What an older National City bathroom hides
- Cast iron drains and galvanized supply lines near the end of their life.
- Subfloor softened by decades of small leaks around the tub and toilet.
- No exhaust fan, with a window as the only ventilation.
- Plaster walls and tile set in a thick mortar bed, which take longer to remove.
- Wiring without the protected outlets a bathroom needs today.
Fix the floor before the finishes
In a raised-floor home, a long-running leak rots the subfloor and sometimes the joists below it. This is found when the old tub comes out. Repairing it properly at that point is what keeps new tile from cracking and a new toilet from rocking.
The crawl space helps too. Drains can be replaced and moved from below without breaking concrete.
Getting more from a five-by-eight room
A typical older bathroom here is small, often about five feet by eight. A walk-in shower in place of the tub, a wall-hung or narrow vanity, a recessed medicine cabinet and a pocket door all free up floor space without moving a wall.
Ventilation and permits
An exhaust fan ducted to the outside is one of the most useful things a remodel adds to an old bathroom. It is what stops peeling paint and mildew from coming back.
Plumbing, electrical and structural changes need a permit from National City's Building Division.
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.