An ordeal - Total AI bathroom teardown & remodel

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by gmillerok1

Your skills are amazing. I wish I had 1/100th of your talent.

GMILLEROK1 - Thank you. I never turn down a compliment, even if only loosely deserving. My only talents are patience & persistence, that compensates for my minimal fabrication skills. This thread was condensed in 8 days. But I must've been doing, re-doing, wasting, destroying materials as I learned how to do it right (eventually). I gained so much experience, now I can redo it in a long weekend . I decided I won't post my blooper pics. That would generate many embarassing comments

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by fastrob

Just wait.
Kids will be a swinging from the wall hangers, maybe even tying each other off on them as well. One can never be prepared for what other's children can do. Your kids never did anything like that....
Enjoyed your build, in another year things change, please keep us updated on your bathroom.

FASTROB - Hahaha. Yeah, I know. Tell me about it. My grandson is already at that stage, 3 yrs. going on 13. I watch him like a hawk now coz like you said, if anyone can destroy this bath, he can

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by Mansderm161

I'm very impressed and very jealous. I actually never planned to use my shower in its current state. But with the faucet and shower head changes, I can now see how you could take a real shower. I'm pretty handy, but in general hate doing plumbing. But your detail makes it look doable without much help. It's now on my list of projects. Thanks so much for sharing and providing such detail. I think I will leave the shower curtain, tho.

MANSDERM161 - It was time consuming - as I was also re-learning use of my almost forgotten carpentry tools. The plumbing work, I have done almost on a constant basis at home, so I spent very little time tackling those. Hardest part was finding the fixtures that I was happy with. It's the LEXAN & acrylic templates and doing the panels to fit tightly that I almost cried in process of the 5th attempt. Seemed like no matter what I did 4x, it wasn't perfect until the 5th time. PM me if you need additional info. Be glad to share or help.

[Air99]

I hate to see them ducks falling into the toilet/black tank, did you use the rated wall anchors under each one [emoji23]

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by Air99

I hate to see them ducks falling into the toilet/black tank, did you use the rated wall anchors under each one [emoji23]

AIR99 - Funny there . I tried to find anchors rated for 50 gram rubberized duckies but rubber was not in the list of supported materials rated for TOGGLER TA Hollow Core anchors. So I attached the hanger side of my Christmas window decor suction cups in the duckies butt-holes and they stick well to fiberglass. Sample of suction cup attached to bath door. That one is rated for acrylic & fiberglass mounting.

[Alex AVI]

Day#9 - Gorilla Grip & Dometic 320 arrive

It is great to have a big Amazon hub/warehouse in LV. I ordered the Dometic 320 toilet. ETA was next week. Yeah, right! It was sitting out my front porch yesterday morning 48 hrs. after I ordered. Way to go Amazon! And a Sprinter van delivered it, though not sure if it was from the Amazon-Sprinter purchase deal. First of all, this thing was packaged amazingly well protected. I have seen more fragile equipment packaged much less. So great job Dometic.


Ok, what the big deal on this replacement toilet. Well WACHUKO (the 1st documented AI install of the Dometic 320) already noted how this porcelain toilet was a big improvement over the original plastic toilet with the creaky toilet seat. Others that followed his lead have confirmed this. Ok, that convinced me to upgrade because my original idea of just getting a replacement toilet seat that was solid & non-creaky one was not possible for the model 300.


But what I did not realize from brochure was the dimensions completely mirror a standard elongated toilet, including the toilet seat. I measured bolt center-to-center (5-1/2") and rear bolt center-to-front-tip (18-1/2"). It was identical to my Kohler home units. So this is even better than I expected, as I can replace the toilet seat with different finished residential seat if the need arises.


Bathtub pillow from Gorilla Grip is a fantastic bath pillow, wife & daughters use these at home. Though no bathtub in AI, ordered one to use as seat cushion during showers. Plus grandson gets antsy sitting on hard surface during shower time, so a big must.

[Alex AVI]

Day#10 - Floor template, Install Dometic 320

Removed old toilet but before installing Dometic 320, took the extra step to trace a template of the floor. Template is for a custom teak floor under toilet (top platform of black tank).


The plastic base is sealed to the ceramic top internally. But I still sealed outside joint for ease of maintence.


Best to prep/tape floor for caulking.


Also prep/tape plastic base. Mount toilet. Tighten bolts/nuts 30-40 in. lbs or until fiberglass cracks, whichever comes first.*


Used GE Silicone clear to caulk. Easier to install toilet & caulk without toilet seat installed.


Done. Finished off with Gorilla Grip bath pillow.


Custom teak floor on order. 6-8 wks for next mod.

[wachuko]

Looking great!

Looking forward to seeing the teakwood floor.

[Mansderm161]

Looks fantastic

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by wachuko

Looking great!

Looking forward to seeing the teakwood floor.

WACHUKO - Thank you. I cancelled my teak floor order, eta just too long. I just sourced marine teak this morning and will fabricate myself. It's not the floor that I want, but that teak is going to be the water-resistant base for an entire enclosure assembly. Pictures worth thousand words - here's what I will do - saw this composting toilet enclosure in a 'Tiny House' publication. My carpentry skills are very basic (at best) but I will take my time to get it done right. I believe I can finish it faster than paying an expensive fabricator. We'll see

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by Mansderm161

Looks fantastic

MANSDERM161 - Thank you.

CORRECTION - The toilet is technically a DOMETIC 321 (Low profile). The 320 is standard height. But both are part of the 320 Series toilets. Amazon only lists 320 but has options for low or standard height, but no mention of 321. Just a minor point of confusing model numbering.

[Alex AVI]

Not a mod, just accessory.

Someone posted a suggestion in here (I think it was BUGSBUNNY) to get a small stool for the grandson. I was actually going to just make a very simple basic square stool from scrap teak & bamboo, one that lines up with edge of toilet platform/black tank. But luckily saw this on Amazon. It is a Yamako Cypress bath chair (medium) (japan import).

So I thought Japan import meant it was made in Japan but already here. NO, they actualy had to order straight from Japan everytime one is ordered. So it took almost 4 weeks but was worth the wait. It is same exact stool used in Japanese bath houses & home baths. An old Japanese traditional bath piece. It is perfect height for grandson for toilet & sink. Ironically, it gets used more by wife & daughters for leg shaving & toe nail painting. Very light right now but patina ought to darken as it gets used. It is #4 on group pics.

[Alex AVI]

Lighting additions

I thought I was done with bathroom stuff, but the B&B (bright&blue) led bath lighting that folks have discussed lately got me pondering on how to get just enough night light for that dark midnight visit to the can. I ended up choosing 2 methods that I will implement:

1. The first only requires buying the light. It is one of those novelty items meant to be used on the toilet rim. But I refuse to have a lighted throne. I am using it as a standalone light mounted high up on my retractable towel drying rack. It has all the features I would want - Motion Sensor, Light Sensor, Timer, 16 Color led, 5 Brightness Levels, Waterproof, and USB Rechargeable. Initial usage has been great. Don't know how long it's life expectancy is, but at $20/2-pk. I can risk a dud.





2. I Amazoned a pair of low wattage 1w led wired to+12v with a lighted switch mounted on the C/S mouse fur wall next to the dual USB charger ports. I still have not made up my mind on the location of both but I was going to point 1 toward the door and the other toward the toilet. Fortunately, my cordless battery ran out and I also forgot the right size hole saw, so I could not drill the holes. When I got back home, I decided to hook one of them up to +12v inside a dark room. Holy cow, I keep forgetting a 1w led is still bright especially in a dark room. Glad I have not cut the holes. Now I have to decide where a single led would be or still use the 2 fixtures but dim them down to 30-40% level. Regardless of 1 or 2, will mount above the removable access panel below sink (red dot). Will post final pics when I get the holes drilled. But here's the tiny 1w fixture.

[Hawk-ination]

WOW! What does your house look like?

Wish I could write something more profound because that upgrade deserves better! That was a serious undertaking!

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Alex AVI

. . .
. . . But luckily saw this on Amazon. It is a Yamako Cypress bath chair (medium) (japan import).
. . .

Thanks for bumping this thread . . . had not noticed the stool you got for your grandson.

https://www.amazon.com/Yamako-cypres.../dp/B002D17G5Q

Perfect.

Peter

[Titus]

I like the teak look, but how is it to maintain? Do you remove it each time to clean and dry the floor underneath? If not each time, how frequently? is it soft on the bottom to protect the floor from scratches - or worse, from wearing through?

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Thanks for bumping this thread . . . had not noticed the stool you got for your grandson.

Perfect.

Peter

OTRA15 - I am not Japanese but when I was younger, I travelled with mom a lot doing import/export trips between Chicago, Anchorage, & southeast Asian countries. Japan was our favorite stop and every chance she gets to stay there for as long as we can, she would. So I got accustomed to using & seeing cypress/teak stools at even the poshiest 5-star hotels. We could've bought same plastic $10 stools that we use for kiddos at home or daughter's house, but the AI bath is so teeny & plasticky to begin with, at the very least the cypress/teak gives it a luxurious touch to compensate for lack of size.

Originally Posted by Titus

I like the teak look, but how is it to maintain? Do you remove it each time to clean and dry the floor underneath? If not each time, how frequently? is it soft on the bottom to protect the floor from scratches - or worse, from wearing through?

TITUS - I do not have pic of mine, but I copied the WACHUKO rubber feet idea. Not sure if the un-protected wood would scratch the floor since we have always had the rubber feet from the beginning. We do not use the bath as a shower facility often, especially since we like full hookups and the places we have been to so far have had excellent shower facilites. So, I dont have to clean it as often as those who may use it daily with soaps & shampoos. Those I think would require washing more often. But we have used it often enough to bath the kiddos. Just like any shower stall, especially if you are conserving water or grey tank capacity, the soap & shampoo residue will remain on the surface if not properly washed off. But I just rinse of with garden hose as needed. Been there 1.5 yrs. now and have not needed to do anything or re-oil. WACHUKO pics below.

[Mark Asofsky]

Originally Posted by Alex AVI

7Day#3 - Mirror, mirror on the wall - Right across the mirrored door. All wet towels on the floor - Dry them up the mirrored wall

- Mirror #2 cut & mounted. Had to use an acrylic mirror due to the curvature of the wall and the install location being close to arm/elbow level. Versus the tempered glass used in the door porthole which is away from accidental hits and it will have added clear Lexan protection when door is re-installed (more on this later). Corners are 7/8" radiused.
Attachment 322389

- The wall is not flat. It actually has no single flat spot. It has a complex & wavy descending & lateral curvature. So, it requires a lot of tweaking . You can see this in the pics. This is not the final install. I already have a backing-base made to compensate and rids 99% of the distortion. But I have not had the time to put marine finish on it and remove mirror again to re-mount. I am thinking to just use thin teak moldings shaved to curve or some extra scrap white PCB so I don't have to worry about any finish. This minor redo for a later time. The reflection distortion is only obvious when seen from outside bath, over 4 ft. away. My wife commented when inside doing her makeup, there is no noticeable distortion. Still, I want it perfect from every angle, soooo . . .
Attachment 322390

- The mirror adds a different texture to the bland f-glass while visually adding the illusion of spaciousness. FYI - this is not the 2cu. ft. of recovered space I am talking about. That's a different section and later day.
Attachment 322391

- That retracting AI rope-a-dope clothesline is just not a great solution for us, not to mention poorly located. For one, the lightest towel will sag it. And the location blocks the door if multiple items are up there. What to do, relocate and replace with stiffer retractable drying rack that has more linear feet of usable line on the C/S wall.
- This is a LEIFHEIT European made retractable drying rack. My wife bought this when she was in EU few years ago before we even thought of an rv. It was supposed to be installed in the rear of our minivan but turned out to be too large for the space we wanted it on. Lucky we kept it around.
Attachment 322392

- It can now be sourced at many local places like IKEA, Container Store. Orderable from Amazon.
- It has the equivalent of 11.8 ft. of linear clothesline from the 6 drying rods. Pic below shows all rods pulled out.
Attachment 322396

- The rods are stiff enough to hold even the heaviest water soaked beach towel. We have tried and tested, even during a moving AI. Pic below shows all rods pushed in.
Attachment 322395

- Because I chose to take advantage of the upward slope of wall and mount on a slight downward angle, then it naturally stays in extended position when clothes are hung. Even when AI is moving, the clothes stay separated and don't retract on it's own. Pic below entire assembly retracted flush onto C/S wall.
Attachment 322394

- But when in full retracted position, it still stays in locked position. Not shown, but I still use velcro when retracted so grandson can't play with it. He is now at an age where pulling, pushing, tinkering with all sorts of things mechanical intrigues and stimulates his brain.
Attachment 322393

At this point in the teardown, wife and daughters are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, realizing it was worth the sporadic loss of shower use to get their needs met.

What did you use as a backing board to help flatten the wall area for the side mirror where the old shampoo/conditioner dispenser was?