Timber frame owner builder in NJ

[emanaresi]

Eddie, this is what I came up with. Let me know what you think, and make changes as necessary. Of course we do have to deal with a post in the shower, but we can tile around it and put shelves on each side of it, maybe. it is 8x10.

Also, we use an amish cabinet maker who will likely be building the kitchen vanities, and some other things for the house. So I don't care about the custom size. He is usually very reasonable with pricing.

I think the small area between the tub and the coat closet will be a good linen closet. Can't ever complain about the closet being too small now.

 

[dave1949]

Stepping in and out of a deep soaking tub mounted in a platform can be awkward. You will probably have a deck-mounted spigot too, which you don't want in the way. Something to think about.

I've noticed many such tubs have a terraced step in front of them. Good hand grips would be safe too.

 

[EddieWalker]

That post has to go. Your building should be able to make that happen easily. But it's not every something to consider, it cannot be in the shower no matter what you plan on doing to protect it. The problem is that those inside corners will create problem areas that will haunt you for all eternity!!!!

Eddie

 

[emanaresi]

Well. The post is not going anywhere. I could just build the wall in 8" to hide the post in the wall. How are those inside corners worse than the 4 inside corners that are normally in a shower? The post stays though. It'd be much easier to move the shower. That is a key structural member.

 

[EddieWalker]

If you cannot move the post, then moving the wall is a good idea. You might use that space for one or two built in soap dishes.

If you try to tile over the post, I'm afraid that you will have long term issues with either leaking, or cleaning. Besides that, it will just look bad.

Eddie

 

[emanaresi]

I think building out the wall 8" will be the set option, and yes, soap dishes is a good idea there. Do I need to lower the floor structure under the shower to allow for the slope of the shower pan? If so, how much? And how is that done when a TJI floor structure is below?

 

[emanaresi]

Moved some things around and tweaked it a bit. I had left some things bigger than they needed to be

 

[MossRoad]

Moved some things around and tweaked it a bit. I had left some things bigger than they needed to be

Honey, I need to get a shirt from the closet.... are you off the pot yet?

 

[tkappeler]

Honey, I need to get a shirt from the closet.... are you off the pot yet?

:laughing:

We were going to do the same thing and nixed it for the same reason.

 

[jk96]

Honey, I need to get a shirt from the closet.... are you off the pot yet?

Our vanity and closet is separate from our toilet and bath in our current home as well as the layout in our new build for that same reason. Works great and wouldn't want either in the same room as the toilet. Wife can spend as long as wanted in front of the vanity uninterupted and has access to the closet while getting ready as well.

 

[emanaresi]

Tom, we have a similar situation to your build. We can't dig much because of a perched water table and some clay. We will be building a hill around the house, so to speak. I am looking into the option of digging a pond on our property to get the fill out of, rather than paying $175+ per load for fill.

 

[emanaresi]

I reworked the bathroom/closet again. want to critique it again?

 

[EddieWalker]

Never thought about going though the shower to get to the toilet, but if you can keep the door dry and protected, it should work. When I build my walk in showers without a door or a lip, I put the showerhead on the wall where the sink is so the water sprays away from the door. This way the water doesn't leave the shower are and make a mess.

I try real hard not to have a window in the shower. Lots of homes have them above the bathtub that is also a shower, and it's the first place problems start. You have to really work hard to get a good seal, and even then, windows are designed to keep water out from the outside, not from the inside. Glass bloc works, but it's outdated and not something I'd put into a new house. Kind of a 90's thing. Natural light is a nice thing, but for a small area, you don't need a lot of lighting to light it up. I'd put a shower rated can light in the ceiling of the shower instead of the window. Most of the time, it's dark outside when you are in there anyway.

The door to the closet should swing in.

Eddie

 

[emanaresi]

I know the closet door "should" swing in. But its a little narrow there to have a hanging bar and a good sized door, the closet door doesn't stay open, so it shouldn't be a problem.

I'm not sure what to do about the window yet. There was a window on the plan there from before, so I kind of just left it there. If the shower head is on the wall with the vanity, it shouldn't get much water on the window, and I can move it towards the toilet room a little more. I also could put a glass door on the shower there if I have any issues with water and either the window or the toilet room door.

 

[MossRoad]

Is that the shower on the lower left? If so, I don't care for that. Also, the closet door, as mentioned, does not function well. Someone's going to get closed into the closet, and on their way out, swing the door into their significant other on the return trip. I don't see any pluming access to the wall where the shower will go. Maybe I'm missing it. But, its still nicer than my house. :thumbsup:

 

[emanaresi]

Moss, what don't you care for with the shower? The shower head would be on the wall behind the vanity. So the shower would be spraying towards the outside wall of the house. That would allow shower plumbing access through the vanity wall if need be in the future.

I understand that the closet/bath door situation doesn't look ideal. That is a small detail that could be tweaked in many ways.

 

[MossRoad]

Moss, what don't you care for with the shower? The shower head would be on the wall behind the vanity. So the shower would be spraying towards the outside wall of the house. That would allow shower plumbing access through the vanity wall if need be in the future.

I understand that the closet/bath door situation doesn't look ideal. That is a small detail that could be tweaked in many ways.

That's clearer for me now. Thanks. Is there going to be a shower door or open? As long as the water can't spray out into the area between the shower and toilet area, it should be fine. Also, maybe consider some skylight tubes for natural light. My in-laws have a few of them on the north side of their house and they make a world of difference.

 

[BitChin1]

Has this project continued?

Do you have a frame plan?

 

[emanaresi]

Oh yes, it has continued. WE are currently waiting for permits from our town. NJ can be particularly difficult to get permits for things like this. We had to get the frame drawings stamped by an engineer before we could submit them for building permits. I expect we will have building permits feb/march and then this thread should be more lively.

 

[BitChin1]

Oh yes, it has continued. WE are currently waiting for permits from our town. NJ can be particularly difficult to get permits for things like this. We had to get the frame drawings stamped by an engineer before we could submit them for building permits. I expect we will have building permits feb/march and then this thread should be more lively.

View attachment 354791

Cool - I like the 3rd level loft area - wife keeps asking me "if we could add these":laughing:
What is your frame material (White Pine, Oak, Doug Fir?)

Have you determined how you will enclose the structure? SIPs, wrap n strap etc?
HVAC plans?

I noticed early in the thread you had some questions about layout - assume these are resolved, but as you get going and run into additional questions feel free to ask (or PM) we have now lived in our TF home for 1yr - fun project but certainly a bit stressful at times

Look forward to watching your project go up:drink: