Redoing Master Bathroom

We are getting ready to redo our master bathroom - replacing everything except the tub. Now deciding whether to do the shower pan in tile or good quality fiberglass shower pan. Love the look of tile but worry about upkeep/leaking.

We finished our basement 4 years ago and went with fiberglass pan in that bathroom. It doesn't get much use, so we opted for fiberglass, although it looks great.

Does anyone have any experience with this?

Also, does anyone know a good source for a frameless shower surround?


Thanks!

PS love the forums - have learned some great things!

 

IMO the master bath needs to be as 'nice' as you can make it. Money spent in the Master is money well spent.

 

Rob is correct - its important to make the bathroom lux!
I just re-did my bathroom, stripped it down to the framing, got rid of the shower and tub, and rebuilt a max shower with floor to ceiling tile. I was going to do a shelf with a tile bottom, but the cost was 4 times what a fiberglass bottom was.
I went for the fiberglass bottom, got a good color that matches the tile, and the bathroom still looks amazing. Depends on your budget, ultimately. I chose to put the $ in tile, new fixtures, lights and an amazing glass door.

 

We are stripping it down to framing, as the builder used drywall not cement board in bathroom. Have chosen new vanities, great tiles, toilet, etc. We just were not sure if the floor pan should be tile or fiberglass. Using 8 x 4 tile for shower walls. We are worried that with settling of the house, tiles on the shower floor could crack and leak, also grout problems.
Have had mildew issues with current shower after caulk, etc cracked and water got behind it. Some floor tiles have also cracked. That's what got us going on this project - and the fact that we are sick of the 4 x 4 white tiles!
We're okay on spending money on it and have a great tile guy, just want to get it right the first time.

 

We re-did our M bath and went with the tile on the shower floor. We hated the fiberglass floor in our old shower....could never get it clean. We've had our new bathroom since 07 and haven't seen any leaks and there is no up keep other than your general cleaning. I would go with the tile bed...it looks great! We went with Sterling Glass Enclosure for our shower and they have many options...including the frameless shower surround you're looking for.

 

Kerdi + Ditra would suit you well....

http://www.schluter.com/8_4_kerdi_shower_kit.aspx

 

I would go with tile. It just looks much nicer IMO. I'm sure your cracked tille problems of the past were due to an incorrect install. If they layed drywall instead of greenboard around the tub then they most likely didn't have the best crew installing the tile either. Good ventilation and a ceiling exhaust fan should prevent mildew.

Good luck and post pics when you're finished!

 

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/

Check out this forum for bathroom remodel ideas.

 

I would also vote for tile, but make sure you use grout sealer after it is installed to prevent water seeping through.

 

Would anyone care to share what they paid for a complete Master Bath remod? I realize there will probably be a wide range but just trying to get a ballpark before I start the process. Thanks!

 

I have a white fiberglass shower pan in a remodeled bath and if I had it to do over again, I'd go with tile. I just think that tile looks classier and the fiberglass pan isn't as solid - kind of creaks as you move around on it.

I've also bought a total of 4 enclosures from Sterling Glass Enclosures and been very satisfied with them. They replaced a piano hinge on one corner shower door and were very pleasant and professional to deal with.

 

Thanks for all of your advice. I'm leaning towards the Kerti with tile, just didn't want to rush in and get something without doing some research.

 

I spent roughly $3700.00, and it was definately worth it. I left the originial vanity and replaced the sinks and fixtures, new lights, new hardware-all brushed nickel, all new floor (including additional supports. The builder some how got away with 3' between joyces (is that spelled right?)
I used a really nice 6x6 italian ceramic with river rock tile accents. Really pretty.

 

Yea I have to agree with the Tile on the floor. I Love the look and I think upkeep and maintenance are easier with tile after having both. Key thing is to make sure the installation is done right and of high quality. You should not have issues with cracks and grout for many many years if done right.

The tile looks so much nicer and I really like they way it feels too, as if that matters, but I notice. The tile that we have was a van Metre install, but it was one of my favorite options and we paid for the good stuff in the MB since that was one area I wanted the be really happy with. And if you have tile, like someone else mentioned, get the sealer.

Best investment. The sealant is expensive, but put it on yourself and do it right away. It lasts for like 15 years. But really helps seal the tiles in the shower, bath and floor.

 

Any pictures? Who did the work and would you recommend them? Did you have to do anything with the floor because of the joist spacing?

thanks (we're just starting to mull re-doing our bathroom).

 

Who did you all use to do the work? I just replied to the thread on plumbers to get information about what to do about a mold problem we had in a basement bathroom tiled shower. We had a leak that caused extreme mold damage. My husband tore apart the entire base and cleaned up the mold problem but now we need to redo the bottom. Any suggestions on who to call? Any similar experiences? The plumbing does not seem to be the problem, it was the tiled floor.

 

I have some pics, will post soon as they are still in the camera and I have to wrestle it away from someone. :rolleyes3:

A very good friend of mine since high school did the install, as well as all new 12x12 ceramic floors on the lower level. He is amazing. The guy can fix anything, remodel anything. Unfortunately, he moved to Cumberland MD, and wont come back this way. But, i will ask him if he knows anyone local, and let you know.

To answer the floor support questions - yes, he had to put in additional supports because the floor was 1/2" plywood and laminate flooring. By adding tile, it needed more support, so he added additonal supports between the existing ones, new plywood base floor, 3/4" thick. I havent heard a creak since. Its awesome.

 

um you peeps redoing your mb...do you live in the older section of badlands?

 

We're in Broadlands North and our house is 7 years old. We would not be doing this project if the builder had installed the shower in the master bathroom properly.

 

We are in Badlands North, almost 9 years. Builder put the shower tile onto drywall, no cement board, so we have been having mildew issues. We decided to gut the whole thing and keep only the tub. Also installing new toilet in powder room.