Tuesday, September 14, 2010

How to Strip

One of my readers submitted the question about stripping a bathroom for remodeling. I have delayed answering this question due to the scale of the project and the possibility of many variables. I will now answer with the assumption that all electrical and plumbing configurations will stay the same, meaning all materials behind the walls and under the floor.

The bathroom remodel is the second most expensive remodel in your home. Kitchen is number one. So I will now assume that all cabinets, toilet stool, tub/shower, towel racks, light fixtures and plumbing fixtures will be replaced. I will also assume that you are replacing floor coverings.

Step One: Turn off all water supply valves. There should be one to the toilet and two to each wash basin. If your house is older and there are no valves, you will need to turn off the main water supply to the house. If this is the case, you will need to temporarily cap the water supply lines to the bathroom before turning the main water line back on. Later you will need to turn off the main water line again to install water supply valves.

Step Two: Remove toilet, vanities, towel racks, tub/shower. Note: if you are removing a tub you must also remove the tile, sheetrock, and any other fixture that may prevent tub removal. Tubs are installed against the wall studs and therefore the thickness of the sheetrock prevents tub removal.... therefore, remove the sheetrock.

Step Three: Remove all floor tiles, and floor vinyl. Remove baseboards. Your bathroom should now be completely empty.

Step Four: If you are moving any plumbing or electrical, now is the time to open up the walls to do it.

Miscellaneous tips: 1) Remove the bathroom door for ease of access. 2) At tub or shower, don't remove individual tiles, rather cut the drywall and pull off entire panels of drywall and tile together, you will need new backer board anyway.

Your bathroom is now stripped and ready for remodel.

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