kruton Posted February 18, 2016 Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 So I am getting started remodeling our kids bathroom. I have the tub pulled and am now starting to remove the existing floor. I'm not much of a remodeler but I haven't seen a subfloor quite like this. Under the tub are 1" boards. Under the rest of the floor there are two layers of linoleum, some type of tile and then mortar with chicken wire. The strange thing is that it drops lower than the floor joists. Not sure if that makes sense or if anyone has seen this before. I figure I'll try to post some pictures of the progress.Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hathatyl Posted February 18, 2016 Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 Looks like you got a mess on your hands kruton. Ive heard of the chicken wire and mortar technique, but only for tubs that need reinforcement underneath. Was it a heavy tub like cast iron or clawfoot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comp56 Posted February 18, 2016 Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 ya looks like a gut job to do it properly floor wise, hopefully it isn't water damage from years and years. you won't want to put anything over it. Time to buy a Milwaukee SDS and get it working in chipping mode 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Logan Posted February 18, 2016 Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 Should look good when it's done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnarlyCarl Posted February 18, 2016 Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 Yowsa, thats a lot of flooring someone never bothered removing, are you saying the boards are recessed between the joists, thats what makes the floor so low?Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kruton Posted February 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 Looks like you got a mess on your hands kruton. Ive heard of the chicken wire and mortar technique, but only for tubs that need reinforcement underneath. Was it a heavy tub like cast iron or clawfoot?The tub was cast iron but the mortar wasn't under the tub it was under the rest of the floor. That's what seemed strange to me. I forgot to mention the house was built in the early 1950s in case that helps. Not sure if maybe that was the technique at the time. I'm planning on busting it all out and then putting new subfloor down. Shouldn't be too bad since the bathroom isn't that big...but that's assuming no more surprises!Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comp56 Posted February 18, 2016 Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 yes hopefully the joists are not damaged from water or you may have a bigger problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kruton Posted February 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 yes hopefully the joists are not damaged from water or you may have a bigger problem.Now you have me wanting to buy an SDS rotary hammer!Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comp56 Posted February 18, 2016 Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 Now you have me wanting to buy an SDS rotary hammer!Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalkdepending how soft or easily broken up the floor will be an SDS may not be out of the question...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboS1ice Posted February 18, 2016 Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 That's what sucks with older homes, something as simple as swapping out a light fixture leads to a huge project.JimboSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnarlyCarl Posted February 18, 2016 Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 Now you have me wanting to buy an SDS rotary hammer!Sent from my SM-N900V using TapatalkHa ya know you mean and then somehow one showed up at my door, oops how did that happen ha 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnarlyCarl Posted February 18, 2016 Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 That's what sucks with older homes, something as simple as swapping out a light fixture leads to a huge project.JimboSent from my iPhone using TapatalkYou know it Jimbo, then when I'm up on the ladder putting the new light in, I notice the bulkhead over the kitchen cabinets is falling off the ceiling, and realize the previous owner just used 8d nails thru 2x2 to hold it up, so that has to all come down, and with it the old cabinets might as well get replaced, well now the plaster on the wall pulled off, time to gut the kitchen, then there's an old chimney they just covered up with a frame, means I gotta patch the ceiling where it went through, oops they didn't even space the studs right, hodge podge of wood in the wall, didn't even put proper studs around the kitchen window, aw man, the walls aren't square, well just have to fudge it cheese whiz where does it end......Hope you can keep from going crazy, kruton Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comp56 Posted February 18, 2016 Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 You know it Jimbo, then when I'm up on the ladder putting the new light in, I notice the bulkhead over the kitchen cabinets is falling off the ceiling, and realize the previous owner just used 8d nails thru 2x2 to hold it up, so that has to all come down, and with it the old cabinets might as well get replaced, well now the plaster on the wall pulled off, time to gut the kitchen, then there's an old chimney they just covered up with a frame, means I gotta patch the ceiling where it went through, oops they didn't even space the studs right, hodge podge of wood in the wall, didn't even put proper studs around the kitchen window, aw man, the walls aren't square, well just have to fudge it cheese whiz where does it end......Hope you can keep from going crazy, krutonSent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalkthat pretty much nails it but lightly you don't want to put in a new stair case..... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnarlyCarl Posted February 18, 2016 Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 that pretty much nails it but lightly you don't want to put in a new stair case.....This is hilarious you say that because I actually had to do that! Well not a compete staircase, but I bought the place and they had it half completed basically, so I put a closet under the stairs, new treads and risers, new trim, new railing, new carpet. Oops hijacking your post sorry krutonSent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboS1ice Posted February 18, 2016 Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 Maybe you'll find some fossilized chickens under that wire.JimboSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millerzconstruction Posted February 18, 2016 Report Share Posted February 18, 2016 So I am getting started remodeling our kids bathroom. I have the tub pulled and am now starting to remove the existing floor. I'm not much of a remodeler but I haven't seen a subfloor quite like this. Under the tub are 1" boards. Under the rest of the floor there are two layers of linoleum, some type of tile and then mortar with chicken wire. The strange thing is that it drops lower than the floor joists. Not sure if that makes sense or if anyone has seen this before. I figure I'll try to post some pictures of the progress.Sent from my SM-N900V using TapatalkThey may have just used the chicken wire and mortor to raise the one lower section to the other higher part. Maybe something settled or they added on an miss figuered there numbers and didn't come up to the same heigth on block work or something? And they had the wire and mortar laying around. Instead of paying for more plywood or ripping filler strips to make up the difference. They used what they had? Hard times I guess. it's always hard to figure stuff out without being there. I'll stop rambling on and on. Millerz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WigWagWorkshop Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 I feel your pain, has we are remodeling the 1/2 bath. I will get busy posting some pictures in my thread 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kruton Posted February 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 Good luck wigwag. It's always interesting to see what you find when you start demo!Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kruton Posted February 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2016 Well tearing out this floor is slow going. The chicken wire is definitely doing a great job keeping the mortar together. I really wish it did not do this well! Thank the Lord this is a small bathroom!Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigmikez Posted February 20, 2016 Report Share Posted February 20, 2016 So far so good brotha can't wait to see how it turns out man! Buying any new tools for this project? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kruton Posted February 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2016 Nothing right now, but probably will when I start tiling. I'll probably think of something new to buy though!Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboS1ice Posted February 21, 2016 Report Share Posted February 21, 2016 You using an sds drill?JimboSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnarlyCarl Posted February 21, 2016 Report Share Posted February 21, 2016 You're still making some progress, even if just a little. Rotary hammer is a good idea like Jimbo mentionedSent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Glassey Posted February 21, 2016 Report Share Posted February 21, 2016 Man Kruton, your bathroom floor looks like mine did when I first moved in and did a remodel. Don't you love that old world mud job with the wire lath PIA! Looking good man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kruton Posted February 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2016 You using an sds drill?JimboSent from my iPhone using TapatalkNo. I thought about buying one but figured I don't really need one very often. Just using the old Estwing 16oz and a 3 lb hammer. Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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