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Truckee Primary Bath Remodel
Project Overview
Work began with full demolition down to the studs: the tub and surround, vanity, and light fixture were removed, while the existing toilet was set aside for reinstallation. The wall framing around the tub was furred out square and plumb, and two recessed niches were framed into the wall opposite the shower valve.
GoBoard waterproofing was installed across the tub and shower walls up to the ceiling with every joint sealed, and a new single-output shower mixing valve was set. Subway tile was installed wall to wall using Schluter trim at the edges, with matching tile carried onto the window sill and jamb and into both niches.
On the floor, Hardie Backer was installed over the subfloor to prep for a small-format mosaic sheet tile, which was set and grouted to match the shower.
The window over the tub was a non-standard size that had to be special ordered rather than pulled off the shelf. It was replaced with a black-framed Milgard slider set into the original opening, with new exterior trim and interior casing installed and caulked.
Plumbing work relocated the vanity's supply and drain lines for the new vanity, set new angle stops throughout, and added a dedicated hot water line to the toilet for the homeowner's bidet attachment. The new tub was set in a mortar bed and the drain assembly was replaced. Electrical work upgraded the vanity outlet from single to double gang and added a new outlet behind the toilet.
Drywall was repaired where needed and primed with a kitchen and bath specific primer before two coats of the homeowner's selected paint went on. The new vanity, mirror, and light fixture were installed, the toilet was reset, and the space was cleaned and turned back over.
Materials Used
Shower System
GoBoard tub and shower wall waterproofing
Single-output shower mixing valve
Subway tile wall surround with Schluter edge trim
Two tiled recessed niches
Matching tile on the window sill and jamb
Flooring
Hardie Backer subfloor prep
Small-format mosaic sheet floor tile
Window
Black-framed Milgard replacement window
New interior casing and exterior trim
Plumbing
New tub set in a mortar bed
New tub drain assembly
Relocated vanity supply and drain lines
New angle stops, including a dedicated hot water line for a bidet attachment
Electrical
Vanity outlet upgraded from single to double gang
New outlet added behind the toilet
Vanity & Fixtures
Vanity, mirror, and light fixture
Toilet
Paint
Kitchen and bath specific primer
Two coats of homeowner-selected bathroom paint
Challenges & Solutions
Working a full gut remodel into one small bathroom, without touching the rest of the house, came with its own set of constraints:
The window over the tub was a non-standard size, which had to be special ordered and priced separately rather than pulled from stock, and its replacement meant cutting into the exterior siding and reflashing the opening from a ladder.
Every trade, demo, plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, and tile, had to sequence through the same small footprint with no other bathroom fixtures usable during the tub and surround demo.
Reworking the toilet's water lines to add a dedicated hot water connection for the homeowner's bidet attachment meant additional plumbing beyond a standard fixture swap.
Grouting the shower tile required a return trip after the waterproofing and tile work had time to cure.
The primary bath came out as a complete, self-contained remodel, ready to stand on its own while the rest of the house waits for its turn.
Project Gallery
