Custom Spa Sanctuary: How Barrett Mims Engineered a Complete Bathroom & Outdoor Shower Remodel

When Paul and his family decided to overhaul their primary bathroom, they weren’t just looking for aesthetic upgrades—they needed a comprehensive structural and functional transformation. From expanding natural lighting to relocating electrical work and installing a custom outdoor shower, this project required disciplined execution from the ground up.

At Mims Construction, the premier residential design-build and luxury remodeling firm serving Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, and surrounding Southeast Tennessee communities, we approach high-end interior remodeling with a simple philosophy: Construction Made Easy.

Here is how we took Paul’s bathroom from complete demolition to a high-end spa sanctuary with zero stress and no cut corners.

1. The Demo & Layout Vision: Reimagining Space & Light

Renovating an existing bathroom in the greater Chattanooga area often involves navigating constrained original floor plans, aging plumbing frameworks, and limited natural lighting.

Starting demo, our team stripped the space down to its bones. The scope was ambitious:

• Natural Light Expansion: Framing out a larger custom window to flood the room with daylight.

• Electrical & Ventilation Rerouting: Relocating electrical lines, adding modern recessed ceiling lighting, and installing an upgraded high-CFM exhaust fan to protect against moisture accumulation.

• Indoor-Outdoor Flow: Roughing in plumbing for both an interior tub/shower combo and a custom outdoor shower addition.

Phase 1: Full space demolition, framing out the larger window, and rerouting electrical systems for modern lighting.

2. Behind the Walls: Advanced Waterproofing & Sub-Surface Precision

"A tile installation is only as good as the waterproofing system behind it. In luxury remodeling, short-term beauty means nothing without long-term durability."

— Barrett Mims, Founder

By week two, the project moved into its most critical phase: structural waterproofing and subsurface preparation.

Bathrooms and outdoor showers are high-moisture environments that require critical layout engineering. Before laying a single piece of tile, we installed continuous vapor barriers and precision waterproofing membranes across all wet zones.

Phase 2: Applying complete shower waterproofing systems and precision tile layout to ensure decadal durability.

Throughout this technical stage, Paul’s family received real-time daily logs and schedule tracking through our integrated Buildertrend client portal. By keeping dust contained and communication transparent, we ensured the family could live comfortably while their home was transformed.

3. The Details: Artistry, Millwork & The Outdoor Shower

By the end of the project, all structural elements came together into a seamless design.

Key design features of Paul’s completed remodel included:

• Custom Tile Flooring & Shower Surround: Precision-laid tile floor transitioning smoothly into a brand-new tub/shower combination.

• Space-Saving Hung Barn Door: A bespoke hanging barn door adding architectural character while maximizing interior floor space.

• The Outdoor Shower Addition: A resort-style outdoor shower, custom-piped to offer a spa-like retreat right at home.

• Fresh Aesthetic Updates: Crisp, updated paint finishes and modern lighting fixtures that amplify the expanded window's natural light.

Phase 3: The final reveal featuring custom tilework, hung barn door, expanded lighting, and outdoor shower access.

4. The Result: "A Good Guy to Have in Your Corner"

For Barrett Mims, delivering high-end craftsmanship is only half the job; earning complete client trust is the ultimate goal. During the final walkthrough, Paul shared what it was like working with the Mims Construction crew:

"Barrett is a good guy to have in your corner. Quality work, no cutting corners, and taking care of customers like family."

Watch Paul discuss his experience working with Barrett Mims during his complete home bathroom transformation.

Ready to Transform Your Bathroom Sanctuary?

Whether you are looking to build a spa-inspired master bath on Signal Mountain, upgrade waterproofing frameworks in Lookout Mountain, or create a custom indoor-outdoor living space in Ooltewah, Mims Construction is here to help.

Media created by Mims Media, LLC