Just wanted to give a little update to those who care about the bathrooms remodel:) We're still trecking through it!!

It's tough...who would have thought having a full time job and working 5-10 on weekdays and only Sundays for the hubby would make us so slow at this process??

22 Comments

Miriam I New York, NY

Melissa, it's fun to see your updates. We will be so happy for you when you're done!

on Nov 20, 2011 · Like 0
Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

You may want to check the height on the water for the vanity. It may be an allusion, but I think you may find it difficult to attach the pipes with them being so high on the wall They may end up being behind the sink instead of below them.

on Nov 20, 2011 · Like 1
Melissa A Fort Dodge, IA

Woodbridge-Good eye:) The vanity we have is actually an old antique dresser we have converted into a vanity and it's a little bit taller than the average vanity I guess. We had to keep the water as close to the top in order to not have to modify any more of the drawers than we already had to modify!! I, too, pointed out the extra tall water lines to the hubby and he had me help him to drag in the vanity to show me he knows what he's talking about:) Thanks so much for the concern and good eye!:)

on Nov 20, 2011 · Like 1
Dan's of Central Florida,... Clermont, FL

Looks like things are coming along. Many people seem to underestimate how long a project can take, especially if you have a full-time job as well! Good luck with things!

on Nov 20, 2011 · Like 0
Accurate Repair & Home Im... Minneapolis, MN

It will be well worth your hard work, looks like it is coming along smoothly. Great job so far !

on Nov 20, 2011 · Like 0
Steve G Fort Collins, CO

Everything takes longer than you expect. Just take your time and do it right, and enjoy the learning process (assuming you have another place to shower).

on Nov 20, 2011 · Like 0
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

as far as the good eye goes...those "regular" recpt's hooked up to a GFCI breaker?

on Nov 21, 2011 · Like 1
Melissa A Fort Dodge, IA

Yes we did hook them up to a GFCI breaker-and that leads me to a question-when installing and hooking up out fan/light whenever we go to turn on the switch it keeps tripping the breaker. What gives? Any ideas??

on Nov 21, 2011 · Like 0
Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

Its not wired properly. If your talking about the GFCI being tripped then the fan either has an internal short or its not wired properly to the GFCI protected outlet.
If its the main breaker at the panel that is tripping Then again the fan was wired incorrectly.
If you find that it is wired correctly then its a faulty fan and needs to be replaced.
The GFCI measures ground faults. It does this in simple terms by seeing the voltage that ...»
leaves the outlet and comes back to it. Sort of a balancing act. When both sides are equal it works. But if any current leaks out of the fan cabinet because of faulty internal wiring it the voltage balance goes out of whack and the GFCI trips turning off the power to device that has the short.
Check the wiring and make sure everything is properly grounded.

on Nov 21, 2011 · Like 1
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

Woodbridge beat me to it ...recheck the tie point in the box. I like to use a pair of pliers and get a good tight twist on my wire connections...then trim the tip with a pair of side cutters....if they run long. Then screw on the correct sized wire nut based on the number of wires in the connection.
A "wimpy" twist can sometime allow a wire to slip out when stuffing stuff back into the J box...sometimes a little loose is all it needs to trip.

on Nov 22, 2011 · Like 0
Hewitt Remodeling Service... Virginia Beach, VA

Melissa,
Is the GFCI breaker in the electrical panel protecting an entire circuit or is it a GFCI breaker outlet installed just "upstream" of the bathroom in question? Just curious.....
Bob/Kevin....if it isn't a loose connection, isn't it possible the fan/light added to a "full" circuit may be the straw that exceeded that sensitive breaker's ability to "hang on". I'm thinking ...»
maybe if she tried using a hair dryer in one of the bathroom outlets and it popped, it may not be the fan/light at all...?? Tim

on Nov 23, 2011 · Like 1
Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

A GFCI does not work as a breaker. A circuit breaker works on heat. When to much is being drawn on it it warms up and trips. A GFCI breaker measures the voltage that goes to the appliance, or fan perhaps if its wired that way. Then the voltage is measured on the way back to the ground source. If there is just the tiniest internal short within the appliance that allows for some current to leak out this difference is sensed by the GFCI and trips the power. The amount of amperage the ...»
appliance uses has no bearing on the current flow to and from the electrical panel
It could be just the breaker. I have tested hundreds of these over the years doing home inspections and some trip and some do not, yet when another tester is used those that did not trip did and those that did trip did not. Its all about the quality of the GFI which I suspect is faulty at this point.
My suggestion would be to check the wiring carefully again and if for some reason nothing is found, change the GFI out and try again. If it fails after that, then replace the fan.

on Nov 23, 2011 · Like 0
Hewitt Remodeling Service... Virginia Beach, VA

Bob, this one has me confused...maybe it is terminology. I know they work differently but I thought the result was the same.
Are you saying a GFCI breaker in an electrical panel will not sense an over amperage condition on that protected circuit? I understand a normal circuit breaker works by temperature resulting in an overheat causing it to trip. I also understand a GFCI senses a difference in the "in" and the ...»
"out"....but I also thought it senses an overloaded/overheat condition as well. Help me obeewon......

on Nov 23, 2011 · Like 0
Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

Oops. The in panel breaker/GFCI does both. I was speaking of a outlet or stand alone GFCI unit. Your correct in saying it does both current and overload.

on Nov 23, 2011 · Like 0
Hewitt Remodeling Service... Virginia Beach, VA

Thank you for the clarification. A very Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. Tim

on Nov 23, 2011 · Like 0
LandlightS Roswell, GA

If possible run a dedicated 20AMP circuit for the bathroom GFCI receptacle. If you want, you can add the lights and the exhaust fan to the load side of the GFCI receptacle. It is not wise to add any additional load, outside of the bathroom to this circuit.
Not too many years ago, a GFCI protected more than one bathroom and even possibly and outdoor receptacle..........BUT there were no 2000 watt hair dryers and other high wattage appliances. It ...»
is a good idea, if possible, to run dedicated circuits (20 AMP)* to each bathroom.
Have a good Thanksgiving
* 20 AMPS = 2300 Watts (assuming a 115 volt circuit )

on Nov 23, 2011 · Like 0
Melissa A Fort Dodge, IA

WOW thanks so much for the replys!! I appreicate all of your knowledge!! Good think is, he got it all figured out:) Something about switching the breaker to a regular 20 amp and switching the outlets to GFCI outlets... now keep in mind, I don't know all of the details because of course I am not doing the work myself just someone relaying questions from the hubby to you guys:)

on Nov 23, 2011 · Like 0
Melissa A Fort Dodge, IA

On another note...we have ANOTHER question!! This one is about tiling the walls...we have subwall tiles we are using for the walls .so do we need to use a primer before the mastic for the wall tile or is ok to just put mastic right over drywall? Will it hold up? Any help is appreicated:)

on Nov 23, 2011 · Like 0
Accurate Repair & Home Im... Minneapolis, MN

You can apply the adhesive directly to wall board and have no worry. Of coarse prime any of the remainder of the wall that isn't covered before painting and you will be on your way. Good luck

on Nov 24, 2011 · Like 0
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

If the subway tiles are clear glass you may want to paint first then use white mastic applied "flat" ( without notches) those would be visible through the glass.

on Nov 24, 2011 · Like 0
Melissa A Fort Dodge, IA

they are white subway tiles:) so i think we will be ok with no primer and just apply the pastic and tile away?:) thanks all!!

on Nov 24, 2011 · Like 0
Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

That is all there is to it Melissa, Just be sure to hand set the pattern out and measure so you do not have tiny tiles in the corners. You may need to adjust to make it look right. Typically you start in the middle and work out to edges. But you need to be sure that you do not end up with a small tile cut on the corner as that does not look professional.
Also tile the wall that you see first when you walk into the room. Then do the adjacent ...»
walls. This method makes the corners hide better when they are looked at from the entrance which is what everyone looks at first.

on Nov 24, 2011 · Like 0