Paul and I (and you, if you’ve been reading for a while) have lived through a number of projects on our house here in Mazatlán. And while it has been challenging for me to live with the dust and the pounding and the need to restrict the dogs, every project we’ve done has been very worthwhile.
We have never shared pictures of our bathroom-dressing room because it was always a bit strange.
The room was way too big and the shower had a huge step to get over (really, with one step up and then one down, about 14 inches high or so) and we just weren’t happy with it. Over time I got an exercise bike and a used Nordic Track, so those take up one corner, which works just great.
We also had termites in a window frame and since we didn’t use it for ventilation we had it replaced with glass blocks. And we’re also having a jetted bathtub installed – which I know I will enjoy next summer. I’ll probably freeze some big blocks of ice and have some icebergs in there to help cool me off! Tubs are not usual in Mexican houses, but the room was so large it made sense to add one.
But the shower was always there, bothering us, and we knew sometime we’d have to make some changes. Well, when we realized that the upstairs patio tile was decaying at an alarming rate we figured we might as well kill two birds with one stone…
So almost three weeks ago they started removing the tile on the patio. All the plants were moved to one side. There was cracking and unfortunately they had to remove not only the tile but the dirt that was used as insulating material, too. Three plus dump truck loads of debris went over the side in a tube and away. Then in came a lot of sand and cement by the bag and bucket full. Up and down and up and down the stairs.
Both the bathroom and the patio were being worked on at the same time, and now we are getting close to done -I think there will be just a few more days left, or at most a week. As you can see, the pictures I took this morning show that it’s still a mess, but they will be tiling the second half of the front probably tomorrow and getting to work tiling the bathroom, too. And now, I swear, this is our last project ever!
Terry
October 28, 2010Nancy – that really is the most unusual shower layout! I am glad that you are able to update the home that you love so much. I am even happier that you keep posting all the wonderful pictures for us to see. Please keep posting the pictures and writing such interesting articles about your home and about Mazatlan and Mexico.
Brenda
October 28, 2010Sounds like it will be great when done. I am sure you will enjoy the tub.
John Calypso
October 29, 2010We love these projects – and are always glad when they are over 😉 Looking good!
Zoe
October 29, 2010Last project? Muahahahahahahahaha
jonna
October 29, 2010Yea, I’m laughing at the ‘last project’ thing too! These houses are never finished.
I love the bathroom update, can’t wait to see the pics.
Were the tiles more porous before? or not as good a quality? I’m surprised that they went south so quickly. It’s looking good though and will be beautiful again soon.
More pics…!!
Nancy
October 30, 2010Oh, please, this morning I am so incredibly fed up with workers, I can’t even tell you! And they are supposed to leave at noon on Saturday but now I hear that the plumber needs to be here from 12 – 4 pm. So much for Paul and me getting out and doing something together!
The tile outside was terra cotta, totally unglazed. It was laid on top of the old roof that evidently still had elastomeric stuff on it. The tiles were porous enough that they let water through and there was enough elastomeric stuff there that made the moisture stay in between and crack tiles in places. What a mess.
I’ll do pictures when it’s done, once they are gone and we’ve cleaned everything perhaps I’ll look back on this project fondly. (Joke)
Nancy
October 30, 2010Jonna,
Oh, please! This morning I am so incredibly fed up with workers, I can’t even tell you! And they are supposed to leave at noon on Saturday but now I hear that the plumber needs to be here from 12 – 4 pm. So much for Paul and me getting out and doing something together!
The tile on the outside patio was terra cotta, totally unglazed. It was laid on top of the old roof that evidently still had elastomeric stuff on it. The tiles were porous enough that they let water through and there was enough elastomeric stuff there that made the moisture stay in between and crack tiles in places. What a mess.
I’ll do pictures when it’s done, once they are gone and we’ve cleaned everything perhaps I’ll look back on this project fondly. (Joke)
theresa in merida
October 31, 2010We’re on our last project too. LOL, Husband always declares the current project “this is it! we aren’t doing anything else” except we seem to find something else to do. You guys have done some major stuff though. Most of our projects have been smaller scale, except the initial remodel, which was more of a restore to original than anything else.
I want a tub too!!!
regards,
Theresa
Billie
November 1, 2010Have you noticed a pattern in these comments? Those of us who own homes are LOL.
Girl, you are just tempting the Mexican House Gods.