Glen Park Bathroom

Bathroom renovation in a 1950s era bungalow in North York.

The original bathroom was small and cramped. We reworked the floor plan to give the bathroom more space, and designed the bathroom to be used by two people. By installing two vanities (one standard and one makeup) near the entry, we put the shower and the toilet together behind a wall that can be closed off with a decorative curtain. The tub has been replaced with a custom tile shower that is large enough for a bathing bassinet.

Because the owners were living on-site in the basement apartment during the renovation, we took additional care during the renovation with respect to dust control and potential air pollutants. Our IAQ (indoor air quality) management plan included the isolation of work areas and depressurizing them with a HEPA (high efficiency particle arrest) air scrubber, using a HEPA-equipped vacuum for clean up of fine particulates, and setting up an outdoor designated cutting area.

SCOPE OF WORK

The existing 3pc bathroom was completely gutted and stripped back to the masonry walls. The surrounding interior partitions were relocated to increase the footprint of the bathroom to provide more room. We replaced the window with a new energy-efficient model from Inline Fiberglass, and insulated the exterior wall with spray foam.

A Solatube was installed in the room to increase the amount of natural light late. The Solatube has a domed piece of plastic on the roof and sends light down a reflective 12” tube in the attic. A dimpled dome on the ceiling of the bathroom diffuses the light entering the room and really brightens up the space.

Our Greening Homes carpenters installed reclaimed wood details in the vanities and knee walls to add texture to the space. The new tile floor and custom tile shower was laid over Schluter Ditra – a water proof membrane designed to preserve the integrity of the tile mortar and grout and guard against potential water damage.

INCREASED WASTE DIVERSION

  • An on-site corral was setup on the front lawn to separate the demolition and construction waste into wood, metal, cardboard and waste piles. This allowed us to lower the cost of disposal rates by providing piles of a single recyclable material.
  • The existing plumbing fixtures and vanity were carefully removed and donated to Habitat for Humanity

INFORMED MATERIAL SELECTION

  • Reclaimed wood installed throughout the bath using the old roof framing members we removed during demolition and salvaged wood from Urban Tree Salvage
  • A 97% recycled drywall product was used throughout the bathroom
  • All framing lumber (where possible) – FSC certified
  • All trim and interior doors – FSC certified
  • All tile in the 3pc bathroom was laid over Schluter Ditra – a water proof membrane designed to absorb movement in floor systems, preserve the integrity of the tile mortar and grout and guard against potential water damage
  • California standard, lead free plumbing fixtures

EFFICIENT USE OF RESOURCES

  • Energy-efficient Inline Fiberglass window installed beside the shower with double-glazed, argon filled and super-insulated frame
  • We installed a new Solatube to bring more natural light into the main floor bathroom. This Solatube reduce the need for electrical lighting in this spaces for the majority of the day
  • LED lighting throughout using 2.5w puck lights in the built-in cabinets/vanity, and Aroni pot lights in the ceilings
  • Water use in the bathroom has been minimized with a EPA WaterSense certified dual-flush toilet and low-flow shower head

HEALTHY INDOOR AIR QUALITY

  • All subfloors and plywood – NAUF (no added urea-formaldehyde)
  • Non-toxic soldering flux was used on all plumbing components
  • No VOC Eco logo certified adhesives
  • No VOC primer and paints
  • The reclaimed wood elements were pre-finished outside to reduce VOC exposure indoors

SMART TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM SITE

  • This site was a 5-minute walk away from the Glencairn subway station and allowed the majority of the Greening Homes crew to take TTC
  • Some crew members, including the Construction Manager, cycled to the site often in the warmer months
  • Trucks and other vehicles were used for moving materials and tools when they were required (not for day-to-day commuting)