LOVELAND, Ohio -- A Loveland, Ohio family is dealing with a big bathroom boo-boo.
No, it's not something their 4-year-old did in there.
It's something their builder did, and it's an important warning for anyone having a bathroom built, or re-done.
Bathroom Now Unusable
Kelly Haas has to keep her master bathroom door closed, because the inside smells terribly of mold.
It turns out the walls behind her shower tiles are covered with it.
Haas says it all started with some bulging tiles.
"We noticed the shower down the middle had started to pucker, to bow," Haas said.
When she called a contractor to fix the tiles, he delivered some very bad news.
"He said that behind the tile is drywall, which is not supposed to be behind tile." He told her it could cost $3,000 to rip out and rebuild.
What to Use, Not Use in Bathrooms
According to Scripps Networks' D-I-Y Network,
- Waterproof cement backer board should be used behind shower tile.
- Water resistant "greenboard" is acceptable in some cases, for instance, over bathtubs.
- Standard drywall should never be used around water, even under tile.
But, she pointed out, "this is all drywall here, and the drywall was all wet."
The bigger problem is that their house came with a home buyer's warranty, but the warranty just recently expired.
"The house is 12 years old, it will be 13 in January, and the warranty is for 10 years," Haas says. She said when she called, the builder told her there was nothing they could do.
So we called the builder, who promised to investigate. He told us if they determine it was their error, at the time the house was built, they will replace the shower at no charge.
How to Protect Yourself
So don't let this happen to you.
- Don't choose a builder or contractor on low price alone.
- Ask for references, and call those people to see if they are really happy.
- Google the builder or contractor for complaints.
And observe their work, if possible, so you don't end up like the Haas family with an expensive boo-boo. She would probably prefer a boo-boo left behind by a 4 year old.
That way you don't waste your money.
___________________
Don't Waste Your Money is a registered trademark of the EW Scripps Co.
"Like" John Matarese on Facebook
Follow John on Twitter (@JohnMatarese )
Sign up for John's free Newsletter delivered weekly to your inbox
Click here formore DWYM reports and to contact John
_______________________
You can save an average of $275.00* on local dining, travel and attractions with WCPO Insider Rewards. Search, sort and filter through 300,000+ deals, everyday just for being an Insider.
Click here to try us out for FREE for a month.
*Average annual savings
