Prepping the Shower for tile – Part 1
This past weekend we got the bathroom ready for the flooring. To get an idea of the process, take a look at this image from Schluter.
You can see the back layer on the walls is either drywall or cement backer board. We have cement backer board.
On the floor we used unmodified thinset to stick down the polystyrene shower base.
We used a schluter-kerdi shower pan kit. The shower pan is 32 by 60 inches.
After the shower pan sets, we will add a curb and a partial wall.
To waterproof the shower, we are planning on using a paint-on waterproofer rather than the Kerdi product shown in the picture. It is a bit easier to install and a bit more manageable for us. This is the product we are using from Home Depot.
Once the membrane is down, we’re ready for tile. In This Post, I discuss all the plans for tile and fixtures. I’ve still got to pick out faucets but so far, most of the decisions have been made.
I love it when a plan comes together! Muahhhhahhahah
Sarah
P.S. Stay tuned to see more details on our curbs and the membrane in part 2.
My Parents are So Cool – Shed Time-Lapse
Here’s something fun for this Friday.
This is my Mom and Dad (and dog, Bella) building a shed in time-lapse. Love the music choice too. You can see where I get my Nerd genes and my Construction genes from!
Not bad for old folks.
I love them both and they’re coming to visit the 1st of May!! So exciting. Dad’s gonna want to do a time-lapse of the bathroom tiling project I’m sure. What a goofy goofy family I’ve got.
Sarah
Spring is in Bloom!
The cherry tree is blooming, the strawberries are growing, the daffodils are sending up their smiling faces. It’s awesome.
The view out my Kitchen Window:
The cherry tree is in it’s early stages of blooming.
The Rhododendron is budding out. I guess he likes his new spot after being moved last spring.
The daffodils are blooming
My sad cut-down lilacs are sprouting again!
Strawberries are leafing out in their protective cage.
The view from the back deck makes my heart sing. The grass is green, the trees are pink, and the sun is bright.
Spring is finally here and I’m keeping my fingers crossed it’s here to stay!
Happy Spring.
Sarah
Birdhouses in the Backyard
A few weeks ago, I put up a couple birdhouses in the back yard. No birds yet but if they could house bats, that would be even better. These are just some craft houses from AC Moore that I got for less than $5 each.
One I mounted on a pressure treated post that was in our scrap pile and stuck it in the ground almost inside the rose bush. If I was a bird, I’d like the nice protection of a rose bush.
The other ones is screwed directly to one of the norway maples on the property line.
It has a nice view of the yard and I know some birds like to be able to lookout from their nest.
I’m hoping the birds will come but if not, the houses themselves lend lots of charm to the yard. I really like them.
Also on the list is a blue-jay nesting box (click on the image below for free plans from 50birds.com) in the yew behind the shed. Blue jays won’t nest in houses but they do like a roof to keep the rain off and a perch to nest on. We have some blue jays in the area and I’d love a couple more to keep the grackles away!
I mentioned wanting bats. Since they don’t have our roof to live in anymore, some bat houses would be great for keeping the mosquitoes down. I’d like to add a bat house up on that tree above the birdhouse. I’ll need to get out the big ladder but I think it’d be a great spot for a little family of bats.
This one from Home Depot is less than $20. I may have to order one!
We’ve had robins nest in the cherry tree both years we’ve been here. None made it to egg laying though 🙁 I’m hoping for noisy baby birds one of these days.
Have you ever had any luck with birdhouses? I remember the baby birds in a birdhouse in my Great-Grandma Dillman’s backyard in Iowa. I’ve been fascinated ever since but in Texas, the wasps are more likely than the birds to take over your birdhouse. I’m hoping I’ll have better luck up here in New England!
Sarah
