[bath_reno_help]

Hi,
I'm redoing my master bathroom to install the following:
- new toilet (using same plumbing location as existing toilet)
- new claw tub which is replacing a corner jacuzzi tub (I have to move the faucet location and drain slightly to fit the claw tub location)
- replacing 1 sink with 2 x 28" vanities (new plumbing required and will need recommendations on best approach)
- completely gutted the tiled shower (3' x 3')

The shower:
- 3' x 3'
- this was the main reason for the reno
- I noticed some rust marks on the tile floor so figured water was penetrating through the tiles/grout lines
- I don't know much about shower systems but once I ripped off all the floor tiles I noticed what I thought was a concrete slab that was wet in certain spots. the slab "appeared" to be slopped down to the drain properly. There was about a 1/2" space between the sides of the slab and the studs on the wall for the concrete boards to slid into (all of which has been recently removed from the shower)

QUESTIONS ON SHOWER:
- now that I have removed all the tile what do I do to remove all the left over mortar so I can re-tile? Do I have to sand the slab down to get it smooth and clean?
- do I have to re-surface the floor slop first. If so, what do I use to do this?
- have you heard of the wedi system for the shower walls? I was planning to use a wedi system (... Detecting Browser Version) for the walls and ceiling, and then kerdi membrane for the floor and extend it about 2' up on the base of the walls to provide additional water proofing.
- installing a new shower door. In the pictures, you notice 3 2x4's on the left and right hand side of where the old shower door used to be. Can I remove these 2x4's completely to make room for a larger shower door? We are planning to install a new glass shower door. Above the door entrance we are also planning to open up this space so it extend completely up to the ceiling. Is this a good idea, or should we keep the existing setup? Basically we want 3 full tiled shower walls and the side with the glass door we want as open as possible from the sides and top. Does the shower door need a lot of support?

Vanities:
- basically just need to replace a single with a double vanity. 2 x 28" vanities that will be spaced about 8" apart. The current plumbing does not have a shut off valve like the toilet, so what is my best options. From what I can tell it looks like I have to shut off the water to the whole house in order to remove the current vanity. Is there something I can use to temporary block the water flow so that I don't have to uninstall and reinstall the 2 new vanities all at the same time. I looked for shut off valves through the plumbing but couldn't find any except for the toilets and kitchen sink (I would have to shut off the main water supply)

Floor:
- the bathroom has linoleum floors (large floor piece, not the small 12"x12"). What is the best way to remove this? I have just tried pulling it off but there seems to be a glue like substance that sticks to the sub-floor underneath. Do I have to sand the sub-floor before I install the Shluter Ditra mat for the floor tiles? Do I have to replace the existing sub floor with a new clean sub floor? Are there any other recommendations you have?

I'm still new to this whole reno, and I know I started one large project, but any advice you have would be fantastic and much appreciated.

Thanks so much!

[ballengerb1]

Do you possibly mean a Kerdi system?