How to Fix a Failing Bathroom Floor
From demolition to installation, how to repair old, water-damaged floor joists.
Synopsis: Because bathrooms are subject to such high usage under extreme conditions, they often end up having to endure the trickiest, most difficult repairs when things go wrong. For this project, builder Mike Lombardi visited the FHB Project House to prepare its bathroom floor as the first step in a major face-lift. To start, Lombardi and his crew removed the old, damaged floor joists. It’s important to take apart the floor carefully, starting with the subfloor, so that you don’t cut into any plumbing or mechanicals under the subfloor. The next step is fitting the replacement joists. In a bathroom, take steps to ensure that your work won’t be undone by future water damage, and be sure to reinforce the framing under the toilet and the tub. This article includes sidebars about prepping for a mortar bed and about working with the right number of people on a demolition job.
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