If your residence is old enough for a washroom remodelling, you might intend to go ahead and totally intestine it. I started my restroom remodel last month with a total demolition. If I had not, a variety of problems would certainly have been not available for repair ... and even obscure. Below's just what I found when I opened up the walls as well as ceiling of my 1981 apartment below in the Quad Cities.
Fix plumbing surprises
Here's another thing I found. I'm not a plumbing expert, however I see an issue here. Imagine if that section of common drain line for our back-to-back sinks obtained clogged. Currently imagine running a snake in there from one sink. Do you think it would certainly make the turn? Possibly not. We transformed it out and also counter both.
Repair termite damage
When I opened up the exterior wall surface, I located termite damages in 2 locations: the king stud, jack stud, as well as paralyze on the bathtub side of the window and also the jack stud beyond of the window. Fortunately is that the damage was done long ago. As long as I have actually lived below, the owners' association has actually stayed on top of termite treatment and monitoring, yet I comprehend there was a period when they really did not. Therefore the damages I found.
Change decomposed subflooring
In addition to the termite-damaged wall, I likewise found rotten subflooring near the bath tub. This was mainly from getting also damp, and I believed it since tiles had actually started turning up in that area.
Offset no or little insulation
I knew we had insulation in our wall surfaces. I thought it was R-11 fiberglass batts due to the fact that our upstairs neighbor's icemaker had a negative leak a couple of years ago, obtaining half of our utility room ceiling and part of the wall surface. The usual wall had R-11 batts. I figured the rest of the walls did, too. I understood they had insulation because I have actually examined behind switch and also receptacle plates.
I obtained a little surprise when I took the drywall off of that outside washroom wall as well as saw this:
This is in fact an advantage, in such a way, because it indicates I'll get even more improvement than I believed I was getting.
Seal up the air leaks
Yes, our 1981 condo is leaking. I found out about the big bathtub openings as well as various other plumbing penetrations since I have actually seen them from the basement. I didn't know that the walls were covered with asphalt-impregnated fiber board (Celotex) that gave great deals of air leak paths. Once more, looking on the bright side, that means I'll be able to make more improvement than I 'd thought.
I can not wait to do a blower door examination when it's all done. Dunlap Construciton However, I will not have the ability to separate out the renovation due just to my washroom job. The proprietors' association just had the whole floor sealed with spray foam insulation. I'm presuming our complete air leak will certainly be around half of exactly what it was.
Set up an exhaust fan and also solution ductwork
Did I discuss our condominium was built in the 80's? The master bath has a home window, so normally, it didn't need an exhaust follower, right? Incorrect. I've overcome a year of information on temperature and loved one moisture in that bathroom without an exhaust follower. Now I'm putting one in and also will collect more information. Stay tuned for the outcomes.
However even if your restroom already has a follower, I 'd bet it doesn't relocate enough air. The typical bathroom fan stirs half its rated air circulation. If your bath follower isn't available from the attic room, opening up the ceiling is the only means to get at the air duct as well as repair it. Exactly what you see because photo listed below is common for bathroom fan air ducts: sagging flex duct that makes too many turns. (That's not my brand-new fan, by the way.).
Address other potentially unknown repair needs.
Numerous years ago we had to do some pipes benefit the tub in the hall washroom. When the plumbers had the wall opened, I asked them to put shutoffs in on the hot and cold water lines to make sure that if anybody needed to work on that plumbing in the future, they would not need to turn off the water to the whole building.
So they place in the shutoffs. When I opened up the wall, I saw them as well as took this image:.
I 'd make use of that shower a few times throughout the years and also constantly asked yourself why the pressure was so reduced. Currently I recognize. The plumbing technicians mounted the shutoffs however then really did not open them totally. Those red manages should be straight in line with the pipelines. Great!
I likewise located that our ceiling had two layers of drywall. We have a smooth ceiling throughout our condo, but the initial ceiling was stippled. The good news is, it wasn't a popcorn ceiling, which could consist of asbestos.
And I found the initial, hideous wallpaper.
If you're redesigning a washroom, there a great deal of great reasons to copulate as well as intestine it totally. That's what I'm doing. We're virtually prepared to begin closing it back in, so remain tuned for more tales from the shower room.