Custom Barn Conversion Bathroom Remodel & Structural Restoration

Converting unique spaces requires specialized contracting expertise. Turn Cycle Solutions was contracted to design and build a custom bathroom remodel located in the rear of a historic New England barn.

Like many historic home renovations, this project required our team to pivot quickly when hidden structural and mechanical issues were discovered beneath the surface. Here is how our skilled crew handled the challenges to deliver a beautiful, safe, and code-compliant custom bathroom.

1. Structural Floor Repair & Termite Remediation

When transforming unconditioned spaces like barns, moisture management is critical. Upon pulling up the original subfloor to prepare for custom tile installation, our team uncovered major structural damage:

• The Challenge: The bathroom sat above an unconditioned crawl space, leaving the floor joists and rim joists completely rotted and structurally compromised due to historical moisture and a termite infestation.

• The TCS Solution: To keep the project on its strict timeline, our crew demoed and ripped apart the entire rotted floor system in just four hours. Before the end of the business day, we began replacing the structural framing with treated lumber, securing the foundation of the new bathroom without delaying the schedule.

2. Modern Plumbing & Electrical Rough-Ins

With the structural framing completely restored, we upgraded the outdated mechanical systems to meet modern building codes:

• Plumbing Ventilation Correction: The original plumbing completely lacked proper venting—causing the sink to "gargle" whenever the toilet flushed. Our licensed plumbers re-routed the lines and installed a dedicated plumbing vent stack to ensure perfect drainage and airflow.

• Electrical Upgrades: Brought the outdated electrical wiring up to modern safety standards, prepping the space for new lighting and GFCI outlets.

• Custom Tile Prep: Laid down a rock-solid, level subfloor engineered to support heavy, long-lasting bathroom floor tile.