Have you ever wondered why some shower drains clog after six months while others run free for fifteen years? The difference isn’t luck—it’s what goes down the hole before you even notice. I learned this the hard way when my own fiberglass stall backed up at 6 a.m. on a Monday. A $6 plastic hair … Read more
I had to sit down with a family and show them photos of what was really inside their walls. The relief on their faces when I said “we can fix this” is why I do this job. The problem wasn’t a burst pipe—it was a $9 plastic shower drain strainer that cracked and let hair, … Read more
Have you ever wondered why some installations last for decades while others fail in just a few years? The difference is rarely the brand name on the box. I once walked into a 12-year-old bathroom in Portland where the tile had buckled, the subfloor was rotted, and the smell lingered like a ghost—none of it … Read more
When was the last time you saw water pooling around your feet mid-shower and thought, “Great, another weekend ruined”? That was me in 2019—brand-new $4,200 tile job, and the 2″ IPS flange sat â…›” proud because the cheap plastic shower drain kit lacked the adjustable barrel I now insist on. I tore out three courses … Read more
During renovations, when the walls are open, you have a once-in-a-decade opportunity to solve a problem permanently. Miss it, and it’s sealed away for years. I learned this the hard way on a 1920s brownstone reno when we skipped upgrading the shower drain assembly. Three months later, mysterious water spots bloomed on the kitchen ceiling … Read more
Here’s what surprises homeowners: the biggest cause of shower failures isn’t the $800 pan or the $3,000 tile job—it’s the $19 drain assembly that gets slapped in last. I’ve torn out 70 sq ft of flawless marble because a first-time DIYer forgot the gasket. One tiny ring, one soggy subfloor, one very expensive do-over. The … Read more
A common misconception is that if a design looks good on social media, it will work in your specific home. Often, the opposite is true because influencers showcase sleek, minimalist showers with linear drains—but rarely show the 3-inch slope under the tile, the 2-inch-deep receiver, or the waterproofing membrane lap that prevents leaks. I’ve seen … Read more
When I started working with historic homes, I quickly realized that modern solutions often create more problems than they solve. That’s when I began to specialize in preserving original plumbing while fixing today’s clogs—no chemical bombs, no overpriced gadgets. In 1920s bungalows, those cast iron drains don’t respond to acid. I learned the hard way … Read more
Statistics show that 40% of bathroom remodels blow past budget. For our clients, that number is under 5%, and the trick is dead-simple: we hand every homeowner a shower drain plumbing diagram before the first tile is lifted. One couple in Denver sketched their dream curbless walk-in on a napkin; when I overlaid the actual … Read more
A common misconception is that if a design looks good on social media, it will work in your specific home. Often, the opposite is true because the pretty bathroom shots rarely show the 2 a.m. hairball extraction or the $400 plumber visit that followed. I learned this the hard way after a “miracle” enzyme gel … Read more