Bathroom Ideas to See
We are building one new bathroom and unfortunately, having to replace the (2nd) original, beautiful (in my mind) old one in the Victorian home we recently purchased (huge hole in plumbing stack= big tear-out, I am told). Last weekend I got wonderful suggestions for tile stores….now I need, if anyone(s) could be so kind, places…
We are building one new bathroom and unfortunately, having to replace the (2nd) original, beautiful (in my mind) old one in the Victorian home we recently purchased (huge hole in plumbing stack= big tear-out, I am told). Last weekend I got wonderful suggestions for tile stores….now I need, if anyone(s) could be so kind, places to go view new tubs/vanities and the like. (sigh) I so had hoped to keep the old stuff….but it’s like a house of cards.
I appreciate all the help.
What’s the big fuss here? You don’t have to replace anything but the plumbing lines — from below as the other posters say. Go through the ceiling of the room below. Any decent plumber should be able to handle this with no problem. If you have a problem finding someone, call Nu-Lite in Maspeth. They can do it. They have lots of experience with lead waste pipes, old plumbing, main stacks, and so forth.
Hex floor tiles don’t have glaze; they are unglazed porcelain. They can be cleaned and sealed. Re-grouting existing tile in-situ is an extremely easy, inexpensive job. Crazing is attractive. If you need to match any tile, see Restoration Tile in Arkansas.
How interesting….I am showing the contractors this column to see….I know they very much respected my desire to keep the original bathroom intact; if I do have to rebuild I plan to re-create the hex-and-subway tile plan…..I think the contractors feeling was the wall (subway) tiles are very crazed (that is what you call antique dinnerwear cracks under glaze; not sure about bath tile) and the hex tiles losing their glaze and grout; to re-seat them and fix cracks would be more labor-intensive than just replacing. I definitely can salvage the tub; toilet was shot and that only leaves pedestal sink (it is small 4.5 x 9.5 ft bathrm).
Thanks for all the insight
If you do need to replace plumbing fixtures google plumbing salvage places on the internet, go to Demolition Depot in upper Manhattan. I purchased some great old fixtures this way.
http://www.vintagebathroom.com
http://www.noreast1.com
http://deabath.com
http://www.historichouseparts.com
http://www.oldhousesalvage.com/
http://www.oldegoodthings.com/
http://www.docsarchitecturalsalvage.com/
http://www.bathsfromthepast.com/
http://www.silverfoxenterprises.com/
http://www.ohmegasalvage.com/
Agree with Bob Marvin. We had a similar issue/repair. Our plumbers approached from the floor below, not because they were preservation minded, but because it was the best way to make the repair. That doesn’t mean you won’t need to spend big bucks, or replace some tile and fixtures, but it DOES mean that a full gut of the bathroom is not the first or best course of action.
“huge hole in plumbing stack= big tear-out”
Not necessarily!
We have a fully intact 1899 bathroom. our plumber always told us that if/when the part of the waste pipe that ties together the lines from the tub, basin, toilet, and dressing room basins needed replacing he’d have to rip out the original tile floor BUT, when that finally happened, he was able to do the work mostly from the floor below. He did have to remove the marble slab from under the toilet, but he didn’t break it and was able to put it back. I’m pretty sure the work cost as much, or more, as replacing the floor, but it was worth it to someone like me who rather have an historic bathroom than a modern one.
You need a plumber who is sympathetic to old houses. Wilfred Richards, who did the work in our house passed away several years ago, but there must be others.
Home and Stone on Coney Island Avenue / Homeandstone.com
Park Slope Plumbing Supplies
(718) 832-0400
601 5TH Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11215
They also own the kitchen gallery nearby where you can get the cabinetry and vanity top for the bathrooms.