My bathroom is built like a bomb shelter.
I am embarking on a bathroom remodel in my 1960s split level. The approx. 4'x9' bathroom is about halfway below grade. House is block - both the exterior and interior walls of the bathroom are block. Bathroom is currently tiled floor to ceiling on the walls. Had a contractor come to the house to evaluate and he suspects the wall tile is applied directly to the block.
My wish had been to tear out the 36" shower insert and tile the walls (hopefully buying back a little of the wasted framed out space and using more of the full 48" room width). Also wanted to tile one accent wall in the bathroom (opposite the shower) with mosaic tile, while doing drywall on the other two opposing bathroom walls (small basement-type window on one, door in the other).
What sort of options do I have? The contractor said that the job of taking the tile off the walls would be a big one, which to me just says $$$. It's my understanding that tile over tile is acceptable so long as the underneath tile's in good shape (which this is, these walls feel solid as a rock). Is that our best bet - to forgo the drywall and just re-tile all the walls over the existing tile? Or is it possible to somehow do a drywall application over tile without losing much square footage? I'm concerned about moisture/mold with drywall applied directly to block or directly to the existing tile - is that a valid concern?
Also - the floor. It's tile over a concrete slab. Are we better off taking the time and effort to bust the tile off the slab, or would that potentially disrupt the concrete underneath and cause more problems than it solves? Is the best approach to tile over the floor tile (also in great shape, just ugly as sin)? I realize that will cause a height differential that will need to be addressed for door jambs, toilets, etc.
Anyone have any sage advice?
I am embarking on a bathroom remodel in my 1960s split level. The approx. 4'x9' bathroom is about halfway below grade. House is block - both the exterior and interior walls of the bathroom are block. Bathroom is currently tiled floor to ceiling on the walls. Had a contractor come to the house to evaluate and he suspects the wall tile is applied directly to the block.
My wish had been to tear out the 36" shower insert and tile the walls (hopefully buying back a little of the wasted framed out space and using more of the full 48" room width). Also wanted to tile one accent wall in the bathroom (opposite the shower) with mosaic tile, while doing drywall on the other two opposing bathroom walls (small basement-type window on one, door in the other).
What sort of options do I have? The contractor said that the job of taking the tile off the walls would be a big one, which to me just says $$$. It's my understanding that tile over tile is acceptable so long as the underneath tile's in good shape (which this is, these walls feel solid as a rock). Is that our best bet - to forgo the drywall and just re-tile all the walls over the existing tile? Or is it possible to somehow do a drywall application over tile without losing much square footage? I'm concerned about moisture/mold with drywall applied directly to block or directly to the existing tile - is that a valid concern?
Also - the floor. It's tile over a concrete slab. Are we better off taking the time and effort to bust the tile off the slab, or would that potentially disrupt the concrete underneath and cause more problems than it solves? Is the best approach to tile over the floor tile (also in great shape, just ugly as sin)? I realize that will cause a height differential that will need to be addressed for door jambs, toilets, etc.
Anyone have any sage advice?