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Master Bathroom Toilet Repair: Day 1

Down the Drain

July 21, 2008 Sarah Coggins

Our weekend started out so well. We knocked out a few errands. Managed a thorough cleaning downstairs. Went out with friends on Friday night to the Carolina Ale House. Had a couple more friends over for a cookout Saturday night. I experienced bratwurst for the first time. Not sure if I’ll eat it again, but I at least gave it a try.

Sunday morning, we went to church and listened to a wonderful sermon by the director of youth ministries as our Pastor is with a group of members on a mission trip. During the service, I was thinking about how blessed we were. Really grateful for that. There are so many trying times around us. A line of prayer included in the bulletin really caught me eye as well: Help us to be faithful disciples who recognize that everything we have in life is a gift from you (GBOD | Stewardship).

Being grateful and having patience was on my mind all afternoon. See, this was our master bathroom before Sunday. Starting to see where my title fits in?

Master Bathroom: Before

After we returned home from church, I made the discovery of a possible water leak around the toilet. Trent stepped in the area. Soft. Uh oh. It was gray and cloudy looking. I tried cleaning the sheet vinyl flooring. Still gray and cloudy. Bigger uh oh.

Trent lined our tub with newspaper, dismantled the toilet and placed it there. (And, yes, we clearly have an obsession with Paul Mitchell Tea Tree products, but that’s for another day….)

Master Bathroom Toilet Repair: Day 1

Pulled back the sheet vinyl and, sure enough, there was a slow leak that had soaked the subfloor and started growing mold (the gray stuff I saw through the flooring). It’s hard to see clearly in this photo because of the sawdust. Trent began cutting out the damaged subfloor. Once we had removed about a 30×30 inch section, we were able to see to the ceiling below and, thankfully, the water had not seeped through.

Master Bathroom Toilet Repair: Day 1 - subfloor

Over the next few hours (including a trip to Lowes for supplies) we managed to install additional 2×4 supports between the floor trusses and cut new sections of flooring.

Master Bathroom Toilet Repair: Day 1 - subfloor

As frustrating as it is, I’m trying to find the positives. I can either laugh or cry. Trying to laugh instead…

– Had I not discovered this yesterday, we might have discovered it falling through the floor and into the kitchen below. Seriously. The subfloor around the toilet that was wet literally crumbled apart. There are no joists directly below it. Just open air to the kitchen ceiling.

– I’ve been wanting to paint the bathroom. It’s on “the list” of home improvement repairs I wanted to tackle this year. Now I get to.

– I’ve been thinking about replacing the current light fixture over the sink area. Trent & I talked about doing it when we paint. Now we can.

– I never really like the sheet vinyl flooring that was in the bathroom. I could live with it though. And have. But now I can pick out one I really like.

I still have a roof over my head. Another full bath (thank goodness because we were both covered in sawdust from head to toe). I still have food on my table. And neither of us went through the ceiling. That would have been a crying moment. Frustrated? Yes. Exhausted? Yes. But very grateful. Because in the overall scheme of things, my bathroom dilemma isn’t so bad.

So, how did you spend your weekend?

  • :: gingerkitty :: July 21, 2008 at 7:49 am
    All is well...Have a nice day.

    living creating & appreciating
    my blog
  • Monica M July 21, 2008 at 7:50 am
    Oh Sarah, my friend, I have been there, and it sucks. Good for you, looking on the bright side. Hugs to you!
  • emily July 21, 2008 at 8:25 am
    Ohhh...I like your positive spin on the good stuff you get to do because of the *almost* disaster. Not a fun way to do them though! Sorry :) Hope this week is back to fun stuff.
  • Tonya July 21, 2008 at 8:32 am
    Oh no Sarah.. sounds like a mess but hey you get to redo your bathroom.. guess that is the good thing.. by the way i use that same shampoo too.. i love it too..
  • Theresa July 21, 2008 at 8:42 am
    I say the biggest blessing that you have is of having a husband that could do the repairs. That would have cost me a fortune! God is good.
  • Mary Timme July 21, 2008 at 8:52 am
    You stated my choice always. ...I could have cried, but laughed instead...My paraphrase and it is so true. I love this and will be back
  • oceans5 July 21, 2008 at 9:20 am
    I would have been stressing hard but at least you are looking at the positive.:) I bet you pick out a great floor too.

    My dd(almost 5) came up behind me and said "Mommy! Why in the world is there a potty in the tub?"LOL!!
  • Chanel July 21, 2008 at 9:23 am
    Hey, I feel your pain...We're currently dealing with a finished basement that was supposed to be fixed BEFORE we moved in. We have a washer and dryer that we can't hook up (that's a load of fun with a 2 yr. old, let me tell ya...)because that is where part of the wet floor is located. I'm glad you found the problem quickly and was able to fix it. Don't you love those remodeling oppertunities?

    Oh, and give bratwurst a second try...I promise, it grows on you! lol...
  • KarenSue July 21, 2008 at 9:54 am
    good to see the positive,
    happy bathroom designing!!
    (don't forget to post pics)
  • Dedra July 21, 2008 at 9:54 am
    Awwww...Sarah...glad you got it fixed..sorry that it was bad timing...but you could have had guests land on the kitchen table while on the throne..very awkward I would think....
    You guys are so handy BTW! So impressed.
  • Janet July 21, 2008 at 9:58 am
    Oh, my goodness! You really are quite lucky to have found it when you did. And you're also lucky that the two of you could do these repairs on your own! At our old 1923 house, we had a "small" leak which resulted in our completely gutting the bathroom. Although it was a mess, it really was an opportunity to make things the way we wanted. Will look forward to seeing what you do with your bathroom!
  • renee July 21, 2008 at 10:23 am
    What a thoughtful post. I am glad you discovered your bathroom problems when you did and were able to fix them yourselves. We would have been frantically trying to get a plumber out.
  • gina July 21, 2008 at 10:58 am
    Your outlook on the situation is admirable! Glad it is working out ok. We had lots of birthday fun with our youngest- she is turning 4 tom. and spent alot of time driving around in hubbie's new toy- I mean truck. :)
  • Pat July 21, 2008 at 12:03 pm
    Hugs sweetie! But you are right it could have been worse & you were very lucky!
  • Lori K July 21, 2008 at 3:22 pm
    OH Sarah,
    Im so sorry this happened, Remember our bathroom leak that destroyed our bedroom/hall/laundry carpet just before Thanksgiving?!?
    SO I definitely feel your pain. And yes we are so lucky to have handyman husbands.. You will be happy with the finished results Im sure!
  • Anonymous July 21, 2008 at 7:15 pm
    Sarah that really stinks but I am glad you didn't find out while you were sitting down. That would've been another whole story ouch!
    Terri
  • Ter July 22, 2008 at 12:07 am
    I'm glad you didn't have to call a plumber. We would've had to.
  • Kim July 23, 2008 at 7:14 am
    yikes!!!
    hugs to you sweetie!!
  • Cheri July 24, 2008 at 2:40 pm
    What a day (week/month...) Yikes!! Glad you caught this when you did and that you could deal with it on your own. Not sure we could do that...well, maybe f-i-l would help:)
  • About Me

    Sarah

    Hi! I'm a DIY and craft obsessed mom to 2. I have my hands covered in sawdust or paint any given day. My husband and kids join me in many of our projects. When we aren't creating at home, we're creating memories in our many adventures. Join along! Read More

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