One Nail

That’s all it takes to cost you $10k in repairs.

This one nail was fired through a piece of floor trim into a wall and into a copper water pipe. It sat there for a number of years not leaking, until one day the rushing water caused that one nail to finally rust to a point where it allowed water passed the penetration point. Who was to blame? One could say the finish carpenter, but I believe that to be a wrong target. I believe the plumbers are at fault for two reasons:

1) they put the copper too close to a wall, it should have been closer to the middle of the stud NOT on the edge where it was practically butted up against the drywall and

2) they should have put it higher up AWAY from the path of finish carpenters. Running it right along the bottom plate of the wall was foolish and asking for disaster. The eventual homeowner had to pay. The contractors were long gone.

This leak didn’t flood, immediately letting the homeowner know that there was a MAJOR problem. Instead it sprayed and trickled silently traveling along the wood and drywall UNDER the hardwood flooring. By the time it got to the hallway, out of the bathroom, you could see the hardwood curling begin. Hardwood that bubbles or curves up on itself must be replaced. Sanding it usually is a waste of time and money.

This photo illustrates the irreparable harm caused to flooring from excess water.

But back to the leak which went on for days, weeks, who knows. What I do know is that not only did hardwood need to be replaced but drywall on both sides of the wall necessitating the removal of an immobile vanity cabinet on one side and toilet on the other (luckily I had a magician with me). As well, some moldy wood and drywall in the hallway. When water hits a floor and is stopped by drywall it tends to leach upward and absorb into the drywall. I usually try to install drywall a ¼”- ½” off the ground for this reason especially in basements where concrete tends to contain moisture naturally.

How to Avoid This

There are a couple of ways to avoid this.

First, there is nay avoiding the errors of others which have been done and covered up. I run into this all the time in remodeling. That’s why I frown on “taking off drywall” unless I really have to in an older house. I’ve seen walls pieced together, where full studs did not reach from bottom to top plate. I’ve seen rat nests, dead animals, God only knows what insulation and everything in between. If you don’t have to open it, don’t. Unless you got time and MONEY!
So despite what’s out of your control you can avoid such costly mistakes by first hiring somebody who knows WHAT to do and gets it done RIGHT. Refer to my buddies article on choosing a contractor here.

Next, if you are undertaking a remodel you need to envision EVERY stage in the sequence that it needs to be done in. From beginning to end. In this very obvious example, someone laid the copper right where the finishing nailing would end up. They obviously weren’t thinking with the future. And that future was x days later a finish carpenter minding his own business doing his job which inadvertently costs someone major repair costs later.

Inspect things for yourself. Even if your contractor is good and referred by a friend or whatever, look for yourself (if you don’t know what you are looking at read some books). In fact, I recommend on such things that you take plenty of photos before walls get closed up, and during installation of various things so that you have documentation as to how things are and WHERE things are behind walls, under floors, etc. You just never know when these will come in handy. =)