb and Ran head to his shop
Saturday morning to look for an alternative. If they can't find something else, they would opt to wait until Thursday for the replacement. Luckily, Saturday morning after about half an hour they found a
beautiful piece of porcelain they hope will look just as good if not better than the first. After lunch, two of Daniel's crew stopped by to measure the existing vanity countertop to ensure another miscut
does not happen again.
Niche - morning.
Niche - noon.
Niche - evening.
WC niche - shelves cut back to accommodate flush mounted door.
One of Daniel's crew arrived in the morning just before 9:00 am. First, he masked off the vanity, all the tile, the laminate flooring in the walk-in closet, and the skylight before completion of the
plaster (application and sanding) in the bathroom could begin. He filled in the nail holes in all the mouldings and cleaned up any messy spots too. He was just one guy, so he didn't finish until almost 5:00
pm.
Workers arrived right at 8:00 am. Baseboards for the walk-in closet and bedroom were delivered a short time later. When they were finished at the end of the day, the walk-in closet baseboards were in
place. Sanding of the bathroom walls was completed followed by priming.
Gustavo arrived right at 8:00 am. He would continue to sand all the rough areas and paint the door to the water closet. He also began installing baseboards around the bedroom and started the priming
process. After lunch, two more crew members arrived to remove the miscut vanity counter. This was delicate work as the pony wall was already tiled and couldn't be damaged during removal. Once they had the
counter safely detached from the vanity, they removed the sinks to take back to the shop. There they would measure and cut the new countertop hopefully to be installed tomorrow.
I forgot to take pictures on Thursday (Day 38), but the only thing they did that day was remove the old mortar and Ditra membrane from the vanity top and then apply new Ditra before the newly cut countertop
arrived. Friday was the big reveal when they installed the new countertop and sinks. This time the cut outs were much closer to the back wall so the faucets could reach the basins. Shortly after that, the
glass contractor from Super Glass arrived to get details and measurements. We went over everything from which way the shower door would swing open to the kinds of hinges and pulls we wanted to the clarity of
the glass. It was extremely comprehensive to ensure what will be installed will match the details in the rest of the bathroom. He also measured for a mirror to be installed on the sliding pocket door to the
walk-in closet and a glass door for the water closet niche.
Right after 8:00 am a crew of guys arrived to texture the walls and patch any open holes in the bedroom drywall (old light switches, cable and phone outlets, etc.). They also raised the switches and
receptacle above the vanity counter so the backsplash under the niche would reach the edge of the counter. Gustavo confirmed what texture we wanted on the walls and ceilings and began work right away. By
early afternoon all the work was complete and left to dry. Daniel contacted us and said Felipe will be by tomorrow to complete the vanity (add drawers and pulls).
Daniel's crew arrived shortly after 8:00 am and began preparation for priming and painting. Felipe arrived just after lunch and completed the vanity set up. At the end of the day the vanity was finished
with all the drawers and pulls in place, and there was paint on all the bathroom and bedroom walls and ceilings. We've rounded the final turn and are headed to the finish line!
Gustavo arrived just after 8:00 am ready to finish up all the painting and detail work. This included painting the doors and cleaning up all the trim work (of which there was many). Aside from some
additional touch up work around the tile, installing the medicine cabinets, and finishing the plumbing the space itself is pretty much done. Once the bathroom is complete they'll be able to focus on the
bedroom (carpet, ceiling fan, new window, and electrical).
The crew arrived right at 8:30 am. This was the day they removed the french doors and replaced them with a brand new window. It was pretty loud as they broke up the wall surrounding the doors. Once the
doors were out they immediately started framing and set the window in place. By the end of the day, the interior of the bedroom was drywalled, plastered, and the baseboards were installed. Starting tomorrow
they will texture, prime, and paint the interior wall. The plumber is also scheduled to arrive to finish up the fixtures. On Saturday, they'll do all the exterior stucco work. Then, next week they'll lay the
new carpet, mount the ceiling fan, install the shower glass door with panels, and tidy up any little details that need finishing. The hope here is that the project will be completed by next Friday.
New window.
By mid-morning the window was framed and installed.
Gustavo arrived right after 8:00 am. He worked on the base of the window so a sill could be installed and plastered around a new electrical receptacle for the eventual placement of a TV. The plumber
arrived a short time later to begin moving the faucet pipes above the vanity. While very close to where they needed to be they were a tad bit off. Once he was finished they were dead center above the basin so
when the water came out of the faucets it was right above the drain. The shower head was the first fixture to be installed along with the handle and diverter valve. Unfortunately, the entire handle assembly
was missing. At first we believed it was still at the store where we purchased everything. All we would have to do is pick it up. As it turned out, that particular item was on back order. We expected it to
arrive back in May, but we found out that it was pushed out to the third week in July. Through a comedy of errors we were not informed because all the emails detailing the delays were sent to the wrong email
address. When we finally realized in the afternoon that we weren't going to have the handle with diverter, we had to find a replacement as soon as possible. We looked online and found a vendor that had it in
stock and could potentially get it here in 5 days. We placed the order and crossed our fingers it would arrive sooner rather than later. In any event, Luis installed the back splash above the vanity and the
plumber installed the faucets and handles. It was a crazy day, but a lot of work still got done.
With the finish line in sight, Daniel had his stucco guy come out on a Saturday just before lunchtime to start work on the new wall. He added a weather resistive membrane and lath wire to the exterior side
of the wall. Stucco will be applied at some point and then paint will follow.
Daniel's crew arrived around 8:30 am and immediately started installing the new window sill. Once the sill was in place they painted the inside of the bedroom. The electrician arrived a short time later
and finished up all the receptacles, switches, exhaust fans, lights, and ceiling fan. They also began work on the hallway bathroom wall that got damaged during demolition. Repairs would have been completed
today except the leftover paint we saved from our hallway bath remodel had dried up, so we had to scramble to get new paint. By day's end we had
the paint in hand and were told it would be completed the next day.
Also, this morning we received an email and voice mail from the vendor we ordered the shower fixture from last Friday. While their website clearly stated the part we wanted was in stock (and on sale), the
messages all related how that particular part in the finish we wanted was out of stock until at least the third week of July. Since this is the same timeline as the original vendor we ordered from, we
canceled the online order placed on Friday and tried to reinstate the original order placed way back in March. Sure enough though, the store we bought from is closed on Mondays so we can't talk to anyone
there until Tuesday.
The stucco crew arrived before 7:30 am. They taped off the new bedroom window and began the process of applying stucco to the exterior wall. By mid-morning they were done. A little later, paint was
applied to the hallway bathroom wall to complete the repairs. We also asked to paint the inside of the master bedroom door to match the new paint on the interior walls. To round out the day the medicine
cabinets were installed above the sinks. Office Manager Daisy called to confirm the shower fixture we needed is still on order from our original vendor and, based on all current updates, will arrive in July.
Daniel texted to confirm the shower door and panels will be installed tomorrow morning. He also asked for our carpet receipt which means one of his guys will pick up the new carpet and pad soon.
On this day we waited for the shower glass door and panels to arrive. Daniel texted the day before saying the installers would be by between 8:00 am and 10:00 am. Right around 8:00 am one of Daniel's crew
arrived to lay down plastic to cover our entryway and hallway to the bedroom. This would be the only way to safely move the glass from the truck to the bathroom. About 9:45 am the glass installers arrived to
survey the space to ensure everything was prepped and ready for installation. Once they verified everything was good to go they brought in all their materials with the door and panels. Unfortunately, they did
forget one thing. They left the mirror for the closet door behind so they will have to return on Thursday to complete the installation.
Daniel stopped by a short time later to check in on the progress. First, we spoke about window treatments for the new bedroom window. He suggested getting shutters, so he will introduce us to someone he knows
who can help us with that. He also gave a timeline of what to expect in the next few days. Alberto was on his way to pick up the carpet and pad as we spoke. The carpet would be laid as soon as the glass
installers were done.
On Thursday they expect to install the hardware for the doors along with all the towel bars, grab bar, hook, and toilet paper holder. They will also complete any detail work such as grouting the niches and
backsplash. Completion of plumbing (connecting the sink drains, installation of the toilet, and creating access to the sink valves behind the vanity) should also be finished soon. On Friday the painters will
be by to paint the new stucco where the old bathroom window was and where the new bedroom window is. Hopefully, without any further delays, we can be back in the bedroom by the weekend.
Daniel's painter arrived right at 8:30 am to put more plastic down. This time it would be on the newly laid bedroom carpet. While the bedroom is finished, for all intents and purposes, they wanted to add
a layer of protection while the final touches in the bathroom were completed. Meanwhile, paint went up on the exterior of the house. Before lunch, the two areas that needed paint were applied. Unfortunately,
after it dried it was obvious the paint didn't match. We kind of all looked at it and couldn't understand why there was such a difference. We scrambled to figure out what to do at this point. We decided to
pull out a can of paint we bought several years prior to do touch up around the house. However, back then, just like now, it didn't match. Regardless, we opened the can, stirred it up, and applied it to the
wall. When it was dry it was obvious the colors weren't even close. Then, we tried something different. We brushed on some paint, high up on the wall, under the eave out of direct sunlight. When it dried
this time we were amazed to see how close it looked to the original color. It was decided to wait until the sun went down some more and reapply this paint to see if it would work. Luckily, after a few hours
the result was much more palatable.
Pedro arrived early around 7:30 am to install the towel bars, grab bar, toilet paper dispenser, and shelving for the walk-in closet. We discussed where to place everything. We even printed some pictures
to show him where the studs and blocking were in the walls. Once everything was marked he began the installation process. Ran, in the meantime, looked into shutters for the new bedroom window and maybe
finding a temporary fix for the shower handle dilemma. By the end of the day, all the bathroom fixtures were ready for use, the floor coverings over the tile were removed, and the closet brackets were on the
walls. Before Pedro left he said he would be back on Monday to install the door hardware. Daniel texted later and said Miguel would install the toilet as well. We're very close to the finish line.
Pedro arrived just before lunch to install all the door hardware. It wasn't an easy task as the pocket doors had to be cut perfectly to install the handles. Once that was finished he installed the door
knob for the water closet, and he cut away the back of the vanity for the right-side sink valves. He placed an access panel over the hole so the valves aren't exposed. Tomorrow he'll return to do the left
sink valve access and add a strike plate for the pocket door from the bedroom. With any luck, tomorrow will also include adding drain pipes for the sinks and installation of the toilet. We also hope to see
the glass contractor return to finish the mirror for the closet door. On Wednesday the plan is to have the water closet niche shelves cut back a little, and then on Thursday have the stucco crew return to
clean up the stucco where the old bathroom window was removed.
Pedro arrived early in the morning and finished the strike plate and the valve access for the left sink. He was done just before lunch time. Unfortunately, the plumber and glass contractor did not show
up, so we're hopeful they'll be by tomorrow.
The plumber arrived at 8:00 am to connect the sink drain pipes and install the toilet. He wasn't able to connect the bidet however, but at least we have another toilet and sinks that work! Tomorrow is
another day. Daniel texted in the early evening that he'll be by in the morning, and the shelves in the water closet niche will be redone so the glass door can eventually be installed. Other than detail work,
smoothing out the stucco where the old bathroom window was, and waiting for the shower handles to arrive we're close to being done.
Work on the water closet niche shelves began around 10:00 am. Along with the shelves, the piece of tile over the shower drain was aligned. Daniel arrived shortly afterward so we could compile a list
of small details that needed addressing. Individually they wouldn't take too long to complete, but altogether they would take a few days. The hope is, by the end of Friday, to complete many of the important
things that prevented us from moving in earlier. If this timeline holds, we'll be able to haul all our clothes and furniture back into the closet and bedroom over the weekend. On Monday they'll finish up
whatever minor issues needs completing. Just before lunch, Simon the plumber, returned to install the bidet. Then, in the afternoon we met with Fina, a shutter contractor, to take measurements of the bedroom
window and to choose a color. Lastly, Daniel called the stucco crew to see when they would be available to touch up the old bathroom window patch.
Work began at 9:00 am. Luis arrived with instructions from Daniel about having to frame the new bedroom window for the shutters we discussed the afternoon prior. We had no idea that adding trim would
involve so much work. Since we're moving forward with the shutters though, we'll have to remove the newly installed window sill. This way the trim will surround the entire window seamlessly. Amazingly, about
two hours later the framing was complete. Earlier, around 10:00 am Gustavo arrived to help with window texture and paint. Luis, meanwhile, cut the drawers to accommodate the new drain pipes under the sinks,
and cleaned up the area around the water closet niche where the shelves were altered to accommodate the new glass door. To finish the day they grouted all the tile and cleaned up any little knicks, dents, and
dings. Daniel also texted that the glass contractor contacted him and said they would return on Tuesday to install the mirror on the closet door and the glass door over the niche in the water closet.
With this, we're able to move our stuff back into the bedroom and closet. What's left is pretty minor in the grand scheme of things, and for all intents and purposes, the majority of work is done! We're eager
to move back into our bedroom and start using our new bathroom!
The stucco crew arrived promptly at 7:30 am. They immediately got to work and started grinding the old stucco to smooth it out. After about an hour and a half they were done. Once it gets painted we hope
to see a smoother transition from the existing stucco to the new. Around 2:00 pm the glass crew arrived to install both the closet door mirror and the glass door over the niche above the toilet. Installation
of these two jobs was quick and fast. Once the handles for the shower arrives, we'll be completely done. Moving everything back into the bedroom and closet has been slow but steady. We hope to have everything
back in its place by the weekend.
We were surprised to receive a call in the morning from Daisy, Daniel's office manager, saying the shower handles had arrived and will be installed in the morning some time between 10:00 am and 11:00 am.
They were also going to finish painting the exterior wall over the new stucco. It all sounded very straight forward but things have a way of going awry. Somehow, the lines of communication between Daniel and
the painter got crossed, and the painter misunderstood where to apply the paint. While the plumber was busy working on the shower, Ran overheard what sounded like a roller brush being used inside the bathroom.
At first he didn't think too much of it, but he wondered what they could be doing. He went back to take a peek, and was surprised to find the painter was painting the water closet wall! Luckily, he hadn't
applied that much paint yet, so fixing it wouldn't take too long. The painter immediately got a fan and started to expedite the drying process. Meanwhile, Ran got what remaining paint he had left for the
bathroom walls out of storage while the painter began painting the exterior wall. Once done outside, he got to work on the water closet wall. When it was all said and done, you would never know anything
happened.
