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9. Checking For Damage Before A Bathroom Remodel
from: SelfHomeImprovement.comIt's no secret that the bathroom is the most costly part of a house to remodel, even if it usually the smallest room in any house. The reason for this expense is the entire plumbing infrastructure that has to be installed as well as the fact that the bathroom is often a humid environment that needs to be controlled.
One major issue with remodelling a bathroom is that very often, you don't know how good or bad of a state the plumbing is in until you get started with the remodel. If you want to completely remodel your bathroom that will usually mean getting and entirely new toilet, vanity and bath tub and/or shower. You may well also want to install new lighting or at least update what you have in your bathroom. You may also need to update your wiring, especially if you live in an old house.
One thing you need to beware of is covering up damage. You may find that people have done that before you in your house but it can only add to greater problems later. For instance, old, damaged tiles may be covered up with acrylic panelling. That is a bad idea because typically, tiles are damaged by water or at least humidity, and covering that kind of damage up will only make the problem worse. If you cover this damage up without repairing it you really are asking for trouble, providing the perfect environment for mold to grow.
Another popular spot for mold to grow is in the carpets that are more often in old bathrooms. If you're lucky, though, peeling back the old carpet might reveal beautiful hardwood floors that you can renovate.
If your bathroom has drywalls, the chances are that this will be in pretty bad condition. Drywall is unable to cope with a bathroom's humidity and dampness. Do not just try to cover up the damp damage on a way. You need to remove the wall covering that is damaged and instead us a special wall covering that is intended for the humid conditions within a bathroom.
In your bathroom remodel, once you remove the old bathroom fixtures, that is when you will really be able to tell how much damage there is to your bathroom. Taking out a tub or shower will often uncover damaged floors or walls. It is a good idea to do a thorough check for mold once you have removed all these fixtures. Consider getting in mold removal experts unless you know what you're doing with this.
Take a close look at the floor beneath the tub. Is it damaged, warped or soft? If it is, thus may suggest problems with the subfloor or even the joists or floor beams. Problems here are really something worth calling in expert help for. If the bathroom fixtures look like hey haven't been replaced in quite some time, this may suggest there are very old plumbing pipes lurking beneath. The pipes could even be made of lead, which will have to be replaced. Otherwise, the plumbing in old houses may be cast iron and repairing these can be quite expensive. You should also check the bathroom infrastructure such as stud walls for damage such as rot and mold. The same could be said of the floors, especially if there are cracked floor tiles.
Knowing what damage to look for and where to spot it is an essential part of preparing for a successful bathroom remodel.
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