How serious does the structural wall in my new property’s bathroom look, and will I need to address the adjacent bedroom’s insulation as well?
Asked by Jacinto Teixeira 
4 months ago
Last Updated: July 28, 2024
So, I’ve been working on renovating the bathroom in the house I just purchased, and I made a surprising discovery behind the walls. It seems like there’s a structural wall back there, but I can’t say for sure. How concerning does this look to you? I haven’t removed the tub yet because it’s cast iron and I haven’t had a chance. This wall is on the outer edge of the house, with the backyard right behind it. There’s a bedroom next to it where I noticed some insulation – do you think I’ll need to investigate behind those walls too? Any help or advice you can offer would be really appreciated!
I’m really sorry, I don’t have much information…but, it’s clear that there was a window in that spot before. Have you considered if this bathroom was previously a back porch?
I’m not sure about that, I just recently purchased it.
Hey, do you see the header part on the wall where the old window used to be? The framing doesn’t look right there – some of the studs are not supported properly. It might be worth getting a professional to take a look and make sure everything is framed correctly.
Can you provide more details about your question? I want to make sure I understand.
Any outside wall is important for the structure of the building. The old window frame has a header above it, which is correct. Yes, it’s old and has some water damage, which is common. Replace the damaged wood, insulate the wall, and rebuild. You can reuse the tub, but replace the corroded plumbing and faucet, and redo the drains to make everything fresh.
Take out the old tub, replace any stained or damaged wood before adding new materials. ‘t forget to inspect for mold as well.
One of the best ways I’ve discovered for getting rid of those old cast iron tubs is by using an old blanket to cover the area you’re going to hit, then using a sledgehammer to break it into smaller pieces. Just put the pieces in buckets. The blanket helps contain the mess and keeps you safe from any flying shards.
Seems like a typical old house. Just needs a good cleaning and it seems like you had some bird visitors. I had to kick out a few birds from my place a while back. They left me a little surprise. Check the wood for any signs of rot or bugs. Keep an eye out for termites. Replace any rotted wood and hope we don’t have any more unexpected visitors.
Let it dry out. Anything that needs to be remediated will be much easier to see once everything dries out and is cleaned up. Take everything and clean it up as best you can for now.
Reminds me of my in-laws’ house, so the room had to be torn out. About 60 feet of the outside was part of a building permit that needed to replace all plumbing. The wiring and the 60 feet of walls cost over $100,000. When it was done, it did not look good.
I prefer dealing with that than tearing out an outdated tile installation. It’s simpler to start fresh than to fix small portions.
Do you enjoy this one, ? 😁
Might turn out to require some tearing down
Seems like a common problem with old houses. Gutting, drying, replacing the bad stuff, and then sealing it up.
Haha, it seems like someone tried their hand at making meth in the bathroom. The wood paneling definitely needed to be removed though.
Welcome to the latest episode of this old house!
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You can notice that there used to be a window there based on the header. It appears to have old water damage. If the structure is sound and the outside is in good condition, clean it up, apply some sealant, install insulation, greenboard, and a tub/shower insert.