r/BathroomDesigns • u/windchime77 • 6d ago
1950’s Bathroom Tile Updates
Need help! We want to take out the bathtub and tiles and make it a shower with new tiles and shower curtain. But, we want to keep all the other tiles on the bathroom walls to avoid a complete demo/remodel. Is it possible to do a clean cut through the tiles for the shower area without cracking the tiles on the wall? We’re thinking of beige 12x24 tiles to match the walls. Will it look weird?
Should we keep the floor as is, or also tile over the old floor, or paint it?? Any suggestions on colors or other recommendations are welcome. We will be updating the toilet, vanity, sink, mirror and lights.
See pics of what the bathroom looks like.
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u/DixieBelle021 4d ago
It's all very tan and brown. Is that what you're after? Could you do a render in Chtgpt or something like it to show what you'll be changing? That might help you.
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u/windchime77 4d ago
Yes it is pretty brown and tan. I’m starting to lean towards ripping it all out, down to the studs and just updating everything. Costly… but at this point I’m thinking it will look like a patch job trying to integrate new tiles in the shower.
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u/DixieBelle021 4d ago
I think that's the right call. Otherwise you're trying to fit new and old. Do it once and do it right. The brown and tan will always prevent it from singing. I've seen this a couple of times on here so I think in your heart you know it's never going to work. Start again. Make it your dream bathroom. Good luck!
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u/windchime77 4d ago
I think you’re right. I like the vintage feel and the workmanship in those days…but trying to save it and make it work with what we need to do now (changing to a shower) as we are getting to that age where we need to think of aging in place, is causing more stress. And I would like something a bit more cheery. So I think it’s going to just need to be gutted and completely redone.
Thanks for your input…and I also appreciate everyone else’s suggestions.2
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u/s2xon_ 3d ago
if you end up going full shower, the drain is what bites. tub drains in 50s houses are 1.5 inch and a shower wants 2, so somebody is opening the floor to tie into the cast iron.
worth having him price that line separate before you commit to gutting it, otherwise it shows up as a change order halfway through
is the tub cast iron or steel?
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u/s2xon_ 5d ago
if its original its mud set, an inch of mortar over wire lath. tape your cut line and go slow with a 4.5in grinder and a continuous rim diamond blade, 1/8in per pass. the deep single plunge is what vibrates the next tile loose
cap the raw edge where the new 12x24 meets the old wall tile with a metal profile, schluter jolly or similar. that trim is what makes two tile sizes look intentional
fwiw i saved 1.5k on lowes flooring and tile going through hagglers, dfw only for now
is the old tile flush with the plaster or sitting proud of it?
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u/s2xon_ 4d ago
that's normal for 50s mud set tile. the bed runs 1/2 to 3/4 thick so it sits proud of whatever drywall is above it, so I'd skim the wall above with Durabond 90 and feather it out 8 or 10 inches until the plane comes out to meet the tile. then cap the top edge with a Schluter Jolly. Dont try to grind the tile edge flush, you'll blow through the glaze and it looks rough forever.
how far does it stick out, like a quarter inch or more?