Build A Bathroom Like The Vandelay Group

I hope you had a chance to check out my budget rental kitchen post.  Tonight, I would like to share my material list and tips for renovating your rental bathrooms.  I know lots of you guys are buying REOs to hold.  Most of these need new bathrooms!  Do it right the first time.  The following is a list of the materials we use.  Again, these SKUs are from Home Depot.  Some of the electrical and plumbing supplies might be available at Menards or a local supply house for less, depending upon your buying tier.

 Rental Bathroom Picklist 

Tile

180-864 ¼” Hardi-Backer (Floor)

683-256 ½” Hardi-Backer (Bath Surround Walls)

717-202 Backer-on Green Screws

399-775 White Versabond Thin-set Mortar (Floor)

610-062 ACRYLPRO Ceramic Tile Adhesive (Walls)

503-528 Snow White Non-sanded Grout

257-140 3/16” Tile Spacers (Floor)

953-185 Schluter Tile Edge/Transition (Floor)

605-401 Fiba-Tape Fiber cement seam tape

469-368 6x8 Snow White Field Tile (Self-Spacing)

792-470 6” Cap Tile (Use along edges)

942-324 GE II 1HR Silicone Caulk (Because I always seem to be caulking as they move in)

375-631 Grout Sponge (Great for grout removal)

Use your favorite 12x12 floor tile in all of your kitchens and bathrooms.  I use my porcelain Florida Tile.  If you want something faster or less expensive than the 6x8 tiles you can use 12x12 floor tiles on the wall.  Use 1/8” spacers and a ¼” square notch trowel.   Since they do not make cap or bull nose tiles in my 12x12 you can use a schluter strip vertically on the wall to provide a clean finished edge.  Use the same color grout as you do for the floor tiles.  You want to mix a 50/50 ratio of sanded to non sanded grout when grouting 12x12s on the wall.  You would substitute grout colored non sanded caulk for the white caulk I use with the 6x8s.

Tile Tips:

1. For your 6x8 Wall Tiles you should be using a V-notch trowel
2. The ACRYLPRO comes premixed (more expensive) but easier to use
3. Again ½” Hardi-backer for the floors if they are bad.
4. For the backer board corner seams on the surround use an inside corner drywall tool to get a nice edge.
5. Always run backer board over the lip of the tub.  To avoid the bow at the bottom use drywall shims behind the Hardi-backer.
6. Tiles have arrows on them.  Make sure they are orientated the same direction for uniform lines and best result.
7. I tile all the way to the ceiling.  The shower looks bigger and there is less chance for water damage when your tenants decide to see how high they can splash the water on the wall.

692-037 (RH) 692-036 (LH) Lasco Fiberglass Tub

217-251 Glacier Bay Chrome 4” Center Faucet

284-100 Glacier Bay 24” White Vanity or 377-151 Glacier Bay Pedestal Sink

550-879 PEX Toilet Supply Line

124-145 Kwik Seal Clear Adhesive Caulk (For Vanity Top)

744-549 PEX Faucet Supply Line

170-972 ¼ Turn Compression Angle Stops

708-097 P-Trap

708-208 ½” Escutcheon

723-810 Sterling Stinson Elongated Bowl Toilet (Or Substitute the more expensive American Standard Champion 4 Round Bowl for better flush)

242-911 Moen Adler Chrome Tub/Shower Fixture (For galvanized or female threaded copper.  Use chrome handle trim for a more sophisticated look)

Plumbing Tips:

1. Hire a pro if you don’t know what you are doing or if required by local code.
2. Glacier Bay faucets are great because they have a life-time in store warranty if you keep the box.  If you choose not to buy a GB buy a Moen because they are very easy to work on and plumbers always have the universal cartridge on their truck.
3. The lower income your tenants the better flush you want on your toilet!
4. Braided SS supply lines are better if you are not familiar with PEX as they are easier.
5. When using PEX supply lines you must use the plastic feral that comes with the supply line and not the metal one that comes with the angle stop (don’t ask how I know this).
6. Liquid Teflon is your friend (we use swan seal)
7. Don’t be cheap.  Buy ¼ turn angle stops!
8. The Floodsafe braided supply lines are a waste of money and a headache.
9. Clear caulk the top of your shower escutcheon and tub filler spout.
10. Pedestal sinks might be a better option for section 8 because it has no doors to break off.
11. Use a thicker wax ring or a toilet flange extension if the tile is too far above the flange to make a good seal.

701-280 Futura Chrome 4-Piece Bath Hardware Kit

416-986 Nutone 70 CMF Bath Fan/Light

232-275 White Medicine Cabinet

582-415 Leviton GFCI 15 AMP Outlet (Cheaper at Menards)

877-474 Commercial Electric 3 Light Over-vanity Light (Nickel)

Electrical Tips:

1. Do not cheap out on the bath fan.  The higher the CMF rate the better.
2. Wire the Fan and the vanity lights to come on at the same time so your tenants remember that your bathroom is not a steam room.
3. If you are using cans in the bathroom make sure the trims are rated for wet areas.
4. A can light centered above the toilet is a nice touch in a fancier rental.
5. Make sure you are using a GFCI near water.
6. The bath towel bar should be mounted at breast height to tenants are not pulling down on it when they grab their towel.
7. When mounting the toilet paper roll, sit on the toilet.  You would be surprised how much it helps.

Final Tips:

1. If you need to replace any drywall use USG Moldtough green board (982-577).
2. As always, add mildicide to your paint! It is $5 insurance.
3. Better materials usually last longer.  Ask yourself what your strategy is with your rental or flip.
4. Caulk is your friend in the bathroom.
5. Neo angle showers almost always leak.  Use a tub when you can.
6. Always supply your tenants with a shower rod (a cheap curtain would also be nice).
7. I like tile surrounds.  It is sometimes faster and less expensive to use fiberglass.

Let me know if these pick lists help, if they don’t please tell me because they take a substantial amount to time to write.  If you have any questions or topics you would like me to cover, please write to me.  I am thinking about talking about whole house lighting, security and locks, or doors next.