Original tile bathrooms
Bathrooms from the 1950s and 60s were often tiled over a thick mortar bed reinforced with wire mesh. It is durable, which is why so many survive, and it is slow and heavy to remove. Demolition in these rooms takes longer than in a newer bathroom with tile on backer board.
Some owners keep original tile that is in good shape and update around it. Others want it gone. Either is workable, and the estimate should reflect which.
Lower-level bathrooms on hillside lots
On a sloped lot, a downstairs bathroom or a new one in a lower level may sit below the sewer line leaving the house. Waste then has to be pumped up with a sewage ejector, which needs power, a vent and access for service. Find this out before the layout is drawn.
Rooms built into a hillside also need attention to moisture in the walls and floor before new finishes go on.
Plan for the long term
If you intend to stay in the house, a remodel is the time to add blocking in the walls for future grab bars, a shower with a low or no curb, a wider doorway and a comfort-height toilet. These cost little during construction and a great deal to add later.
Permits in La Mesa
Moving plumbing, adding circuits or changing walls needs a permit from the City of La Mesa's Community Development Department. Replacing fixtures in place often does not.
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.