Possible solutions to an itty-bitty shower surround dillema

Re: shower surround...
Asked by itty-bitty

Question:

This little house we just bought has some interesting "fixes".  One is that the shower surround is exterior vinyl siding.  While I am sure it is effective at keeping the water off the drywall it isn't very attractive. 

We have a lot of work to do to this house and are on a budget.  I would love some suggestions of things that I could do myself to replace that siding.  I am a average strength gal so pelase no suggestions that take a lot of brawn.  Budget is definately an issue but I would like it to look  nice as well.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can share.

My Advice:

itty-bitty

Sounds like you have an itty bitty dillema not that I need to tell you that.

This is one of those problems or situations that when I look at it I cringe because beauty is only skin deep and in your situation you need to get under the skin to really tell what is or may be going on. 

As a professional renovator I know all too well that people always are looking for the best fix for the cheapest price.  No insult intended it is just human nature and a sign of the times.  I fear that when I ponder your situation I just simply say you have to look at what is going on under the siding to really evaluate this problem somewhat comprehensivly.  I know what you may be thinking on this one and it isn't that I am solving your problem I suspect.

You have an ugly situation at hand because when it comes to an inexpensive fix you may not be able to get that kind of a result once you embark upon this journey.  I thinkk if I can recite the lyrics to GIlligan's Island   it may just be like Gilligan's 3 hour tour and if you don't know how the lyrics go like this

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
A tale of a fateful trip
That started from this tropic port
Aboard this tiny ship.

The mate was a mighty sailing man,
The skipper brave and sure.
Five passengers set sail that day
For a three hour tour, a three hour tour.

The weather started getting rough,
The tiny ship was tossed,
If not for the courage of the fearless crew
The minnow would be lost, the minnow would be lost.

The ship set ground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle
With Gilligan
The Skipper too,
The millionaire and his wife,
The movie star
The professor and Mary Ann,
Here on Gilligans Isle.

So this is the talel of the castways,
They're here for a long, long time,
They'll have to make the best of things,
It's an uphill climb.

The first mate and the Skipper too,
Will do their very best,
To make the others comfortable,
In the tropic island nest.

No phone, no lights no motor cars,
Not a single luxury,
Like Robinson Crusoe,
As primative as can be.

So join us here each week my freinds,
You're sure to get a smile,
From seven stranded castways,
Here on "Gilligan's Isle."

Now you might be saying what does a song have to do with my project?  Well I think you are about to board the SS Minnow when you embark upon this 3 hour tour and just read the rest of the song to see how your journey may go.  Once you remove the siding you may find a window that is buried in the wall.  You may find rotten sheetrock behind there and once you oopen the walls you may find mold.  Now as a contractor that rebuilds homes as a result of water damage I know how Mold is.  It is not something to take lightly.  If you have mold behind the walls BE CAREFUL TO NOT DISTURB THEM!!!!!  You may want to bring in a mold remediation company such as a Steamatic to remove and biocid e the mold.  This is the BEST option if the mold is infested.  But exactly how far has the mold gone?   If it has gotten under the bathtub it may have spread to the basement and affected the framing and the drywall in the ceilings.

Can you see how as the song states

"The weather started getting rough,"          aka your project starting to get very complicated
The tiny ship was tossed, "                           Your small project being tossed and turned into a large project

What is the best scenario?  I don't know as it is hard to tell from here.  There are some variables that need to be ascertained before a person can really tell what the "best" approach will be or could be.

Some possible scenarios is that if the wall is dry behind the siding to simply remove the siding and apply a waterproofing membrane such as membranes that are components of the Kerdi system manufactured by the schluter company of Germany.  You then amy be able to apply ceramic tile and be done with it and have a beautiful end product but then again you may not.  I understand that you are not husky so I have shyed away from Cement board as it is heavy cumbersome BUT it IS code in many municipalities so I am offering a sugestion that may work depending upon what you see as your best alternative.  there are also some other options out there such as glass board but that is ugly but functional.  

You may also be able to purchase one of the three piece shower surrounds.  These are not always the highest quality but again they are functional light and install in a weekend or a couple long week days.   Be sure you ascertain what the condition of the wals undermeath that siding is first as you may be creating yourself a HUGE headache if you install these without properly addressing all of the problems..

I think I have rambled long enough so to sum it up be prepared for a long, arduous and expensive journey once the siding comes off.  I know this is probably not what you wanted to hear but considering the space this siding is in and the possible band aid they chose I suspect they covered up a real can of worms and it is now your job to open it. I hope that I have offered at least a starting point for your project or at LEAST food for thought.

I wish you good luck with your project and if there is anything else I can be of assistance with (like finding lyrics to any old tv shows) please feel free to post a reply or drop me an email.  I will help when and where I can!

Sincerely,

James D. Van Raden

Owner/ Paragon Renovations