It’s been a busy couple of weeks. When last I posted, I was getting ready to call for my first inspection — rough plumbing and mechanical. However, as I thought about it, I decided I wanted to raise the shower head since it had gotten lowered by my last plumbing snafus. More soldering!

Shiny new copper and a shiny new shower arm. I was going to get one of these cool-looking S-curve shower arms and not raise the length of the head, but they jutted out from the shower wall far more than I liked, so nope.

That was really all for the weekend before last, so I didn’t think it required its own post. I put in a call for my first inspection.

J was a doll and walked through with the inspector so I didn’t have to work from home. Most of the punch list were things that were preexisting or hadn’t been done correctly in the original remodel and we had simply copied that. I am responsible for using flexible ducting for the exhaust vent instead of semi-rigid or rigid. And I smacked myself because I actually bought a length of semi-rigid, but when it was too short and began unraveling as I pulled it apart, I went back to the flexible ducting like what had come with the vent itself. Do not listen to the description on Amazon. You cannot use flexible ducting for exhaust fans, only dryers and such. Lesson learned. Oh, and that silver tape by the ducting — make sure you use the UL-181B HVAC tape. Got dinged on that too.

Beyond that, the drain connect to the vent stack had been installed too low. It’s supposed to be at least 42″ from the floor. And the tub drain I had already replaced to extend out? Can’t use a screw-type trap without an access panel from the basement, so I had to replace with a glued trap.

Lastly, all the piping (and electrical) going through studs or top or bottom sills required nail stop plates.

The inspector told J that there is no way that bathroom was originally built with a permit. Which explains so much.

So, we spent the next week and this past weekend working on the punch list. J got up in the attic and replaced the ducting with much gnashing of teeth. It really is a pain in the ass.

He also dry fitted the new plumbing fixtures and awaited my inspection and gluing. (Wait, what?)

And then, as I’m measuring drain pipes and thinking about vanities that need those connections, I get really concerned. Don’t want to get a vanity and end up with the drain set right where there is a brace or something. So I don’t glue anything, and proceed to finding a vanity.

Vanities are expensive. I’ve been searching Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for months to no avail. I originally wanted to be all pinteresty and turn a dresser into a vanity, but finding a dresser with the dimensions I needed also became a near fool’s errand.

And by some Christmas miracle, someone posted a full cabinet set for $100. Yes, please. Okay, so it needs some work, but so would getting all pinterest on a dresser.

But wait, there’s more!

We have this kind of dead space between the wall and the tub that never really functioned for anything. There is a vent, though, so I’m going to put some legs on this bad boy instead of a toe kick and paint to match.

But wait, there was even more!

So, all that for $100. It’s going to look amazing, you guys!!! Just wait.

Okay, so with vanity purchased, I now had dimensions I needed to properly fit out the double sink valves and fix the janky water pipe that came out and way over.

Queue angelic music.

So, with the new fittings glued together, it was ready for nail stop plates. J put all those on, and we called for the reinspection.

So, with some very much needed help from J, we are on to the next phase — drywall and cement board! Which we picked up Sunday from Home Depot while we had the Uhaul truck rented for the vanity.

Stay tuned for the next installment in bathroom craziness. And Christmas!