Watch this Before Adding New Bathroom Floor

We talked a lot about water in the last video. Today we continue the discussion, hoping you might avoid some of the mistakes we found in our demolition work on the remodel. When considering a floor covering, especially in a bathroom, never stop thinking about water. First, how can you prevent water from penetrating into walls and floors? Second, if water does penetrate, how will it get out again. Vinyl makes an excellent floor covering in wet areas. Originally these coverings were a single sheet secured to the subfloor creating a complete water barrier. Newer products on the market are similar to the laminate floor we installed in the guest bedroom, having a locking strip along the edges that holds thin planks of the floor together in a "mostly" complete barrier. An even more recent product is the peel-and-stick tiles which are usually square and have adhesive pre-applied to the back. Each time is a good water barrier, but where they meet is not sealed. If you choose to use peel-and-stick flooring, research its proper installation before laying the floor. In our en suite in the remodel the adhesive tiles were applied directly to wooden floor underlayment which was stapled over the original sheet vinyl floor. This layer of wood sandwiched between two layers of vinyl is a bad idea.

Our most valuable lessons on the homestead come from seeing other people's mistakes. Advise about electrical safety is often ignored, but evidence of disasters that could happen often produces a healthy respect for the dangers. Please, learn from my sharing an embracing electrical mistake that could have been very bad.