Bathroom remodels are more work than just a little paint and a little tile. If you are considering a bathroom remodel, spend extra time and money doing painstaking work and completely gutting the bathroom back to where you started. This will allow you to uncover problems that have been hidden and solve them head-on. What has been hidden surprises most owners. Fortunately, professional bathroom remodeling companies are familiar with what can be discovered. A full, clean bathroom that runs smoothly will add not only ascetic value to your home, but monetary value as well.
Many common problems with bathroom remodeling are due to two causes; one is incompetent workers and two are damp. If a homeowner decides to go ahead with the bathroom remodel on their own, there are a few things to watch out for and correct before proceeding with a project. Some problems are obvious while others go unnoticed.
The first problem that can occur is with the framing of the floor. Unfortunately, it is common to find floor joists in bathrooms that have been marked by plumbers. This will leave the floor weak. If the subfloor is not strong, eventually the new floor will crack under pressure.
Another problem that can occur is that the plumbing becomes old and corroded. If this is seen, it should be taken care of immediately during the renovation. This will make it easier in the long run. Upgrading cast iron, galvanized drainage lines and copper supply lines can be easily upgraded when the walls and floor are broken.
It seems that recently the bathroom tiles and bathtub surround were required to have a waterproof installation. What many bathroom remodeling companies find when smashing older bathrooms is that regular plaster walls have been placed behind the tub surround. Failure to use proper waterproofing techniques in your bathroom remodel will create water fumes that will cause leaks and deterioration.
With any type of moisture build-up comes annoying mold. Very few bathrooms are remodeled without the presence of mold. Many reasons can cause this, from a lack of waterproof material used behind the tub surrounds to inefficient ventilation. The daily buildup of moisture makes the bathroom a likely place for mold problems to develop. It is important that adequate ventilation is installed in the bathroom remodel.
Another common problem is vents that are plugged in and working but not properly ventilated. Vents that are run without a proper duct system leading to the outdoors cause big mold-related problems in attics and / or basement areas. When conducting an inspection on a new home or a home being purchased, this is something all inspectors know to look for. When a bathroom remodel is underway, this is usually easy to fix with a proper ductwork.
The same applies to plumbing fixtures. It is important that homeowners take the time to determine where all pipes are vented and to make sure they are code compliant and working properly. Doing a major bathroom renovation will help resolve homeowner detection problems and prevent small problems from building up into something bigger in the future.