Ask the Remodeler: Should you wallpaper a bathroom?

Plus, how to handle a tree-root invasion in your sewer pipe. Send your questions to [email protected].

Can wallpaper withstand the moisture in a bathroom? Adobe Stock

By Mark Philben -- Globe Correspondent

May 29, 2024

Q. I am renovating two bathrooms that get very little use. Three walls and the floor will be covered in marble tile. I’d like to cover the fourth wall with wallpaper made of a natural material such as raffia or hemp. Will these materials withstand the moisture/steam from the occasional use of the shower or potential splashes from the sink? Is there something that I can treat the wallpaper with that will make it more water-resistant?

LISA G.

A. We do not install wallpaper in bathrooms often, but when we have, there hasn’t been an issue. Your question brings up something often overlooked: proper bathroom ventilation. Most bath vents we replace in a remodel are woefully undersized. Ideally, you want to have a fan that can move 1 cubic foot of air per minute (CFM) per square foot of floor space. Most of the vents available that toggle between 80 and 110 cfm and use a 4-inch vent line will work fine. Larger bathrooms that use a 150 cfm fan will need a 6-inch vent line. Just as critical, have your vent on a timer. Too many people do not pay attention to this. It is important, especially in your case, to have the bathroom vent run for 10-15 minutes after you are out of the shower. Most people who just have a switch will shut the fan off and go about their day. That leftover steam will linger and settle into everything in the enclosed bath space. It is an easy swap using existing wiring.

Q. Tree roots invaded our sewer pipe this year and two years ago. What is the best material for a sewer pipe replacement? PVC was recommended, but my partner would prefer steel and/or hire an engineer to access the situation. What would you recommend, and if we go the engineer route, what type of engineer should we hire?

S. GORDON

A. It is possible nowadays to have your main sewer lines repaired without digging up your entire property. Often the main sewer lines that we see beyond the foundation are basically old clay pipes that are riddled with root damage and essentially skeletons of the pipes that were buried decades ago. There are several technologies available today to reline the “skeleton pipe” with PVC. It isn’t cheap, but neither is excavation equipment, labor, etc. to replace it manually.

A potentially more cost-effective solution is to have the drain line cleared every year. To some clients, we have recommended it be scoped with a camera to get an analysis of the condition of the drain line. Often it is in good enough shape to have it roto-cleared every year to keep the roots at bay. This is a very straightforward process, typically in the hundreds of dollars. In most cases you could do this for several decades and spend less than you would to replace or reline the main drain line. As always, consult a qualified contractor, in this case a drain specialist. Your plumber may have good recommendations.

Mark Philben is the project development manager at Charlie Allen Renovations in Cambridge. Send your questions to [email protected]. Questions are subject to editing.