Hi, first time poster here, just signed up today. I don't have any pictures currently, but hopefully I can describe this well enough. My issues are mostly plumbing, but initially I'm concerned with the dry wall/ceiling aspects to gain access to the plumbing. I don't have any access panels currently. We just bought our house (two-story, built in 1976) back at the end of August. Older floor plan, so essentially each "area" of the house is walled off as separate rooms. Here recently, I've discovered two leaks, both in the Foyer area. Leak 1 - 90% sure this is coming from the 2nd floor bathtub drain. Bathtub sits perpendicular to the foot of the stairs. When the tub was filled with the drain closed, water was leaking onto the bottom steps. It appears that the previous owners spackled over some damage. There's a shift in patterns of the ceiling and the area where it was dripping was extremely soft when saturated. Leak 2 - corner of foyer at entry to family room. Never noticed it "wet" until last night. There is a black spot here, previously thought it was just discoloration. Now I'm thinking this might be mold. Immediate discolored area is maybe 1-2" in diameter. This is not directly below any sinks or tubs. Is my best bet to figure out what's going on and check for mold a matter of opening up these sections of ceiling? and if so how much should I cut out? Would a normal handheld drywall saw suffice? Am I jumping the gun by considering cutting this stuff open? PS. The ceiling has the raised "textured swirl" pattern going on. Plaster I suppose? Not really sure. I'm slightly concerned with trying to make things look like they match when I get everything fixed.

Just moved into a 90-year-old bldg and noticed immediately a bad smell coming from bathroom. Last tenant didn't clean well. Landlord came and said tiles on wall of tub area needed to be re-grouted and did that. My question is about walls. Please read on: Someone sealed right over "black stuff" on tile grout along upper perimeter of tub and sink ([B]photos[/B]). I also noticed grout on other bathroom walls looks darkened ([B]photos[/B]). I bleached it 3 times at LL's request knowing it wouldn't take care of the root problem. At least my bathroom is cleaner. :) BUT -- when I am in the next room (living room), I smell a bad odor there that is [I]different[/I]. I think it's coming from the bathroom somehow. It's almost like a dead animal smell but not as strong as a rat I smelled years ago that was in the [U]process[/U] of dying in a wall. My first instinct was wall mold in the wall between the bathroom and living room. I am moderately sensitive to indoor air quality problems and have been coughing a little, had a runny nose for a few days, my chest hurts, and I wheeze when sitting on couch near that wall. I don't smell it in the other rooms. Landlord says he will open wall up to show me there's no mold. Would this be a waste of time? If not, where would I want him to break the wall? Tiles extend halfway up all walls in bathroom. Thanks for any help, guys....