Preparing Your Home for Retirement

If you are planning on renovating your bathroom, you will need to perform partial demolition of your current space. Destruction of the old structural elements will ensure that you have a plain template for improving the bathroom. Moreover, you will be able to fix internal problems in the walls and floors after demolition as opposed to only making superficial improvements. Unfortunately, deconstructing a bathroom can be a challenging process. If you are performing this demolition task for the first time, you should consider the below-outlined tips for optimal success.

Turn Off Your Service Meters

You should turn off the supply of water to your bathroom before beginning the demolition work. Under ideal circumstances, you should turn off the water supply in the entire building. It is possible to cut off the flow of water to one area of the house in some plumbing networks. However, if you are demolishing elements such as walls and floors, you might end up damaging concealed pipes with water flow. This could result in a flooding incident. You should also switch off the electrical supply before demolition. There are elements in the building which are powered by electricity, and contact could cause electrical shock. If your heater is powered by gas, you should have the utility disconnected.

Plan for Asbestos Inspection

If you have an old bathroom, you should have the building inspected before proceeding with your project. This process will help you determine whether there is asbestos in the structure. Asbestos is a mineral material with excellent insulating and fire retardant capabilities. Therefore, it was often installed in bathrooms, particularly in walls and around pipes. Unfortunately, this construction material can be dangerous when disturbed during demolition. In most cases, the particles of the mineral will disperse into the air. If these are inhaled, they will have a negative health impact. So, you should be cautious and have an expert consultant examine the bathroom to avoid mishaps. 

Expose Concealed Elements

Finally, you should expose the bathroom structural components which are concealed behind walls and floors. It is not unusual for homeowners to avoid inspecting the essential elements in a bathroom during a major renovation. Unfortunately, this oversight can leave some unresolved problems after the improvement, causing unnecessary losses. For example, you should check on the condition of the waterproofing material. If this layer failed, the materials beneath the tiles could be rotting. Also, you should check for termites in your timber wall framework. Resolving this problem will prevent deterioration of your house. 

Contact demolition contractors for additional advice.