Bathroom Bathtub and Bathtub Enclosure Problems

BATHTUB

For some reason bathtubs give a house ambiance. A house without a bathtub feels like there is something missing. Bathtubs come in all shapes and sizes. If a bathtub is installed tight to a wall it must caulked along the wall and floor. This caulking should be monitored for integrity all the time. Bathtubs can be re-covered to look like new well still in place. Change color, new fixtures and what a face lift.

Problem: Surface defects. These may be a manufacturing defect, the result of an impact, dripping faucets with copper or steel supply piping, harsh chemicals used in the bathtub, sometimes the water from wells will stain and/or abrasive cleaners used on delicate materials such as acrylics. In many cases these are simply cosmetic defects. Where enamel is chipped away from stainless steel, rusting is the longer term implication. Where cracks appear in the surface, leakage through the crack may become a serious problem. Mold growth in the cracks is a health issue.

Problem: Drain plug inoperative or missing. You will not be able to have a bath.

Problem: Leaks. Leak around bathtubs are related to the drain connection and/or the overflow. Leaks at drain and overflow connections can be the result of pipe strain caused by settlement or mechanical damage. The leaks may cause water damage.

Problem: Slow drain. Slow drains are usually from clogs.

BATHTUB ENCLOSURE

The most important item in the bathroom is the bathtub enclosure. Not installed or maintained properly and it will cost you, how much is the question. If the water has leaked for a long time and never been able to dry out, the floor and wall framing my be rotten. If the wall framing needs to be replaced and it is on an interior wall then only drywall will likely need to be replaced in the other room. Then taping the joints, mudding and sanding twice, painting and finish trim. Hope there is no electrical wires going through this wall. Also hope there is no cabinets on the other side of the wall. If the wall framing needs to be replaced on an outside wall the siding will need to be reinstalled and painted. Hope it is not high in the air or you will also need scaffolding.

In both cases the bathtub has to be removed and plumbing disconnected. Now replace the plywood flooring(hope no joist are rotten), wall framing, insulation and vapor barrier if on an outside wall, hook up plumbing and reinstall bathtub, drywall, install new bathtub enclosure or if it is tiled there is considerably more work involved, install finished flooring in the bathroom, finish trim, paint, then caulk around the complete enclosure and bathtub. Caulking around a bathtub and enclosure MUST be regularly monitored and maintained. Windows in bathtub enclosures are extremely vulnerable to water leakage.

Problem: Caulking. Caulking around the bathtub enclosure is old or missing and needs to be removed. Then new caulking applied to stop water from entering and causing water damage to floor and wall systems.

Problem: Electrical problems at the enclosure. Where lighting fixtures are provided inside tub and shower enclosures, there should be a vapor proof fixture designed for this application. Electric light switches and receptacles should be at least 3 feet away (out of the reach of) shower stalls and bathtub enclosures. These problems are installation issues. They are also life safety issues.

Problem: Inappropriate finishes in wet areas. Absorbent finishes will draw moisture in and are likely to stain or deteriorate. Wood is a good example of this. Plaster or drywall in wet areas will crumble and disintegrate. Textured finishes hold water and foster growth of mold. Areas around bathtubs and showers should have smooth, hard, non-absorbent finishes to a height of a least six feet above floor level. This is an installation issue.

Problem: Leaks. Leaks can be through faucets, soap dishes, grab bars and/or windows. As well as changes and/or direction in material like tub-tile intersections, inside wall corners and/or outside wall corners where the tile ends. Leakage may result from poor grout work, poor sealing of joints, lack of maintenance and/or building settlement. The implications of leakage are cosmetic damage to interior finishes below and structural damage to wood members exposed to the moisture.

Problem: Sometimes tiles are broken, cracked or missing. More often the tiles are loose because of failed grout and/or adhesive and/or failed backer material. The tiles will not be watertight if they are not secure. If the backer material starts to deteriorate tiles will eventually fall off the wall. The more immediate concern is that water will get in behind the backer material and attack the wall and floor systems behind and below. Considerable water damage can be done to the structure.

To check for moisture behind your floor or wall covering use a moisture meter. The meter has different settings depending on the depth of material needed to penetrate. The meter will give you a loud beeping noise to tell you if it detects moisture. These meters can be rented at a equipment rental store. The rental people will be more than happy to explain how to use the meter.