Podcast Episode 672: Fixing Rot, Shower Panels, and Managing People Who Build Houses
The crew discusses finding rot when remodeling, challenges installing custom shower panels, and how to prevent subs and suppliers from sabotaging builds.
Welcome to the Fine Homebuilding podcast, our weekly discussion of building, remodeling, and design topics aimed at anybody who cares deeply about the craft and science of working on houses. This is senior editor Patrick McCombe. I’m joined by Fine Homebuilding contributing editor and production manager for TDS Custom Construction Ian Schwandt, Fine Homebuilding associate editor Grant Baver, and producer Andres Samaniego. Please email us your questions to [email protected].
You can find previous podcasts and check out the show notes at finehomebuilding.com/podcast
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Check in:
Ian: Projects with rot
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Grant: Projects with rot
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Patrick: We’ll be at the Builders’ Show!
Listener Feedback 1:
Rob Wotzak called to tell me that he enjoyed hearing Dan Kolbert on Episode 665 a few weeks ago.
Listener Feedback 2:
Patrick:
A few weeks ago Connor wrote in with his blower door number of 1.4 ACH50, and I think that is worthy of celebrating, so I’m asking listeners to write in with their blower door numbers or whatever it is they’re proud of. Anything you guys want to celebrate?
Question 1: What’s the best way to waterproof shower panels in a new installation?
Anne writes:
Dear FHB crew,
I’m deep into our New Hampshire house renovation that includes two bathrooms, with cultured-marble panel as shower and tub surrounds, and I find myself second-guessing and researching..and then I said “I know who to ask!”
So, what is the deal with the caulking at panel joints being the entire waterproofing system? This just doesn’t seem right. My panels are from Syn-Mar, a local Connecticut manufacturer with a stellar reputation, and the instructions consist of gluing the panels to cement backerboard and then caulking the joints. That’s it. The lead guy at Syn-Mar confidently told me on the phone that no additional waterproofing is necessary, and while I would like that to be true, I can’t quite believe that the exterior of a house needs several layers of redundancy, while a shower does not.
Also, it seems that the installation falls into a little bit of a no man’s land. The tile people don’t do it because the panels are sold at the plumbing supply showroom. The plumber doesn’t do it because that’s much more of a carpentry job with all sorts of careful fitting involved. The site supervisor/carpenter working on my house says he’s never installed them before. Last I heard, they were going to check and see if the contractor has someone with experience doing this to help.
I have a good contractor with a great reputation, but logic keeps rearing its ugly head in my mind
I know these shower panels are very popular and someone must be out there installing them. And I imagine there’s a knowledge base of real world experience by now, but I don’t quite know how to find it and I would love some feedback from you guys.
For what it’s worth, the tub’s surround panels are going around an alcove tub with an integral flange, and the shower surround panels will be going around a Syn-Mar shower base with an integral flange.
I hope you can help me get a little perspective on this!
Thank you so much!
Anne
RELATED STORIES
- VIDEO: Installing Large-Format Tile
- VIDEO: Finishing Touches for a Porcelain Slab Shower
- Three Ways to Waterproof Tile Showers
Question 2: Patrick asks the FHB crew to weigh in on the difficulties of managing people.
Ian, you and I were talking this week about how managing people is one of the greatest challenges of building houses. Subs, employees, designers—and let’s not leave out clients—are among the groups. Who am I leaving out?
It’s likely an oversimplification, but I think it boils down to people not doing what they say they’re going to do or doing the unexpected. Is it that easy?
What are some of the things people involved in home building do that you’ve learned to look out for or see as red flags to potential problems? Admittedly it’s a huge topic for conversation, but do you care to take a stab at one or more?
What do you think Grant? Is it the people building houses or working as subcontractors who make it a challenge? Or is it that every project is different, often with different people?
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- Starting Your Own Business
- How to Fire Your Best Friend
- How to Hire and Retain Good Tradespeople
- Managing Job-Site Conflict
Framing High-Performance Homes E-Learning Course from FHB
Unfortunately that is all the time we have for today. Thanks to Grant, Ian, and Andres for joining me and thanks to all of you for listening. Remember to send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected] and please like, comment, or review us no matter how you’re listening—it helps other folks find our podcast.
Happy Building!
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