Tomorrow morning the contractor comes to take a look at our bathroom remodel. We've finally reached the end of the demolishing segment of the game and need a little direction as to the steps that should follow. I wish we could be DIY purists, but I just don't trust us to complete a bathroom that won't fall apart, flood or explode. There are just a few things I'd rather leave to the professionals. For example:

1. Thanks to our powers of deductive reasoning, we know there is a leak in one of the pipes since every flush sent water dripping into the kitchen below. We're crossing our fingers that the source will be from one of the recently exposed walls, and NOT from a pipe under the floor.

2. An unused chimney travels through the house taking up valuable space in the bathroom and kitchen. Hopefully, Mr. Contractor will tell us this can be removed without causing our house to collapse. The ventilation pipe that connects to both the water heater and furnace is located inside the chimney... so this will need to be relocated...but to where?!

3. Underneath the tile floor is more plumbing encased in an unknown amount of cement. I understand that the tile will probably have to be sacrificed for the greater good... but how do we remove the floor without destroying the plaster on the dining room ceiling? Jackhammering is out, I guess. Once all the cement is removed, will the house collapse? I'm very concerned with the possibility of the house collapsing. I'd rather that not happen.

Good luck Contractor! I hope that your skills include magic and miracles!

Labels: house, remodel

posted at 4:58 PM

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3 Comments:

I have a feeling that the only real professional you need is a good plumber. You could probably do most of the other work yourself.

If you have a leak every time you flush it's quite possible that the problem really is with the wax ring. For your sake that would be a nice surprise.

Messing with an old chimney is a very expensive demolition and one that typically doesn't justify the cost versus space gained. Plus you have to relocate the other vents.

Best of luck and make sure you get a couple of good opinions.

By  Fratzels, at 1/27/2008 6:54 PM  

I hope you have two bathrooms

By  Anonymous, at 2/07/2008 11:43 AM  

Thanks for the advice! Sadly the leak is coming from a pipe and not the wax seal... $800 in plumber bills told us that a few months ago :(
Yes, we have a half bath downstairs but we have to rely on the generosity of others in order to shower.

By  Marissa, at 2/10/2008 4:54 PM  

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