This couldn't happen at a worst time. We're cleaning out a spare bedroom closet and noticed the baseboard has water damage, so we remove the carpet and the tack strip is moldy, baseboard only has water stains. I cut out the lower part of the sheet rock and no mold on it or the seal plate. My wife turns on the shower and I can see the tub drain leaking at the horizontal joint, the drain end of the tub doesn't sit on the slab but in a hole with the rest on the drain. I don't think the drain leak could fill up this hole and over flow so I'm guessing the tiles/grout/caulking come into play also. I begin to remove the old hard original caulk and a few tiles pop off, so at this point I'm thinking the tiles and sheet rock all need to be removed. I'm thinking remove everything down to the studs and put up hardy/concrete board and decide on the finished shower covering i.e. tile, surround etc. Did I mention our oldest daughter, husband and infant moved in with us today.
Yeah, removing everything and doing it right would be the best way to go. Hopefully you have another bathtub or shower! Bad timing for sure. Good luck with your new project! Oh, and keep us apprised of your progress
That stinks, but it's good you caught it before it got REALLY bad. Take the time and fix it right....
I had one that leaked. It was fiberglass unit. One of those units that is all one piece. Had to cut it all up with a saw, then replace everything. Got rid of all the copper plumbing. New base put down, then new tub, surround and all the plumbing accessories. I am 70, so I doubt I'll need to revisit that issue again. Good luck with the family moving in. Is this temporary? We split our house into two apartments. Our kids are here to help us be able to stay in our home.
Our youngest & family just moved out from our house after saving and buying their first home. Now our oldest just moved in after realizing its tough the pay rent and save for a home. Yes we have a second bathroom so only the shower is in-op for now.
Unicorn1 good for you for helping the kids out.. my dad did for me.. so I could save the 25% down payment...(I was doing 20% he said no 25 and 6 months of mtg payments in bank) his house his rules... my dads IQ doubled from when i was 17 moved out til I got my bachelor's finished! moved back in to pay off loans and save.. Funny how that works... I was single then.. great time to play with the grand kids... enjoy!
Can you see the underside of the tub at the drain? Sometimes the rubber shoe gasket fails and water drips down the horizontal run. I've also see the plumbers putty dry out under the drain assembly and leak out there. Both of these are pretty easy fixes. This is where an inspection camera is so useful to find the exact spot.
I still need to turn on the water again and check from the larger front cut out, neither way its all coming out. I'm a jack of all trades and master of none, so is concrete backer the way to go and what's the best surround, I don't want tile so how is solid surface/ stone ? We need to decide if the old tub is going also. Think I can get all this done in 5 days?
The old / plaster board syndrom. Looks like ya got a cast iron tub- best there is- If the finish is good yet, keep it. The plastic stuff doesn't last, and those refinish/recoat jobs never seem to last more than 5 years, are soft in comparison( just epoxy) chip and scratch easy. I have never seen a cast Iron tub totally rotted out at the drain or vent area. If the finish is dull it is possible to polish it but if it is chipped thats a different story but if not too large or bad can be filled with epoxy. Best have a pro for that. Plastic tubs have to be set in a mud base full support other wise they will crack with use. Americast is next alternative down from Cast Iron but they are thinner and flex which can lead to problems in the glass finish. Cement backer board for tile is what you want if going that route- the newer items are quite a bit liter for the same thickness now but do not give up the water factor of the original. 3 piece and one piece surrounds- kinda product specific- mostly won't match up to your old tub to well. Done enough tub/shower wall repair over the years- every place I've owned - even the one I have now just getting around to it this year- got geterdone so I can sell the place.
I am a kitchen and bath retailer and I fabricate/ deal with some different counter/ bath surround materials. Here is a quick synopsis of your options: -If you are going through all the work of replacing everything but the tub, replace the tub too. As stated above, do not go for the resurfacing because they aren't great. If you leave the tub as as, even if it seems to be in good shape, when everything else is new, you will see the defects in that tub then, and it will be too late to replace. - Replace your shower valve too, it is cheap in the scheme of things and you can eliminate it as an issue for a leak for many years to come. Put an access panel in that closet to access the plumbing or get a valve with screwdriver stops that allow you to shut the water off from the front to change cartridges etc. (Moen 2570/ Delta 10000UNBXWS for 2 examples) -Acrylic tubs are an option for different colors and wall options. I sell Kohler and Sterling (Sister company of Kohler). If you are looking at White or Off white, go Sterling. Same finish just cheaper. Also, you can get snap together wall units that are pretty easy to install yourself and you don't have to mess with the walls ( They mount right to the studs). There can be a flex to the tub with a heavier person, which can be avoided 2 ways, the mortar bed as stated above (mixed in a heavy trash bag helps keep the mess at a minimum and allows the tube to be removed down the road easier (not that you would really care to tear it out again), and the way that my installers do it is with a couple cans of great stuff foam. You get all your plumbing fittings to size and ready, (I like hard piped, glued schedule 40, no slip fitting like your existing) lift the tub up a couple inches on blocks, spray a couple cans of foam, set it down and make your connections and screw the tub down as per the install instructions and the foam fills in all the voids below and around... no more flex. - Get a new cast iron tub, although they are very heavy to deal with and can be expensive. They also tend to be shallow, where you can get acrylics deeper, cheaper. - If you don't want tile on the walls, stone is pretty much the same concept, just larger, still need cement board walls and someone who knows what they are doing, also if you were thinking something like granite panels, that is a lot more weight to be sitting on your tub and will take up about an 1 1/4 of your ledge around. -Solid surface (Corian) can be used and is nice because done correctly, you only have seams at the corners. Problem is that you are looking about the cost of a tile shower being done and depending on retailers/ fabricators in your area, you may have to go through them for install so the brand (ie Corian) will warranty the product. There are other products out there that vary with price and quality for shower panels. One new to our area are large 1 cm (approx 1/4") porcelain panels that you can do the same thing as the corian and again only have seems in the corners. Problem is finding someone to do it that can A. Cut the panels correctly B. Install correctly Good luck and let me know if there are any questions Chris
Well explain ed chbryson I own rentals.. the mortar bed is a must if not cast iron tub .. I don't wanna know how many people they put in them.. they are all cast now
Tile guy is scheduled for tues-fri, this included shower area down to the studs, new backer board, all new valve and fixtures and raising the showerhead. I've purchased the fixtures, tile, accents and shelves. I have to leave town Tuesday but my wife can hold her own. My son in laws grandparents own a local marble/stone business but didn't have time to go that route. For our master bath remodel we'll go that way.
Add water proofing (ditra) (membrane kerdi)to your list... Really surprised those "in the know" haven't mentioned it......
