Demolition. Whereas many homeowners prefer untiled walls in dry areas, the tile in many older bathrooms extends to a height of four or five feet. Unfortunately, in the old days, attaching tile to a wall involved attaching a metal mesh to the wall studs, spreading cement on the mesh to make the wall even with the plaster above, and then attaching the tiles to the concrete. The demolition process removes not just the tiles, but also the concrete and metal mesh holding them to the wall.
Tile floors also represent a challenge. Most older tile floors were constructed over a three-inch slab of poured concrete. In some cases, the existing slab is cracked and the floor joists below are rotted. As part of demolition, the existing tile and concrete slab is broken up and removed from the house in pieces. Old cast-iron bathtubs are disposed of in the same way. In handling this debris, quality contractors take the steps required to minimize disruption, damage, and dirt in other areas of the home.
Return to the main Atlanta bathroom remodeling page
