Slab floors and where the drains go
In a slab-on-grade house the shower and toilet drains are cast into the concrete. Moving them means cutting the slab, laying new pipe and patching. Keeping fixtures where they are, or moving them only a short distance, keeps the project simpler.
A tub-to-shower conversion usually works with the existing drain location, which is one reason it is the most common request here.
Choose finishes for hard water
- Large tiles with fewer grout lines are easier to keep free of mineral buildup.
- Shower glass with a protective coating resists spotting.
- Brushed and matte fixture finishes show water marks less than polished ones.
- A quality shower valve with replaceable cartridges is easier to service when scale builds up.
Adding a bathroom
El Cajon lots are often large enough for a small addition, and ranch homes have room to extend. A new bathroom is simplest when it backs onto existing plumbing. Farther away, the drain has to be trenched across the slab or routed around the house outside.
Ventilation and permits
An exhaust fan vented through the roof or wall, not into the attic, protects the room and the attic from moisture. Plumbing, electrical and structural work needs a permit from the City of El Cajon's Building Division, or from the County for addresses in unincorporated areas.
How a bathroom remodel with All Pro Contractor runs
- Site visit to review the room, the plumbing and ventilation, and what you want to change.
- Written estimate with scope, allowances and responsibilities for design and permits.
- Selections and ordering, so tile, fixtures and glass are on hand before demolition.
- Demolition, rough plumbing and electrical, inspections, waterproofing, then tile, fixtures and finishes.