Ok, folks. Postings have been scarce. I update a lot on Facebook and feels redundant to to it here. I know there are a few of my few readers who aren't on FB, so this is for you! (and a record of this whole saga for me). I have also had fewer posts as I have had a lot of frustration and moving ahead slowly. Not exactly motivators for writing about. Kind of busy having two full time jobs - kids, bathroom and then the part time job - cleaning, meal prep...
So, Here's an update things dating WAY back from my b-day post. The floor did NOT level itself out and it needed more than a nudge. I was going to leave it as a ski slope and let the kids roll marbles down it. I went to tile stores and looked for tiles that would match the tub (there are a LOT of different whites out there) and was going to make a baseboard to cover the gap at the edge of the tub. Not idea, but I thought I could deal with it. Then at one of the stores the sales rep gave me the "oh dear" eyes and told me my floor condition had high chances for cracked tiles and grout. Hmmmmm. Then I went to Home depot and was looking into thinsets. I glanced at the floor leveling mortar bag, but that just seemed scary - pouring a cementitious substance that flows like syrup across the floor to find its own level. I went back to the thinset side and a contractor heard me talking to the Lowes "expert". He told me not to listen to the Lowes people (yes, I agreed) and he spent about 20 or so minutes talking with me about my floor issues. He strongly recommended the floor leveling mortar. Talked through a lot of things with me and I decided I was gonna go for it. (well, I bought the 50lb bag with the option to return it if I changed my mind). In my spare time I did things that didn't involve the floor (avoidance) like more mud and sanding of the walls. I still wasn't ready to take the plunge, so I called the west coast and talked to my uncle who lays tile for a living. He told me that what I had planned is exactly what he does. He also said that he tiles directly on top of the mortar layer (no cement board needed). Light bulb turned on in my head. No cement board? SWEET. That stuff is nasty to cut. Especially around all the floor openings. Only problem was that the floor level needed to be higher for the toilet flange so that it wouldn't stick out of the floor too high. I also needed the floor height raised a bit at the edge of the tub as the subfloor of that was higher than the rest of the bathroom (that was worked out when I was not aware of the floor level issues and was planning on adding a layer of cement board on top of the standard subfloor. I addressed this problem by adding another layer of 3/8" plywood over the whole floor and re-taped all my openings. This weekend was POUR DAY. never working with the mortar stuff before, we mixed it too thick. (not enough water) and it didn't flow like it was supposed to and it left a large self and dip in the floor. I did not sleep that night. Upset about all my efforts and then not having it work out. Added all that weight to the floor.... In the morning I looked at it again hoping it worked itself out while I lay in bed. Well, that didn't happen. Got on the phone and called everyone I could think of who has done this kind of work. "Can I pour more of this stuff on top and try again?" The website for the stuff SUCKED. This seems like it would be a common issue for a notice user of their material. No one in that company works on the weekend. grrr. My contractor neighbor wasn't home. I called my in-laws, one was home - go for it, pour it, the first layer hasn't set. Hmmm, I went out and bought my FOURTH bag of the stuff and saw the neighbor was home. Well, at least his girlfriend was. He was on his way though. So, I decided I could wait 20 more minutes. Had a call in to my uncle in Vancouver that I was waiting to hear back from too. Well, they both happened at the same time. Colin was up looking at the problem and my uncle called. I talked with Uncle Al and he confirmed the go for it advise and added that I needed the primer that I used under the first layer. Ok, go time. I added the primer, waited 2 hours for it to dry and made a father's day lasagna. When the food came out of the oven, it was time to pour. Let that sit for ten or so minutes and mixed up another batch. Much more fluid. Still had to be pushed around, but worked into the low spots. I slept like a LOG last night. It just felt so much better. I looked at it again with a more careful eye and have notice one high spot, that I hope to be able to sand down. Going ahead with buying tiles though....
What about the kids you ask? They are good. Had had to endure a lot of alone time with this bathroom stuff. Dylan is getting really good at puzzles. He is loving them, actually. I bought a box of 24, 50, 60 and 100 piece puzzles. He has done them ALL. more than once even. He even did the 60 piece one mostly on his own. Sophia had her last day of pre-school June 10th (pre-k level) and Dylan his last day for the year. Sophia has mastered the monkey bars - can go from one end to the other unassisted and can pump on the swing on her own. I thought she could already do this, however, she REALLY is pumping now and getting high up. Dylan is a lean mean bike riding machine. He loves his green bike again. He learned to ride that without training wheels last year, however, not riding all winter made him nervous in the spring. He went back to the balance bike without the pedals. Finally got him on the green one again and he regained his confidence and he is going up and down curbs and doing a hilarious hand trick. He rides and the abruptly raises one hand above his head and the quickly puts it back on the handle bars. It is such a jerky motion it looks funny. He is trying to ride one handed. He loves the roots on the side walk and gets some serious air. (as do I as I gasp in fear). So, that is it. That is where we stand. Summer has begun, bought my beach pass to be able to drive the truck onto one of the beaches and hope to use that a lot this summer. Have a look at the latest pics!
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