Farmhouse Bath Remodel in Smyrna
About This Project
This Smyrna bathroom received a full demo-to-finish renovation with gray brick-look tile on the walls and tub surround, paired with matte black fixtures selected by the homeowner. The gray brick-look tile is a 4x12 ceramic with a slightly textured surface that gives the farmhouse aesthetic without the maintenance concerns of actual brick.
The demo revealed that the original backer board behind the tub surround had absorbed moisture along the bottom course, which is common in older Smyrna ranch bathrooms where the tub caulk had failed and been left unaddressed. We replaced all backer board in the wet zone and applied a liquid waterproofing membrane before setting new tile. The bottom course of tile was set in epoxy mortar for additional moisture resistance at the most vulnerable area.
The matte black fixtures meant we needed to be careful with cleaning products during and after installation. Acidic tile cleaners can damage matte black finishes, so we used a pH-neutral cleaner throughout and masked the fixtures during grouting.
What We Did
- Full demo; replaced moisture-damaged backer board; applied liquid waterproofing membrane
- Set bottom course in epoxy mortar; set remaining 4x12 gray brick-look tile in modified thin-set
- Grouted with medium gray sanded grout; masked matte black fixtures throughout
- Caulked all plane changes with color-matched silicone; sealed grout
