Common Problems with Bathroom Remodeling
3 pros!
Keep an eye out for these four problems that could derail your bathroom renovation before it starts.
A bathroom remodeling project not only adds greater usability and style to your home but can help increase property values when it's time to sell. But bathrooms include some of the most hazardous systems in a house, namely electrical and plumbing, and any renovation can face disaster if you run into a serious problem.
Consider these tips for dealing with four common issues.
Sweatin' to the moldies
Mold is the No. 1 problem in any bathroom. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is "sufficient evidence to link exposure to damp indoor environments in general to upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough and wheeze in otherwise healthy people and with asthma symptoms in people with asthma." In bathrooms, mold can grow at increased rates thanks to a perpetually moist environment.
Before starting a bathroom remodel, always look for signs of mold. These include black spots on walls just above baseboards or near the ceiling or patches of drywall that appear wet even when the bathroom hasn't been used in several hours.
A musty smell may also be present if you have mold, but don't rely on your nose alone. If you think you have mold, open up the drywall and check. Black mold uses the paper fibers in drywall as a food source, and when combined with water has everything it needs to survive.
Mold behind drywall may be black, green or white and often looks like a fuzzy carpet. Check Angie's List for a highly rated mold remediation company to eliminate the problem before starting your renovation, or you'll spread the spores to the rest of your house. You can expect to pay between $1,000 and $3,000 for this service.
Plumbing nightmares
If the original contractor for your home didn't properly install the plumbing, you've got a problem.
Indicators of poor plumbing behind the walls include a knocking sound whenever the shower runs, most likely cause by improperly secured pipes rattling as water passes through them. Also look for faucets or spouts that leak even when the water is turned off or taps that deliver inconsistent water pressure. You may need to run entirely new plumbing.
If you open up the walls and you're still not sure, call in a professional plumber to check the work and make its safe to use for your new fixtures. Check the plumber's license and insurance to correct the poor work — or you could end up in the same boat later.
Bathroom drain problems
Drainage is another common problem, and one reason homeowners want to gut their bathroom and start over. Check your drains by running the shower and tub, then wait while the water drains.
In your shower, the water should run directly to the drain and shouldn't pool. If half an inch of water remains in the shower pan even a few minutes after you've turned off the water, you may have a problem. In many cases, it's an improper seal in your shower drain causing water to leak out onto the floor and, in the case of a second-floor bathroom, onto the ceiling of the level below.
For your tub, again make sure the water drains swiftly and watch for any moisture on the floor nearby. Homeowners often assume they've spilled or tracked water along the edge of their tub while getting out after a bath, but in some cases an improper seal is the cause.
Poor drainage may mean clogged pipes in need of maintenance, or it may point to the more serious issue of water flowing to the wrong place.
Letting off steam
Finally, improper venting can be a huge issue for bathrooms, especially those in the middle of a house.
Every bathroom needs an exhaust fan and, more importantly, an outside vent. In many cases, these are connected in a single system, but don't assume a plastic fan cover on your ceiling means proper ventilation.
To test venting, run the shower using hot water and then turn on the fan. The mirror shouldn't fog over, and drywall shouldn't start to sweat.
Next, turn off the shower and wait. Within a few minutes, the humidity in the bathroom should perceptibly decrease. If it doesn't, the bathroom isn't properly vented.
If the problem is just a blocked vent or damaged fan, this is an easy fix, but in some cases a bad builder has ignored any need for a vent and left the bathroom as an essentially closed system. Here, you'll need the help of a pro to create proper venting before you do a bathroom remodel. You don't want hard work to go to waste.
While it's not always possible to avoid these problems, catching them early and getting help lets you get on with work and keep your remodel on budget.
RELATED: Are Exhaust Fans Necessary?
Editor's note: This is an updated version of an article originally published on Oct. 23, 2013.
