Bathrooms: Get advice before you do it yourself
A sample of Sauceda Home Improvement Bathroom remodel
The proper materials and consideration for how materials work together is critical in bathroom remodeling. Misplaced water can be a big problem for homeowners. Recently, a homeowner called Jesse for a consultation on some water problems he was having in his recently remodeled bath.
The homeowner was a “do-it-yourself-er” – which is often the best way to save costs on remodels. He reused some existing materials that appeared in good condition, so as to save even more on material costs. For example, the homeowner installed new shower walls and a door, but reused the base of the existing shower. He also used shims under the base to gain a more level surface.
Everytime someone stepped in the shower, the base pulled away slightly from the walls and door. As a result, the seal created by caulking at the seams broke and water was able to slide through the walls and down under the base. Shims created a gap between the base and the floor, so the water started pooling right under the shower. This explained the homeowner’s complaints about squishy, soggy noises when stepping in the shower. But that wasn’t the worse part…
While Jesse was investigating the leak, he found the homeowner never addressed structural flooring problems before building. The supporting beams that should have been in place in the basement under the bathroom had actually been cut out and removed. Water had been pooling under the shower base even before the homeowner’s remodel. As a result, the floor was severely rotted. The bathroom needed to be stripped, the floor replaced, and proper support restored underneath in order to properly rectify the situation. Of course, that would cost the homeowner much more than he ever intended to spend when he started.
Get professional advice before you start a project – especially a bathroom. Jesse has worked with many homeowners who want to do part of the job on their own as a way to cut costs. He helps make sure the construction and materials are installed properly and work together to keep water where it needs to be - which is much cheaper than trying to salvage a bathroom where water goes bad.
