Checking For Damage Before A Bathroom Remodel

by Alden Smith

It is a know fact that the most expensive room in the house to remodel is the bathroom.  The reason this is so is because the bathroom is typically the smallest room in the home, is a humid environment, and plumbing infrastructure often creates problems, especially in older homes. The real downside to this is that you often haven't a clue as to the condition of the infrastructure until you actually get in to the job.  A complete remodel will often mean replacing an existing tub and shower, replacing the toilet, and the addition of a new vanity.  New lighting is generally installed or existing is updated.  In older homes, this may require updating the existing wiring.  This article focuses on the issue you will have when considering a bathroom model, and what to expect.

Avoid Cover-ups
A lot of times, people will put up acrylic paneling to cover old or damaged tiles.  The real issue here is that typically what causes the damage is water and humidity.  Covering up this damage instead of repairing it is asking for trouble, because you are only creating a better environment for mold to grow in.  Mold grows in warm, dark spaces where sunlight cannot reach it.  By covering up damaged tile, you are only creating a better environment for it to grow.

 Many older bathrooms will have carpeting, which is a great environment for mold.  In older homes, you might get lucky peeling up old carpet to find hardwood floors underneath.  This goes a long way in keeping the budget down when doing a bathroom remodel.

If you have standard drywall in your older bathroom, chances are good that it is probably shot.  Drywall just does not have the ability to withstand the humidity and moisture of a bathroom.  Never attempt to cover it up to fix an unsightly wall.  Instead, remove it and replace it with a wall covering made especially for bathrooms.

Dealing With Damage
When you begin to remove fixtures in a bathroom, the time has come to discover just exactly what kind of shape your room is actually in.  The removal of a tub and shower unit often reveals damage to the floor in the tub area, and walls behind the shower unit are often damaged.  If you do the demolition work yourself, be sure to have an expert check for mold when you have gutted the room.  Unless you are well versed in mold and its eradication, take the advice of an expert.

Floors beneath a tub are often damaged.  If you see warped or wood that is soft and springy, chances are there may be problems with the sub flooring, and even the joists and beams beneath.  A good thing to do is check the floor in the basement beneath the bathroom at regular intervals to observe any chances of damage.  If you get into the job and find this problem, then it is time to call in an expert.  They will know exactly what to do, and can give you a good estimate of what it will cost to fix the damage.

In many older homes you may be considering purchasing, check out the bathroom for a good idea of the age of the fixtures.  Try to educate yourself on ages of different fixtures and models. If it looks like it hasn't been updated in 25 years, there is a good chance that there will be issues with existing plumbing.  Lead pipe will need to be replaced to bring the plumbing up to code.  Many older homes have cast iron plumbing for toilets and vent stacks, and repairing or tying into these is expensive work.

Infrastructure Damage
Often, wall studs behind walls adjacent to shower and tub units will show signs of rot, especially if the bathroom hasn't been completely updated in a long time.  The process for fixing this damage is complex, and requires the help of an expert.

Check any tiled surface closely, especially on the floor.  Does it show signs of cracked tile and missing grouting?  If so, you can be quite sure you will find water damage in the wood flooring beneath.  The extent of this damage depends on how long the tile has been damaged and when sub flooring was installed.  Often you will find tile that has been laid over an existing hardwood floor, and this is cause for more concern.  In such a case, always seek the advice of an expert for a complete inspection.

Knowing when to expect damage and doing the proper thing to fix it is the first step in building out a new bathroom.  Don't cut corners, and you will be happy with the results for years to come.