Older homes have a reputation for being solidly built, and one couple discovered exactly how solid when they bought a fixer upper from the 1950s. What they expected to be a quick, one day demolition of the bathroom turned into more than a week of hard labor. The finished room is calm, bright and a far cry from the pink tile and floral wallpaper they started with.
The bathroom story comes from @made_by_makayla, who walks through the whole remodel, from the first swing of the hammer to the final reveal.
@made_by_makayla
A bathroom built to survive an earthquake
In her words, they learned very quickly that bathrooms from this era seem to have been built to withstand a large earthquake. The thick tile was backed by a heavy layer of cement mortar, which was backed by wire mesh, and finally by drywall that was also filled with cement. Add a heavy, indestructible cast iron tub that somehow never caved in the floor, and the one day plan disappeared. Dressed in respirators, gloves and protective gear, the couple tore out the medicine cabinet, vanity, tile walls and tub down to the subfloor and studs.
Smooth sailing, or not quite
Once the room was down to bare bones, they hoped for smooth sailing. Instead they found more problems. The pipes were corroded, so they replaced them completely with red PEX tubing. When they hung cement board and installed the new tub, they also discovered that none of the studs were even, and it took several layers of mudding to make the surfaces smooth and level.
Painting came next. She shares a handy tip she learned about ceilings: roll in the direction the window faces, because if roller marks appear, the light runs the same way and they are less noticeable. Her partner, Luke, brushed bright pink waterproofing membrane onto the cement board in the shower. Then another snag appeared. The old toilet flange was no longer level with the floor, so they drilled tiny holes to separate it from the pipe and pried it off.
Learning to tile from scratch
Getting the floor and toilet done was the top priority, since they had gone three to four weeks with no functioning toilet in the house. They installed a waterproofing membrane over the plywood, cut gray rectangular tiles with a wet saw outside, and set them in thin-set mortar using leveling clips. Neither had laid tile before. She set the tiles while Luke back-buttered them, and it went pretty smoothly. After the grout dried, the new toilet went in, and she says she has never been so excited to see one.
The shower walls were more complicated. They chose a stacked pattern of narrow white subway tile, which she later learned is one of the hardest layouts for a beginner because every line must align perfectly. After a learning curve, she found her groove. The last task was replacing the old window and adding fresh white casing. The reveal shows light neutral tones, a wooden vanity with brass fixtures, an arched mirror and brass shower trim. She says she could not be happier, and this is only one room down in a long fixer upper list.
What this remodel teaches about older bathrooms
Mid century bathrooms often used heavy, durable materials, including mortar set tile on wire lath and cast iron fixtures. That makes them long lasting and very difficult to demolish. Budget extra time, plan for plenty of debris and think carefully about how you will haul out a cast iron tub, which can weigh a great deal and usually needs more than one person.
Hidden surprises are also the norm. Corroded pipes, uneven framing and out of level flanges are common finds once the walls are open. It is wise to build flexibility into your schedule and budget.
Practical tips for a first bathroom remodel
- Wear a respirator, eye protection and gloves during demolition, and in a house built before 1980 consider testing old materials for lead or asbestos before you disturb them.
- Plan where your household will use a toilet and shower if your only bathroom is out of commission, because a gutted bathroom can take longer than expected.
- Use backer board and a waterproofing system suited to showers, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for seams and overlaps.
- Check that walls are flat before tiling. A stacked pattern shows every flaw, so layout and prep matter more than speed.
- Ask your local building department whether plumbing changes require a permit, and bring in a licensed plumber for anything you are not confident about.
Common questions
Is PEX a good replacement for old pipes? PEX is widely used in modern plumbing because it is flexible and resists corrosion, though local codes vary, so confirm what is allowed where you live.
Can beginners tile a shower? Many do, particularly with simple layouts, but waterproofing is the part that deserves extra care since mistakes can cause leaks behind the walls.
Takeaways
A first remodel rarely goes exactly as planned. The most useful habits shown here are patience, curiosity and a willingness to learn skills one step at a time. The couple turned a stubborn, pink bathroom into a calm, bright room by solving problems as they arose, which is how most good renovations really happen.
Credit for the original post goes to @made_by_makayla on TikTok.
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