How to perform a bathroom strip-out from start to finish
- magda
Demolishing a bathroom requires some skills besides demolishing the walls and floors. It requires careful removal of electric wiring and plumbing supplies before the gutting process is started. Large fixtures such as bathtubs and sink vanities must be detached with care. You must be really careful removing a glued-on mirror to avoid breaking the glass. Always contact your council for any rules and regulations before starting any demolition work. If you think the following task would be challenging, just call PERFECT HIRE and we will supply you with the right person with the right tools.
Disconnect Everything
For doing bathroom strip-out, turn off the electricity linking to the bathroom. You need to check the panel for the circuit map to clearly identify which circuit is heading to the bathroom. Turn off the water supply and disconnect any supply lines from the valve. These are normally situated beneath the fixture. Drain the water from the fixtures by turning on the taps until the water stops running. Flush the toilet in case there is any water left in the bowl.
Remove the Sink and Vanity
Locate the drain nuts surrounding the P-trap and unscrew it using the adjustable wrench. Look for any seals or gaskets that can cause trouble in the future and clean it if required. Unscrew the nuts that lead to hot and cold water supply lines and check if the sink is resting on the mounting bracket or is bolted to the wall. Remove the brackets or bolts if necessary. Also, remove the screws that are holding the cabinet and remove the cabinet from the wall.
Remove the Toilet
Unscrew the pipe from the supply line valve that is usually located behind the toilet or on the floor. Remove the nuts from the bolts that are attached with the base to the floor. In case you have an old toilet and the nuts are difficult to remove, just use a lubricant to make life easier. Lift the toilet base attached to the floor. If the base is still attached, just cut the caulk seal. Stuff an old piece of cloth into the drain to avoid gases from rising up.
Remove the Bathtub or Shower Stall
Remove the shower handles, the tub, and the spout. If you have an old spout, just turn it in the anticlockwise direction and it should come out. For newer spouts, screws are normally provided behind the cover. Just remove the cover with the screwdriver and then the screws with the Allen wrench. Remove the metal basket at the bottom of the tub/shower. Remove the tub and stall walls. Some walls are just one piece and easy to remove while others are caulked so you need to be very careful to remove the glue behind the walls. If it’s a tile, use a hammer to chisel the tiles off the cement. Make sure you wear safety goggles to protect your eyes. Use a utility knife to break the caulk seal and lift the tub from its place.
Remove the Walls and Flooring
Pry the baseboard and moulding trim from the floor perimeter, the door, and the window frame. Use the curved end of the pry bar to get between moulding and the wall. Pull off the pieces with firm yanks. Remove the flooring – If your flooring is just vinyl, use a utility knife to pull up the sheet. If the flooring tiles, use a hammer and pry bar to chisel them loose. Scrape the floor with a putty knife to remove any glue or grout and the floor is smooth.
Remove all lights, electric sockets, and ventilation fans. Use work lights while working. If you have drywalls, pull off a large section of drywall and dump it into the 33-gallon can. If your walls are of plaster and lathe, remove plaster first before working on the lathe. To remove plaster, tear off a section of plaster with the claw end of the hammer. Force the flat end of the spade between the plaster and the lathe, which will make the plaster, fall into chunks. Put a 33-gallon can below so that the plaster can directly fall into the can. Once the plaster is removed, pry the lathe from the wall with the hammer. Pull out any old insulation from the wall. Regularly vacuum the place to keep it dust free and tidy and to prevent accidents. Remove the ceiling drywall or plaster the same way you removed the walls.
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