← Paulinskill Lake House

Gutting the Lake House Upstairs Bath

19 photos · bathroom

This bathroom hadn't been touched since the floral wallpaper went up. I took it down to the studs and subfloor — vanity, toilet, fiberglass shower, vinyl on top of vinyl on top of vinyl. While I was at it I had to deal with the well pump, snake a clogged drain line, and pull the exterior cleanout to get the waste flowing right. New vanity with quartz top, framed mirror, and shelving over the toilet went in once the bones were sorted.

  1. Starting point: floral wallpaper, oval mirror, builder vanity. Hadn't been updated in decades. Before

    Starting point: floral wallpaper, oval mirror, builder vanity. Hadn't been updated in decades.

    bathroom
  2. Original fiberglass shower stall. Yellowed, cracked at the corners, and on the way out. Before

    Original fiberglass shower stall. Yellowed, cracked at the corners, and on the way out.

    bathroom
  3. Blue carpet in a bathroom — never a good idea. Toilet was already shut off when I walked in. Before

    Blue carpet in a bathroom — never a good idea. Toilet was already shut off when I walked in.

    bathroom
  4. Pulled the trim and started peeling back layers of vinyl tile. Found three generations of flooring stacked up. During

    Pulled the trim and started peeling back layers of vinyl tile. Found three generations of flooring stacked up.

    bathroom
  5. Floor down to subfloor. Wallpaper still hanging on while I worked around it. During

    Floor down to subfloor. Wallpaper still hanging on while I worked around it.

    bathroom
  6. Stripped to bare walls. Old thermostat and toilet flange exposed so I could see what I was working with. During

    Stripped to bare walls. Old thermostat and toilet flange exposed so I could see what I was working with.

    bathroom
  7. Fixtures out, supply lines capped. Insulation pocket open so I could check the wall cavity before closing it back up. During

    Fixtures out, supply lines capped. Insulation pocket open so I could check the wall cavity before closing it back up.

    bathroom
  8. Wallpaper coming off in sheets onto the floor. Plumbing stub-out exposed and waiting for the new vanity layout. During

    Wallpaper coming off in sheets onto the floor. Plumbing stub-out exposed and waiting for the new vanity layout.

    bathroom
  9. Hauled out the old toilet, tank, and vanity top. Dump run after this. During

    Hauled out the old toilet, tank, and vanity top. Dump run after this.

    bathroom
  10. Steaming wallpaper off in strips. Faster than scraping dry, and easier on the drywall underneath. During

    Steaming wallpaper off in strips. Faster than scraping dry, and easier on the drywall underneath.

    bathroom
  11. Wallpaper about half off, toilet pulled. Closet flange exposed so I could check the seal before re-setting. During

    Wallpaper about half off, toilet pulled. Closet flange exposed so I could check the seal before re-setting.

    bathroom
  12. Looking down the cast iron drain stack with a pull rope through the cleanout — checking for blockage before closing walls. During

    Looking down the cast iron drain stack with a pull rope through the cleanout — checking for blockage before closing walls.

    bathroom
  13. Old wax ring off. Subfloor around the flange was rotted, so I cut it back and patched before setting the new toilet. During

    Old wax ring off. Subfloor around the flange was rotted, so I cut it back and patched before setting the new toilet.

    bathroom
  14. Pulled the well pump up through the interior pitless using rope and an extension cord for leverage. Slow work alone. During

    Pulled the well pump up through the interior pitless using rope and an extension cord for leverage. Slow work alone.

    bathroom
  15. Backed the exterior sewer cleanout out with a pipe wrench and a wood block for purchase. Plug hadn't moved in years. During

    Backed the exterior sewer cleanout out with a pipe wrench and a wood block for purchase. Plug hadn't moved in years.

    bathroom
  16. Cleanout plug in hand after snaking the line through the wall opening. Drain ran clean after that. During

    Cleanout plug in hand after snaking the line through the wall opening. Drain ran clean after that.

    bathroom
  17. New vanity with quartz top, framed mirror, brushed nickel faucet. Clean lines, easy to wipe down. After

    New vanity with quartz top, framed mirror, brushed nickel faucet. Clean lines, easy to wipe down.

    bathroom
  18. Open shelves over the toilet — uses dead wall space and keeps towels and bath stuff off the vanity. After

    Open shelves over the toilet — uses dead wall space and keeps towels and bath stuff off the vanity.

    bathroom
  19. Finished room: new vanity, medicine cabinet mirror, fresh shower curtain. Functional, bright, done. After

    Finished room: new vanity, medicine cabinet mirror, fresh shower curtain. Functional, bright, done.

    bathroom
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