Anything I should do while I have a wall open?

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Posted by derek murawsky (Questions: 1, Answers: 15)

Asked on May 24, 2011 7:05 am

12976 Views

I'm in the process of tearing out an old, leaking, tile shower on the second floor of my parent's two-story house (1930s plaster construction, cape style). Once out, I'm planning on redoing all the plumbing and running some new outlets as well (it shares a wall with the kitchen). I also plan on washing everything down inside with bleach and replacing any rotten wood. My question is, while I have this area open, is there anything else I should look at or consider doing? Since this is the first time the attic crawlspace will be open I'm considering poking my head up there and adding some more insulation. Anything else?

▲ 0 ▼	Posted by willyyam (Questions: 0, Answers: 10) Answered On May 24, 2011 10:23 am Conduit for data cable will probably be useful one day (rather sooner, if you have it). If I have my walls open that's what I'd be putting in. like PVC pipe, for future upgrades, CAT5 cable, or whatever the future holds (eamills at April 4, 2012 9:09 pm)
▲ 0 ▼	Posted by becca (Questions: 2, Answers: 4) Answered On May 24, 2011 11:08 am Leave today's newspaper and a note in the wall! Maybe a photograph? We recently renovated and I was looking for notes and interesting "treasures" in all the walls. I found a note from the 1920s about the plumbing. I wish I found other cool things! It is a little grim, but one of the best things you can do is anticipate a time when someone using that bathroom may have to recover from surgery or just get older...and need grab bars. The simple fix is to install plywood behind the drywall. You might want to add sound reducing insulation too. (the well report at May 24, 2011 11:25 am) That's not grim, that's just sensible. Talk about planning ahead and avoiding future headaches. (Oliver Hulland at May 24, 2011 11:26 am) Both excellent ideas! And grab bars are just too easy and sensible - soap and hard tile? As a culture, we're asking for more self-inflicted TBIs - unless the bars are better accepted & utilized. Or just put 'em in after someone cracks their head open... (wayne r at April 27, 2012 5:48 pm)
▲ 0 ▼	Posted by gryhze (Questions: 0, Answers: 12) Answered On May 24, 2011 11:42 am Consider a ventilation system such as an in-wall fan and vent through the attic to roof. Sometimes, opening a window is not practical, as in the dead of winter.
▲ 0 ▼	Posted by buckeyenut (Questions: 0, Answers: 2) Answered On May 24, 2011 5:53 pm Take photo of walls just before covering for future reference about studs, pipes, wiring and etc.
▲ 0 ▼	Posted by kevin kelly (Questions: 65, Answers: 54) Answered On May 24, 2011 9:13 pm Photograph it. I photographed all the walls in our house as we built them, but before we put the sheetrock on. I now have a very good record of what is inside, in case we need to make a modification. I've used the photographs a couple of times, letting us design modifications without having to open it up first.
▲ 0 ▼	Posted by christopher (Questions: 0, Answers: 65) Answered On May 25, 2011 5:25 am Why not add a window as well? Best money I spent in a reno was adding a skylight to a small bathroom. Totally changed that space. Or even one (or more) of those Solatubes. (wayne r at April 27, 2012 5:51 pm)
▲ 0 ▼	Posted by stephen kaerwer (Questions: 0, Answers: 2) Answered On June 21, 2012 8:50 pm I was moving some antique furniture into a house a few years back and the gentleman wanted to show me that he had speakers in the wall. They were totally invisible, but sounded great. I don't know what separated the speaker and the paint. A totally unnecessary luxury, but cool nonetheless.
▲ 0 ▼	Posted by david (Questions: 0, Answers: 4) Answered On April 12, 2015 11:57 pm Hi, I’m David professional plumber working in free style; I have website call Best Shower Head Reviews HQ. if you interested to know more great ideas about shower head then visit my blog link

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