Black Mold Ants Polybutlyne and Rot in Bathrooms

 

Loose Ceramic Tiles in Bathroom

Loose tiles, water seeping into green board backer is a recipe for mold, rot and bugs.

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Kitchen Remodeling Contractor's Loose Ceramic Floor Grout

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This kitchen ceramic floor tile was improperly installed directly on lino/luan plywood which is not stable, causing the tile to break and throw grout. This situation generally takes a year or two to show itself which is normally past most state mandated contractor warranties (1yr). If you are lucky to have a contractor who stands behind there work, they will repair it. Of course why would you do this in the first place?

To repair this floor correctly all layers of flooring must be removed to subfloor renailing with ringshanks and installing 1/2" concrete board set in thinset. Complicating this after the fact repair is new cabinets, appliances and granite tops that must be protected 2 years after the original remodel was completed.

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Quest polybutylene piping and Acetyl fittings

Quest pipe ( polybutylene ) and Celcon ( Acetyl ) fittings are a discontinued water supply piping method- Poly Time Line. Some insurance companies don't insure your home from flooding if your Quest system fails. There is a class action lawsuit. Chlorine coupled with hot water "eats" the fittings and is exacerbated by higher than standard water pressures. In the picture above the inside of the fitting (hot side) has chemically reacted with the chlorine in the water causing deterioration of the fitting. Notice the break is very clean at a thin "barb" section. Standard water pressure in a residence should be between 50-60 PSI. This home had a 78 PSI reading during the day which probably rose over a 100 PSI at night when off peak city water usage times. Water damage from a broken fitting can be 10 times the cost of changing to copper in your home.

If you can't afford replacement right now, at least check your water pressure and have a new pressure regulator installed to keep high pressures down.

Contact Mark Daniels for kitchen or bathroom remodeling estimate

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Mud set pan with drywall backer board

This is a tract builder's mud set shower pan. Not sure why they did this as a fiberglass shower pan is less expensive. This must have been an "upgrade" for the home buyer. It seems this has been leaking through the ceiling for a few years, rotted the floor and looks like the builder used regular sheet rock as a backer for the tile. Small ants have been spotted. All living things need moisture including mold, fungi and ants.

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Bathroom Black Mold

Black mold mud set shower pan. Center for Disease Control CDC "Mold Questions and Answers" Moisture, humidity and leaks in your bathroom facilitate mold growth. Mold is a health issue. Use your bathroom exhaust fan, repair leaking pipes and replace poor or damaged tile work. In other words, try to keep your bathroom dry. Fairfax County Va. "Mildew, Mold and Fungi" Musty or earthy smells probably mean mold problems.

If you have loose or "spongy" tile in your tub shower area, this is what it normally looks like when torn out. Mold in a bathroom can be a health hazard. Mold is propagated in a humid environment caused by plumbing leaks, loose tiles in the tub shower areas and not using a fan or window to reduce humidity in your bathroom. The EPA says " the longer mold grows the more damage and health effects it can cause".
Bathroom shower "green board" rotted at the bottom. Caulking dam and bad tile work has caused the green board to get wet, mold and deteriorate. I personally don't use green board for wet location tile work. Concrete board or the Schluter system are much better options for backing up quality tile work.

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Carpenter Ants

Bathroom sub floor rot and old carpenter ant infestation. Carpenter ants prefer to live in moist wood that can be caused by water leaks in bathrooms. Take away the moisture and they generally will leave. We removed sub floor completely and replaced with new 3/4" plywood. In another note, I had ants in my home and found this article on homemade ant killer, it worked great, killed the colony and I didn't have to pay a pest control person monthly fees.

Silicone caulking Dam

Grout wicks water down the grout lines in behind the silicone dam to be trapped. If no silicone is used water just wicks out the bottom of the grout and dries. Before the tear out, the tub caulking acted like a miniature dam to hold moisture at the bottom edge of tile work and promotes mold growth, wicks into green board and will promote rot of the wood. Rubber floor mat and abrasive cleanser caused the tub to wear much quicker.

Water is making its way behind tile to make the substrate expand, further opening grout lines. Probably mold growing in the wall. This is a total tear out and replace situation. Grout repair will not work and my feeling on tub/shower inserts or painting of tubs is comparable to getting expensive seat covers for your car. The tub is not terrible, but I always recommend changing the tub or shower pan. Who wants to have a new remodeled bathroom with an old tub.

Quick fix for cracked toilet tank lid. It held together well. Gorilla glue I think.

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Bathroom remodeling sea foam green and pink toilets with matching tile work.

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That 70's show bathroom before remodeling. A 60's pink and black bathroom before remodeling.

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Vincent Van Gogh style bathroom wall texture. Bathroom corner sink, possibly from the 1930's.

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Bathroom Remodeling and Kitchen Remodeling serving : Fairfax Va. , Manassas Va. , Clifton, Burke, Burke Station, Herndon, Reston, Dumfries, Sterling, Prince William County, Faquier, Lorton, Nokesville, Centreville, Chantilly, Woodbridge, Dale City, Gainesville, Bristow, Montclair, Warrenton, Fairfax City, Springfield, Nokesville, Lake Ridge, Catlett, Mount Vernon, Occoquan, Lake Ridge, Hay Market, Oakton, Annandale, Stafford, Fairfax Station, Fort Belvoir, Va. Virginia. And other locations based on travel times

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