Hi Everyone,
How are y’all doing?
I hope well. Are you watching the Olympics? I have been, but only for the last few days (after getting Peacock), and frankly, I would be very happy just watching the Olympics and not thinking about what’s happening all around me.
This is the last lap of the renovation, and let me tell you, it is very painful– in every way.*
My entire body hurts. The humidity is through the roof, and the barometric pressure must be very low. Well, I just went to look, and oh my, I saw another hurricane hit the US. I hope y’all affected are okay.
It’s a good reminder that whatever I’m going through will be over soon and is, at most, aggravating, not devastating.
Normally, the post is out about 20 hours earlier, but I know the feeling that something’s about to break.
I usually push through it, but right now, I need any available reserves to meet this challenging time.
Last year, I recall telling myself that these were the halcyon days.
Indeed.
However, this is not unlike giving a natural birth. If only there were a renovation epidural.
*It is Wednesday, and I’m feeling much better.
Right now, the floors upstairs are getting their final sanding. It went from 8:00 AM to 5:00! The hardwood floor repairs and refinishing story will be shared very soon.
However, for now, we need to look at the new bathroom floor tile!
Some of you might be wondering because I went dead-silent after it was installed.
Last week, I made a little video for you after the new level subfloor was put in. I was ecstatically happy. And really, if you need to have your floors leveled, it is not a big deal at all—at least, not in a small space like my primary bathroom, which is roughly 8′ x 8′. The next day, Wednesday and Thursday, the tile was installed.
Well, I can’t tell you how much I loved it. Except for an inconsistency in the corner detail, which isn’t noticeable, I couldn’t have asked for anything more perfect.
That is… ungrouted.
This is something I’ve learned. It was the same with the kitchen backsplash tile. Remember that saga? (Of course you do!) I adore the look of ungrouted tile, especially for an old home.
Here, let me show you how the tile looked last Thursday.
The white tiles are all Dolomite. And the black border is Nero Marquina.
The floor leveling and tile installation took three days. The only issue with that part of the installation was that after a few hours on the day he began installing the tile, it began to rain.
Oh, you know what’s coming…
The wet saw was brought inside and parked in the only available space—the common building hallway leading to the back entrance. The door with the moulding is my lower-level entry door that was moved. The door opens out, so you see the moulding Eugene glued on. The outside is the same plain door as the rest of the doors you see.
Well, this happened the same day my stuff got moved from upstairs to downstairs via the building staircase behind where I’m standing.
However, aside from this inconvenience (mostly for my neighbors who’ve been as patient as can be), changing the floor from sloped hardwood to level marble bathroom floor tile was not a big deal at all. I wish I had made the decision sooner.
I was surprised that no one showed up to put in the grout on Friday, but that’s no biggie. They’ll probably show up on Monday, but that’s not what happened.
What happened is that Saturday morning around 10:00 AM, two young guys in Jose Tile t-shirts knocked on my bedroom garden door. Yes, they were there to install the grout, and no, I wasn’t told they were coming, but they were there, so I let them in.
Not wanting to make the same mistake twice, I said, “You’re going to seal the MARBLE bathroom floor tile before grouting, right?”
Neither spoke much English, but they understood “seal” and nodded yes.
It wasn’t the super stinky one, but it wasn’t the one with no smell, either. One of the guys said, “Wait only 20 minutes.”
That seemed a little short, but I figured they knew what they were doing.
***This is an important lesson.***
Please assume they have no idea what they are doing and double-check the instructions on the bottle or box.
Anyway, they were all done in less than three hours and left. But before they left, they put up a piece of blue tape… (Guys, it’s only me here!) and told me, “Please don’t use the bathroom until tomorrow.”
Six hours after they left, the grout looked to be fully dry.
I took a few steps back and stared at the bathroom tile floor in disbelief.
My beautiful milky white dolomite looked like milk that had been used to mop a very dirty floor.
It was GRAY. And, not only that, but it looked more like penny tile than hexagonal tile.
Okay, this grout wasn’t white but the lightest gray (Silver Shadow) manufactured by Laticrete. I wanted a little contrast; otherwise, the tile would disappear.
And no, I didn’t take any pictures. I didn’t want any record of this. It needed to vanish NOW!
Of course, I was supposed to be working on my blog post.
But instead, I was googling how to fix stained marble. OR, how to lighten grout.
I tried a few remedies, one of which was to use a diluted bleach solution. Oh, I don’t know. I might be making that up. Haha, no matter. This is Laurel, the lady who poured lemon juice on her hellishly expensive marble kitchen counters. I got the Clorox cleaner with bleach and mopped the floor like mad.
Indeed, I was definitely a mad woman. So much for not using the bathroom until the following day. lol
After a bit of mopping, I got some paper towels and wiped up a lot of gray. That gave me hope.
And yes, in the morning, it looked infinitely better.
It’s fine, but I got some magic erasers and Bona floor cleaner today. More gray has come up.
It’s going to be fine. And a little gray is okay.
Below, you can see how beautiful the bathroom floor tile is.
Of course, the mouldings aren’t back on yet.
Laurel, I can see the shower tile. Ummm… Do you like that?
Hell, no, but we need to save that for the next post.
This one shows that the floor is nice and level. The electrician has also moved the wires for the sconces.
As I mentioned, I had the house cleaners come for two hours on Friday. I pitched in, too. When they left, for the first time in 14 months, it felt like I had a home again—albeit a hollow, echoey one upstairs. But it is so pretty!
Then, on Sunday evening, I used my shower for the first time in 14 months.
I closed the bedroom embrasure doors for privacy. Still, the lights looked much better with the soft, warm Benjamin Moore White Dove-painted floor.
But, here’s the thing… I got out of the shower and as I was toweling off, it felt like I was in the most posh suite at the JK Place Capri. It was everything.
The beautiful, creamy white marble bathroom tile floor and the mouldings—all of the planning, drawing, and angst were so worth it. The white-on-white is incredibly elegant.
And to be clear, the walls are only primed at this point.
It was an awesome experience. Alas, it was short-lived.
Yesterday, the hardwood floor installers descended on the upstairs as planned. I was out for most of the day. However, when I returned at about 5:30, what I discovered horrified me.
To be continued…
xo,
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Related Posts
The Renovation End Date & Schedule
Laurel’s Home Renovation 2024 – News & Deets!
Tinted Wallpaper? Here’s How to Do It + Renovation News!
Floor Stains, Finishes & Stencil Patterns for My Entries & Kitchen
Happy One-Year Renovation Anniversary + Lots of News!
How To Mess Up a Tile Installation Without Really Trying! (Parts 1 and 2)
Renovation Woes and Then the Contractors Went on Vacation Parts 1 and 2!
34 Responses
Shouldn’t the hot and cold water valves be centered for the sink?
Hi Ali,
Yes, they should be centered. :] The plumber is going to fix that when he installs the sink on Wednesday.
So beautiful, everything is beautiful! I wish you were my neighbor 🙂
Oh my goodness! Look at ALL that goodness on your bathroom floor! It was pure **** to have to do all that work to make it come back to your vision. It is now pure gorgeous! Love everything about that floor, and the vision it took to get it to this stage. I highly recommend at least a “Princess Crown” when you are in that space. Absolutely stunning.
The saga continues! I’m grateful to be reading (and learning from) it instead of living it! But you … you’ve got what it takes!
The pieces that are completed are GORGEOUS!
The Finish Line is soooo close!
Hi Susanne,
I’m not sure I have what it takes, however, it’s like child rearing. There’s no choice. One has to learn to suck it up deal with it, knowing whatever is going on will pass.
(Please delete my previous posts. I am reposting to correct typos. Never try to post via cellphone without glasses, lol. Thanks)
SAME!
Sort of. I fell in love with cement tiles before they ever showed up on HGTV. I researched and knew what I was getting into. First bathroom had B&W tiles & white grout. The installer got thinset on some of them and I had to restore them before sealing & grouting. It turned out ok. Second bath, same installer – way different! I chose navy & white tiles and used navy grout. Because of the previous experience he asked me to preseal. Different procedure and sealer, but I agreed. I put three coats of penetrating sealer on them. Installation went beautifully. Thinset washed right off. Ready for grout. OMG IT WAS A DISASTER! Despite presealing, all the white pattern was horribly stained with navy grout. It didn’t wash off. We halted it and I agonized for weeks and tried all kinds of restoration. My goofy neighbor kept asking me to try Mr. Clean magic erasers. I finally humored her and I was shocked! It worked! I went to the store and bought a cartload of those suckers and scrubbed those tiles for days. It was finally to a point where it was as close as was ever going to get. No one can tell it was ever a problem. I was so relieved. I hope you are able to restore them, and I encourage you to try the same improbable remedy. I can share pics upon request.
The bathroom floor is beautiful!
Oh my, the bathroom floor looks marvelous!! What an elegant and luxurious surrounding! This must surely put a smile on your face each and every morning!
We were saved from a grouting disaster by Kaboom Foamtastic. It comes out purple which scared me! But it helped immensely. We also used a light gray grout. We called it the grout from hell.
I’m waiting on pins and needles for your next update!
Laurel, like Christine I cannot see the pic of the ungrouted tile on my Macbook (using Firefox – I turned off the ad blocker) or on my Android phone. Just FYI. Your bathroom floor is gorgeous, but I always knew it would be ;] But it kinda sucks that you had problems yet again with the tiling process! Can’t wait for the next post!!
I couldn’t see the picture of the ungrouted tile either. But the grouted tile looks gorgeous! I was so nervous reading this post wondering what was going to go wrong next. Waiting for the other shoe to drop. Am on the edge of my seat! You are such a tease! 😉
I cannot see the picture of the tile ungrouted, tried both laptop and phone to read the post. Have you figured out what the guys did or did not do to leave it looking milky. I am learning so much, and yes you have to stand over and supervise everything. And you are nearing the end and I am sure exhausted having to supervise, instruct, the professionals. It is so mentally draining, I feel for you. I am just in the middle and it amazes me when you give clear written professionally drawn CAD that is just ignored, details ignored, forgotten, and no one takes notes. Your vision is coming to life and it is all due to your efforts.
Sooo glad the bathroom floor was leveled for that gorgeous tile! Bathroom looks regal!
The page jumps around. Cannot read your post
Hi Laurel,
Things were going so well. And now…not so much. At least you were able to save your bathroom floor. It’s beautiful!
CLIFF HANGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO US???? HAHAH
Laurel, I don’t understand your contractors. Last Summer I had 1800 sq ft of ugly tile removed. Then the entire space was leveled. I had to stay with a friend the second night as the leveling was drying.. 2 days in all. Why do your guys TAKE SO LONG?
You have the patience of Job.
Why was the skirting board ruined? Why did the tiling not be done before the skirting was done? Sorry to point this out, but as a designer things have to be done in a certain order and this does not seem to have been the case.
Gorgeous floors! But no more cliffhangers – we need to know what is happening! 🙂
I love the bathroom floor!
The bathroom floor is gorgeous. Methinks you are contemplating your shower floor now!?
I don’t understand why your GC isn’t giving the tilers and grouters specific directions before they come on the job. If they’re not working for the contractor, then that becomes your job to make sure you’re very clear about exactly what you want, even to the point of consulting the retailer about how to work with the product. I would also type up your instructions and have them sign it. They will do exactly what you say then. If not, I think you could sue for damages (check with your lawyer first).
I love everything you’ve done so far. I were doing a renovation I would steal some of your ideas.
I’m in love with your bathroom floor.
Amazing work! You are mentally tough!
Omg is right! You are a massive trooper….a brilliant writer and wonderful designer!
Hang Tuff!
XO
Congratulations on persevering to make your home into a dream JK Place suite. It’s all starting to look wonderful.
no more cliffhanger horror stories.
enough.
Your heart and stamina are unmatched! What a happy feeling to have the posh hotel experience from your first shower in the new bathroom. I truly could not survive what you have endured for the past 14+months and would want to be put in a medically induced coma. I am happy you are made of heartier stuff and grace us with the process and the ultimate beauty to come.
Simply THE most elegant bathroom floor!
So, I’m not the only person this kinda thing happens too! I would have panicked also!! I’m glad you got it the way you want! I love that floor! Gorgeous 🤩 Looking forward to what happens next!
Blog tease! Definitely a big cliffhanger today. Bathroom tile looks beautiful. 😍
That bathroom floor is everything!
Your bathroom floor tiles… surely beautiful!
Omg. This project really conveys the horrors of renovating (time, errors and tons of money). I’m sorry this was such a nightmare and hope you actually have a final result worth all of this headache. Best wishes.