| |
Here are some tips on how to remove
vanity sinks, countertops, cabinets, disassembling toilets
and bathtubs and demolition of old baths and its wall
surfaces.
|
Demolition Of Old Baths and Wall Surfaces
It is wisely said that destruction is much easier than
construction and much more messy too. Demolition of old baths and ripping
wall surfaces, cabinets, faucets and fixture from that unwanted bathroom
is not a job of much skill but it certainly needs patience, hard labor
and an endurance to a lost of dust and debris! If you are planning
to tear out your old bathroom to replace it with a new one, be careful
enough to shut off all the water supply pipes and disconnect electrical
wiring carefully before ripping out walls and flooring. It is also
a good idea to shut off all the drain and pipe outlets with rags so
that the debris does not cause plugging in them and harmful sewer gases
do not have a chance to leak into the space. Here are some points to
remember:
- To remove a toilet tank and seat, turn off water and shut off the
water supply line. Then flush the toilet to empty the tank. Soak
the remaining water with sponge. Unscrew the nuts and bolts anchoring
the tank and seat to the wall and floor respectively and be careful
not to break it as you lift it off. You may use it, resell it in
junkyard or garage sales or discard it completely if it is broken.
Stuff the drain with a rag.
- Vanity sinks can be removed by undoing the compression fittings
and the trap that connects it to the tailpipe and drainpipe. Sponge
off any water that is spilt and stuff a rag in the drain. Turn off
the water supplies, remove the hot and cold water lines and you may
need to unscrew the nuts under the shut-off valves to remove the
faucet. Pry carefully to break the caulk seal holding the countertop.
- For countertops attached by screws to cabinet framing, pull them
off by unscrewing the nuts. You may need to pry them off, if they
are glued to the cabinet.
- Cabinets are often screwed via nailing strip to the wall and to
each other at the joints of their frames. Unscrew them all to remove
them.
- A bathtub usually has its flanges hidden behind wall finishing
and thus, can be removed fully only after the demotion of walls.
Removing clasps attaching it to the wall studs and detaching tub
drain tailpiece from the trap, allows you to move the tub. If you
do not want to reuse the tub, an easy-way out is to break it into
pieces.
- Most people prefer to use hammers to break and pry off old ceramic
tiles, drywall and plaster and you may saw off vertical cuts between
the studs and remove it in sections to minimize hammering and resultant
dust. However, be sure to turn or shut off any electrical and water
lines, test them with continuity tester to check they are dead. Remove
them or tape them properly before you venture into breaking walls
and floors.
- Cover your eyes, ears, skin and nose properly to avoid dust and
debris from causing problems later.
- Simply, saw off the door jambs and nails from the door frames and
cut out any plastic or metal pipes to remove them. To fit in a new
piece of pipe, leave enough of the stub to fit a coupling.
|
|
