Guest Bathroom Gut Renovation - Totowa Bi-Level
Project Overview
A Totowa homeowner completing a full bi-level renovation had saved the guest bathroom for last. The small full bath had an almond fiberglass tub-shower combo that had yellowed significantly and cracked along the tub lip, a vinyl floor with curling edges and water infiltration at the toilet base, a pedestal sink with no under-sink storage, and peeling wallpaper that had been applied directly over unprepared drywall. A dripping faucet had been leaving iron stains on the tub floor for years. The homeowner wanted the room fully gutted and rebuilt as a clean, modern space that felt intentional — not just functional. Exterior Solutions LLC performed a complete gut renovation: new plumbing rough-in, full Schluter waterproofing, subway tile tub surround, mosaic hex floor, floating vanity, and a full fixture package in matte black. The room was completed in 11 working days.
Analysis
When we removed the fiberglass tub unit, we discovered the subfloor beneath the tub drain had softened from a slow leak at the drain shoe — approximately a 14-inch circle of plywood had delaminated and needed replacement. We cut out the affected section and installed new 3/4-inch exterior-grade plywood, glued and screwed to the joist below. The wallpaper removal confirmed our suspicion: whoever installed it had applied wallpaper directly to unprimed drywall, and pulling the wallpaper took the paper face of the drywall with it in large sections. Rather than attempt to repair the damaged drywall, we removed all the drywall in the wet zone and all walls adjacent to the tub and replaced with new mold-resistant panels, saving the ceiling which was in good condition. The existing plumbing rough-in was in adequate condition — we updated the shutoff valves and drain assembly and re-used the existing supply line locations.
Process
Day one: full gut demolition, subfloor damage identified and patched. Day two: mold-resistant drywall installed on all walls. KERDI membrane applied in tub wet zone. Plumbing: shutoff valves replaced, drain updated, tub filler supply stubbed. Day three: tub unit delivered and set in alcove, drain connection made. Floor prep: self-leveling underlayment skim applied. Day four: hex mosaic floor tile set. Day five: subway tile surround installation, floor-to-ceiling, running bond layout, matte black grout joints. Day six: tile grouted. Floating vanity blocking installed in stud bay. Day seven: vanity mounted, countertop template sent to fabricator. Day eight: toilet set, LED mirror hung, bath bar installed. Day nine: quartz countertop returned and set, faucet and drain installed. Day ten: painting. Day eleven: caulk, punch list, final detail clean.
Outcome
The completed guest bathroom is clean, modern, and completely unrecognizable from the dated almond-tiled room that preceded it. The subway tile surround running floor to ceiling with matte black grout gives the room a strong graphic quality that photographs beautifully and impresses guests immediately. The hex floor tile grounds the space with texture while keeping the palette cohesive. The floating vanity freed up visual floor space in the small room, making it feel larger. The LED mirror and matte black fixture package give the room a hotel-level quality that surprised the homeowner when they saw the finished space. The homeowner rated it their favorite renovation in the entire house.
Project Details
Materials Used
Subfloor repair: 3/4-inch exterior-grade plywood patch, construction adhesive and screws. Drywall: 1/2-inch mold-resistant drywall on all walls, existing ceiling retained and repainted. Waterproofing: Schluter KERDI membrane system in tub surround wet zone, KERDI-BAND at all corners and transitions. Tub: Kohler Bellwether 60-inch alcove soaking tub, white. Tub surround tile: 3x6 white matte ceramic subway tile floor-to-ceiling in running bond, matte black grout. Floor tile: 2-inch white hexagon mosaic tile with light gray grout. Vanity: 36-inch floating wall-mount vanity, white matte finish with single drawer, quartz countertop in Calacatta white, undermount rectangular sink. Faucet: Moen Align single-handle bathroom faucet, matte black. Toilet: American Standard Vormax elongated toilet, white. Mirror: 30x36 LED backlit frameless mirror with touch dimmer. Lighting: Moen 3-light matte black bath bar. Paint: Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray SW 7015 walls above tile, Extra White ceiling.
Methods & Techniques
Full gut demolition to studs and subfloor. Subfloor patch at tub drain area. Mold-resistant drywall installation on all walls. Schluter KERDI waterproofing membrane in tub surround. Plumbing update: new shutoff valves, updated drain assembly, new tub filler rough-in. Floor mosaic tile installation over leveled concrete subfloor. Wall subway tile installation with dark grout. Floating vanity wall-mount installation with blocking in stud bay. Quartz countertop template and set. Toilet installation with new wax ring and flange. LED mirror installation. Bath bar lighting. Full paint, caulk, and finish package.
Key Highlights
Full gut to studs and subfloor with rotted subfloor patch. Schluter KERDI waterproofing system in full tub wet zone. Kohler Bellwether 60-inch soaking tub. 3x6 white matte subway tile surround floor-to-ceiling with matte black grout. 2-inch white hex mosaic floor tile. 36-inch floating wall-mount vanity with Calacatta quartz countertop. Full matte black fixture package throughout. LED backlit frameless mirror with touch dimmer. New American Standard elongated toilet. Completed in 11 working days.