I enjoy watching shows like Holmes on Homes and Disaster DIY for two reasons. First, I almost always learn something that I can apply to my own renovations. Second, and I hate to admit it, but there is always a certain level of comfort knowing that as bad as things are in my own house, things can always be worse. At least I know that I am not alone. The difference is that Mike Holmes and his crew are not swooping in to bail me out of my predicament (the show never responded to the email I sent them a couple of years ago).
A couple of days ago, a friend asked me to help him out with a basement bathroom renovation at a relative’s house as there was some water damage around the shower. Demolition is my favourite part of any job, but it felt strange taking a hammer to someone else’s house for a change. It was great fun! But the more we opened up, the more problems we found and the more water damage we revealed. As the homeowner looked on, I found myself saying “If you think this is bad you should see my house,” though I don’t know if it made her feel any better.
Interesting location for a bathroom
Similar to our old house, this house had a pantry area located under the small porch. The shower and toilet were located in the pantry, while the rest of the bathroom extended out into the main living area. It’s a small bathroom, but the layout seemed to work. The problem is that the porch had deteriorated over the years and the water was coming in through the cracks and holes in the mortar. The porch might be fixable. If not, it wouldn’t be too difficult to replace it. It all depends on the mason’s assessment and the homeowner’s budget.
Interesting location for a plug
Electrical plug… about a foot off the floor… between the toilet and the shower. Need I say more? And it wasn’t even a GFI! Yikes! Another quality job courtesy of “Previous Owner.”
Just when they thought they were finished
My friend’s relatives had recently finished the rest of the basement, replacing paneling that was glued directly to the block with proper framing, insulation and drywall. The bathroom, which was about 20 years old, was a little dated but otherwise fine except for a couple of loose tiles. They asked my friend to fix the tiles, and that was when he discovered the water damage. Now, instead of a quick fix, they are looking at a renovation that could potentially cost thousands of dollars.
I know how they feel.
