Embedded in the floor, in front of the toilet, was a 10" square air vent. Below the bathroom on the first floor are the dining room and living room.The space between the air vent and the toilet is immediately above the dividing wall between the two rooms. When the toilet or tub overflowed, the excess water drained down the air vent. Over time, the ceilings in both the living room and dining room were damaged, the bathroom floor suffered wet wood rot, and the air vent rusted out.
The linen closet was torn out, the vanity was discarded, the toilet and bathtub removed and saved, and the walls were stripped to the bare studs. The 1x10 flooring was removed and replaced with 3/4 floor sheathing, secured with construction adhesive and screws. A raised platform for the tub was constructed, and new air ducting was run into the raised platform space, with the duct placed in the platform riser.
The double hung window was removed, the opening enlarged, and privacy glass block together with a vent panel was installed. The walls surrounding the bathtub, exposed platform, and floor were covered with 1/2" cement board. The remaining walls were covered with sheetrock. A combination light/vent fixture was installed over the tub, and a separate light fixture was installed over the double sink vanity.
A 12" bench seat at the foot of the tub was constructed. The walls around the tub, bench seat, platform step, and vanity backsplash were covered with 8x12 ceramic tile and edged with matching bull nose. The floor was covered with 12x12 ceramic tile.Two 30" vanities were joined and covered with a double sink. The walls and ceiling were coated with a knockdown orange peel texture before painting.
The old cast iron bathtub was refinished as part of the new installation, as well as all new plumbing to tub and vanities. The electrical system in the bathroom is protected with a GFCI. The old toilet was cleaned and reinstalled, together with a new seat.
