Question: It's so nice to have a plumbing-advice column that we can all read and, hopefully, pick up some great tips along the way, thank you! I recently read one of your articles in which the homeowner wanted to know what kind of floor to put in their shower. You recommended a fiberglass shower base. Well, my problem is just the opposite. We have a beautiful tile shower stall on all the walls, but it has a fiberglass base that has dulled over the years. What's involved in changing the shower floor to tile? Can we just tile over the fiberglass shower base? -- Bob, California
Answer: Sorry. As far as I have seen in my 30-plus years in home construction, I have never nor would I ever recommend trying to tile over an existing fiberglass shower base. So, what we are looking at could be a pretty substantial project for not much of a payback down the road when you decide to sell your home. One of the reasons I recommended a fiberglass shower base to the previous homeowner was that the ease of installation over a complete tile shower floor could save enough money to keep the project on budget and still give them a great custom look for their tile shower.
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For you to change your existing fiberglass floor, you'll probably have to demo your shower stall from the floor up to about a foot on to your shower walls. This can involve trying to match tile to your present walls, installing a new shower pan complete with a new drain and trap, new tile floor to the pan and about a foot of new tile on the walls to match up with the existing walls. Whew! I'm tired just thinking of all that work! Before you go headfirst into a project that may open up a can of worms, I would look into restoring your present fiberglass shower floor.
Remember, a fiberglass plumbing fixture can be looked at as if it were a boat hull. Older boats can be restored to look almost new, and if you find a good contractor who specializes in plumbing fixture repairs, you can save a lot of money and get a new, great-looking floor as well. Bottom line: If you really want the tile floor at any cost, go for it. But, if you're looking to save some "green," don't rock the "boat."
Q: I'm building a small summer cabin in the woods. When winter comes, I will need to shut down and winterize. My friend said I should pitch all my water lines and install drain valves so I can drain the plumbing system without using an air compressor. That is a lot more work for the plumbing. Should I do the extra work, or just get a compressor to blow out my water lines for winter? -- Will, Wisconsin
A: In my experience, no matter how much you pitch the water lines or how many drains you install in a plumbing system, it seems that water can find a place to hide when you rely on "gravity draining" a plumbing system. I would install the system as normal, then in the winter completely clear the water system with an air compressor. A good blowout with a compressor in winter can save a big blowout of a water line or plumbing fixture in the spring. I recommend hiring a licensed plumber to winterize a home. This way, if there is a problem in the spring, you may be covered for any repairs due to freezing.
(Master Contractor/Plumber Ed Del Grande is known internationally as the author of the book "Ed Del Grande's House Call" and for hosting TV shows on Scripps Networks and HGTVPro.com. For information, visit eddelgrande.com or write eddelgrande(at)hgtvpro.com. Always consult local contractors and codes.)
