Wilmore, KY Bathroom Remodel in a 1969 Ranch Home
A Complete Home Bathroom Remodel
Stak Construction completed the remodel from demolition to completion in just about three weeks, including extensive prep work to make sure that the bathroom and finished surfaces would last for years to come.
Project Details
- Location: Neighborhood in Wilmore, KY
- Home: 1969 ranch style home
- Project type: Full bathroom remodel
- Timeline: Roughly three weeks from demo to final reveal
- Comparable investment range: About $30,000 depending on fixture and material selections
- Main features: Schluter waterproofing system, tiled shower, rainfall showerhead, handheld shower fixture, quartz countertop, new vanity, TOTO NEOREST LS smart toilet, LED lighted mirror, updated plumbing and electrical, new lighting, large-format tile, and extensive floor and wall preparation
Before: A Dated Bathroom Designed for Accessibility
The original bathroom had become dated and included linoleum flooring, a standalone sink with no storage, grab bars for accessibility, a shower seat, and other features intended to make the space easier for an elderly user. The room also had an older standard toilet, older lighting and fixtures, and finishes that no longer matched what the homeowners wanted for their home.
They were happy with the overall layout of the bathroom, but really wanted an updated look and feel to the space.
What Stak Construction Changed
Stak stripped the bathroom back to the subfloors and framing in some places to properly rebuild the surfaces beneath the new finishes.
Shower, Tile, and Schluter Waterproofing
The shower remained in its existing footprint, but the walls were opened so the framing, plumbing, and subfloors could be properly prepped before installation. A Schluter waterproofing system was used behind the new tiled shower to provide a reliable waterproof setup, reducing the risk of future leaks and mold.
The completed shower features large marble-look wall tile in white and grey, a contrasting mosaic shower floor in dark grey, a recessed niche for shower accessories, a rainfall showerhead, a separate handheld shower fixture, and updated plumbing throughout. Rather than installing a glass door, the homeowners chose a shower curtain.
Our team then installed 12x24 inch grey floor tile and continued the marble-look tile around the bottom half of the bathroom walls, and then finished with decorative trim for a more complete, custom appearance.
The old sink was replaced with a dark shaker-style vanity with sleek silver hardware, providing actual storage space and topped with a white quartz countertop and an Eviva undermount sink.
Updated Plumbing, Electrical, and Bathroom Lighting
One of the largest fixture upgrades was replacing the conventional exposed-tank toilet with a TOTO NEOREST LS integrated smart toilet, giving the room a dramatically cleaner, more contemporary appearance.
Lighting and electrical were also updated. New ceiling lighting and fixtures were installed, and new wiring was run specifically for the illuminated LED bathroom mirror. The homeowners especially loved how the storage inside the mirror and the backlit features really added to the practicality of their space.
Preparing a 1969 Ranch Home for New Tile
One of the most important parts of any remodel is the part that homeowners will never see once the project is finished. In fact, many homeowners don’t even ask about how their contractor will correctly prep the space for their remodel.
In older homes like this one, Stak approaches demolition expecting that floors and walls will likely need additional prep work before new tile can be installed correctly. On this project, that meant addressing the subfloor as needed and sistering wall framing to create a stronger, flatter surface for the new install.
Skipping that work can allow movement or uneven surfaces beneath the finished materials. Over time, those problems can result in cracked tile, failing grout, sagging floors, uneven walls, and other issues, creating even bigger headaches for the homeowners.
Our team at Stak approaches every project carefully so that we can correct any issues during prep, instead of relying on the new finishes to hide them. In this bathroom’s case, that additional prep work gave us a solid foundation for the waterproofing, tile, cabinetry, plumbing fixtures, and all other finishes installed afterward.
Finished Bathroom
The finished bathroom feels almost completely removed from the space it replaced. The new combination of elegant tile, darker cabinetry, white quartz countertop, modern plumbing fixtures, upgraded lighting, and the streamlined TOTO toilet transformed a dated bathroom into a much brighter and more comfortable everyday space, perfectly outfitted for the homeowners’ needs.
The homeowners were extremely pleased with the finished project and surprised by just how dramatic the transformation was. Most importantly, the new bathroom better fits the way they use the space on a daily basis and is considerably more comfortable for everyday use.