Mt. Airy Bathroom — Double Sinks and Dark Wood

Mt. Airy Bathroom — Double Sinks and Dark Wood

The house was a Mount Airy single built during the first decade of the last century. We work in many older homes like this one. In a home like this, the plumbing installation is typically lead pipe in a massive concrete slab. Although the original fixtures were of excellent quality, after 90 years, they were worn out and the lead drains were rotted. The list of additional problems was a long one: no insulation in the walls or ceiling; ungrounded, outdated wiring; cracked plaster and peeling paint; windows that no longer worked; and structural deficiencies where plumbers had cut away supporting joists below the floor.

We began with a total gut to the bathroom, tearing out walls, ceilings and floor down to the framing. Then we straightened the floors, walls and ceiling to create a plumb, level, and square room. While rebuilding, we adjusted the space in the adjacent room’s closets to provide the renovated bathroom with ample closet space. Next, we re-wired the entire bathroom, to code, with GFCI circuits. We ran new copper water feeds and installed new cast iron drain lines. (Iron is more expensive, but it’s quieter than PVC when the drains are used.) We reset the radiator and toilets so that they would be more fitted within the room and would function better. Once all the mechanicals were in place, we finished the walls with moisture-resistant drywall and cement board. Then we installed 3″ x 6″ white tile and Carrera finishes and had a custom frameless glass shower door system installed. The final step: a high-quality paint job, including a varnish coat for the beautiful old doors. We re-installed the original nickel towel bars, knobs and lock sets.