You guys are they best for feedback and I can’t thank you enough so far for your knowledge but can I tap this well again?
I am going to gut my bathroom back to the lat walls and put up greenboard. What will give me the best resale value in the tub area-a new tub surround or tile the tub area? What type of tile is used in a bath area?
If I tile that area what is the norm for the height of the tile above the bathtub? I now have a surround in this bath that has to go and I never had a tiled tub area before so I am unsure of the height to the ceiling for tiles if I was to do this.
The room also has dropped ceiling tiles. Since it is a smaller bathroom should I replace the larger size ceiling tiles with 2 x 4 tiles? Will that make my room appear larger?
Thanks again
Replies
A tiled surround is richer-looking than a plastic surround. Almost any tile can be used for a wall, while only certain tile can be used for the floor. Most people use glazed tile for the shower, but you can use marble or glass tile or stone or almost whatever suits your fancy. Go about 5 ft above the top of the tub.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Is there a certain size tile that is normal in this type of area? Also how do you end the top of it? Just stop with the tile squares or do I use a border?
Thanks again for the quick response
since Fsat Eddie is a little shorter.. go 5'6'' above the tub..
tile is so much better looking..
2x2 tiles in the ceiling would appear better..
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Tile, tastefully done, would sell better in my opinion. But an amateurish job would hurt the resale value.
The tiles should be glazed wall tiles. The style should match the style of the room and the house. Italian tiles, for example, look really silly in a Queen Anne or Craftsman house.
Greenboard is not a proper backer in a shower. It's ok for tile in the rest of the room, say for a wainscot, but never in an area that is exposed to as much water as a shower. The entire tile system must be done properly to be waterproofed (concrete backer board, waterproofing membrane, latex modified thinset, etc. If you've never done tile before I recommend getting a couple of good books on the subject (the cost is trivial compared to the cost you'll put into the job).
About 60 inches above the tub is typical, but you end up a couple inches higher or lower where full tiles take you.
I don't think drop ceilings ever look good in a home. If it were me I'd take them out and drywall the ceiling.
I'm getting the feeling from your post that you can get some decent resale when the time comes vs a rental type property.
Tile always around a tub hands down. Personally don't care that much for the glazed tike al that much. I find the tumbled marble looks deeper and richer and earthy...homey. And the cost isn;t all that great in the areas we're talking about buck for buck and what you get back from what you'll put in. Personally I always go right up to the ceiling...Why wouldn't you? Looks better....to me.
If its contemporary you like there is the corian soild surface and marble and and and and....
Need to know the style a bit more of the house to say what I'd use but dropped ceilings will drop the value big time. At worst possibly a tin ceiling if the style warrants it but acoustic tiles are horrendous IMHO.
Find another way! Are there pipes and wires the ceilings hiding? Whats up there??
http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
If you go with Tile, most codes state that it should be at least 72" above the drain.
If you're gonna gut it to the studs, don't stop your demo-ing until that drop ceiling is safely in the trash bin. Hang a new lid at whatever height works, with some cans, and a good fan. I can't picture a drop Ac. tile ceiling in a bath, but it can't be a "wow" when it comes to the walkthrough with a realtor.
"A wrongdoer is often a man who has left something undone, not always one who has done something."--Marcus Aurelius
I'm redoing my tub surround right now. It was a hideos blue one-piece fiberglass thing. I put in a new white enameled acrylic tub and the walls will be 6x6 white glazed tiles with two accent rows of 2" blue/green glass that were on clearance at Lowes. I'm going all the way to the ceiling because it looks richer and more finished, and the extra work/material is negligable. My wife prefers the shiny white to the matte finish, so that's what we'll have. Anything is better than powder blue.
While I had the walls stripped to the studs, I framed in a couple of niches that will be tiled. My wife likes to have lots of products in there! Personally all I need is a bar of soap, but the niches do add a nice custom touch.
If you keep it simple it's a do-it-yourself project, albeit an advanced one.
Ok guys the advice is great. I think I ave some reading to do to learn more but if I go only 5 or 6 feet above the drain do I just plaster the area above the tile?
Thanks
Yup, plaster or sheetrock. Usually the showerhead is 78" above the floor, so stop your tile below that.
72" above the drain or 60" above the tub, whichever is higher
Ok guys can you tell me what would be better if I went to a tub surround. A one piece, 2 piece or more? I also have a bath tub that is original and needs either refinishing or replacement.
Any input on this? Also are the surrounds with tub hard to install?
More pieces = easier to get up the stairs and into the small bathroom. More pieces = more joibts to get to close up properly and to caulk. One piece looks better, more water tight by design.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
So, as we go along, more of the truth comes out....[G]
You are going to spend the money for the surround - hopefuly tile - Guess what? Go for the new tub too. Refinishing a tub is costly and not really a lifetime job. In comparison to the cost of a new tub, there's no sense trying to cut corners. A brand new steel tub will cost you less than $200. Install will be a few $$ more. You will get a nice shiney tub, with a nice shiney drain and for a few $$ more, you can have a new single handled faucet. Let's see how much is the house worth? What is it going to cost you to do it ? How much more to do it right - another 20%?
Think about this before you cut corners. It's like making a great dinner but serving 5 day old bread because it's cheaper. Don't do it.
Don K.
EJG Homes Renovations - New Construction - Rentals
Your real estate agent can give you an opinion of the merits of tile vs. a surround. While I prefer tile, a surround is much simpler to install, and easier to do correctly. It has an advantage over tile in that it has no grout to clean. To some buyers that may be an advantage over tile.
I think if the bathroom is fresh and clean and tasteful it will be in your favor either way. Tile is nice, but a brand new surround with the rest of the bathroom well done can be good, too. In my own home a one piece tub/shower unit suits my bachelor lifestyle just fine.
OK- Pulled out the old medicine cabinet that had lights and an outlet. It has bx cable with two wires. Can anyone tell me what I can do in Chicago to get an outlet back in he bathroom? GCFI wont work with two wires-correct?
"GCFI wont work with two wires-correct?"NO, NO, NO.In fact using GFCI's a code allowed way to replace ungrounded receptacles with grounding ones (although you need to label that it does not have ground connection).However, you have BX (actually it is AC - amrmored cable).Properly installed the metal sheathing on the BX is a ground.Using an AC connector connect it to a metal box. Then you can use a screw in the tapped hole and attach a ground wire jumper to the receptacle, lights, etc.
Edited 11/16/2006 1:53 pm by BillHartmann