Plumbing remodeling goes hand in hand with any home remodeling job. If you plan to remodel an older home, then you need to take the state of the bathroom into consideration since bathrooms are one of the most important rooms in the home. While updating a bathroom includes getting rid of old tile work, it may also be necessary to change toilets, showers, sinks, fixtures and piping.
Common toilet, shower and sink issues
Calcification, hard water buildup and other stains commonly plague older toilets, showers and sinks. These issues may not cause a malfunction, but they significantly decrease the aesthetic appeal of a bathroom and may reduce home value. A plumber can help replace these bathroom musts with ease. A slow flushing toilet, cracked fiberglass shower and broken sink drain are typical issues in older bathrooms that may require replacements as well.
In addition to unattractive sinks, improperly-working sinks, toilets and showers, bathroom fixtures often cause issues in bathrooms. Whether it is a slow drain or a dripping faucet, small annoyances easily become big problems. Homeowners need to address all of these problems with a professional plumber during a plumbing remodeling job.
Common pipe issues
No matter the age of the home, there is most likely a piping issue lurking somewhere that will soon become an expensive fix. Most piping older than 10 years needs to be updated, repaired or replaced.
Some of the oldest homes have cast-iron drain systems. While these were built to last, many of them have begun to rust and rot on the inside. These issues are not visible from the outside, so cast iron piping typically remains in a home for much longer than it should. A plumber can perform tests to determine the state of cast-iron piping.
It takes a professional
Galvanized plumbing is mainly in homes from before 1960. These pipes act as an alternative to piping that contains lead. Since they are in homes that are now over 50 years old, they need replacement during any remodel job. Copper piping is also common after galvanized and do not have many problems but are expensive to produce.
Some copper piping experiences corrosion from acidic water or soil. It is important to have a plumber inspect copper and replace it if any issues present themselves. Polybutylene piping replaced most copper piping between 1978 and 1995. This type of piping is now banned for use in homes due to its unstable, brittle makeup once chlorine runs through it.
Most insurance agencies will not insure homes with polybutylene plumbing, therefore it should definitely be replaced as soon as possible. The plastic used in newer bathroom piping is typically safe and strong, but it never hurts to have it inspected for cracks or loose fittings that could cause bigger issues down the road.
Call us to update your plumbing
Regardless of the age of your home, if you are planning a bathroom update, all toilets, showers, sinks, fixtures and plumbing should be inspected. Not only will the use of your bathroom be a better overall experience, but you will also be improving the value of your home. Updating plumbing during a plumbing remodeling job will prevent future expensive repairs as well.
