Bathroom demo .

[mmcmdl]

When my dad took the old stuff from the bathroom that we were gutting some 20 years ago, the old steel tub and plaster from the 4 walls weighed near 1000 pounds!

Yeah , well I'll get a pic of the dumpster when finished . I'm well over 1000 lbs at this point . I only have 3 more bathrooms to go . I'm actually subbing out the next 3 , but this one I can take my time as the place is not occupied other than my tool boxes .

 

[pdentrem]

3 more! Oh boy!

 

[woodchucker]

Never know what you’ll find when you tear into someone else’s work. When I demoed my second bathroom, I discovered that the wall tiles around the tub/shower were attached directly to drywall. No cement board or any kind of moisture barrier. Luckily, the drywall wasn’t destroyed, although the bottom row of tiles were loose in a couple spots. When I remodeled my first bathroom, I found a surprise pocket door frame behind the drywall. Since the wall was already framed for a pocket door, I installed a new one.

That was standard practice back in the 50s and early 60s. At least a few of the houses I worked on. As long as it was green board it was up to snuff back then. Moisture barrier... they had insulation with paper moisture barrier, that's it. So maybe you are thinking newer houses. Old houses didn't even have insulation. I worked on one, no blocking between levels, and no header to the attic. That was a surprise to me. It wasn't a rip out, so I was snaking new stuff in, but I was like, I don't understand, where are the cross members to hold it together. I ran the snake from the 3rd floor attic to the ground floor... But I couldn't get my snake back up as it caught on the lath...

 

[WobblyHand]

Some people that do this for a living install a chute outside the window to direct the debris straight into a dumpster. They just shovel the stuff out the window. Easier than hauling trash barrels...

 

[mmcmdl]

That was standard practice back in the 50s and early 60s.

The house was built in 64 and I was concerned about asbestos . Had it checked out and it wasn't present , so out came the electric hammer chisel . I have a few air chisels but didn't want to run the compressor and have the chisel blow the crap everywhere .

Some people that do this for a living install a chute outside the window to direct the debris straight into a dumpster. They just shovel the stuff out the window. Easier than hauling trash barrels...

You've been to this house . Unfortunately it's a rancher . The dumpster is in the driveway not far away . If I threw it out the window ( which I can't lift heavy shi* anymore ) , it would end up in the garden . As a side note , I do know that gardens love sheetrock .

 

[coolidge]

Brings back memories of my 1954 NY bathroom demo. The floor was 2 inches of concrete below tile over wood. I had to use a jackhammer. Walls were tile over thick plaster over even thicker planks of some early type of early sheet rock. Reinforced with like .100 thick steel strips and 700,000 nails. After I was down to the studs I found there wasn't a square or level surface in the entire room hence the plaster bondo job. After I vowed NEVER AGAIN to home remodels.

 

[matthewsx]

We just closed on a new place in Muskegon.

All redone.

I’ll work on the next one that the wife wants when I’m retired.

Until then I’m happy to trade my work $$ for someone else doing the heavy lifting.

BTW, what’s the plan with this place? Not really worth putting your own sweat into it unless it’s passive income IMHO.

John

 

[extropic]

Been there (except the concrete on the subfloor), done that, got the T shirt, but that was about 50 years ago.
I can't imagine tackling it again. Take care of yourself.

Is that copper Drain/waste/vent?

 

[Ultradog MN]

I did that work for 30 years. Specialized in bathrooms. Bet I gutted and remodeled more than 150 of them. Glad it's all behind me now and I made enough to retire - not rich but not poor either.
It's hard work but you learn how to do things easier.
I still get calls but only do a bit of design and consulting stuff now - if I feel like it.

 

[coolidge]

Then there was the 1950's cast iron tub ugh! Did I mention the tile was Salmon pink and lime green? I may start drinking again after this thread.