AboutLen Kroll Expertise I can provide advice on the proper design, construction, maintenance, restoration, preservation, cleaning and waterproofing of log homes. Questions concerning proper cleaning, sealing, staining and waterproofing are within my area of expertise. My expertise includes new construction and existing log structures. Chinking application or restoration, log replacement and repair are also in my area of expertise.
Question Hi, We live in a very old house and are redoing the kitchen. Upstairs we have a bathroom and part of it is over the kitchen. Our concern is that we may take a bath or toilet may flood & water leaks downstairs- how can we keep the water from damaging the new sheetrock/drywall? Is there some type of bladder that we should put up? Should we put plastic over the drywall? Please help. Our project is at a standstill because we know that we'll have damage if we move on. We are doing the renovation ourselves. Thank you.
Answer Sherri,
There are literally tens of thousands of homes in America with bathrooms on the second floor. The assurance that they won't leak is accomplished by good workmanship and quality products being used in their construction. There are no "shields" available to prevent water damage when water gets into areas it is not supposed to be in.
If you are worried that the old plumbing is suspect then you should renovate it as part of your renovation project. A correctly plumbed bathroom is not likely to leak; however, there are no guaranties. When unexpected problems occur you simply have to deal with them. I had a drain line fail in my second floor bath tub after only 15 years and water soaked the tongue and groove wood ceiling in the bathroom below. The solution was to remove the damaged wood and replace it. Had I tried to prevent water from getting on the tongue and groove it would simply go somewhere else that it isn't suppose to be. When accidents happen they happen; you have to deal with the consequences.
Why do you "know that we'll have damage if we move on?" Do you know there is something wrong with the bathroom above? If so, fix it now, then you won't have damage, except if some accident occurs. Good luck.
