My kitchen backsplash project turned into a full wall demo

I planned to just replace the tile behind my sink, but one tug on a loose piece pulled down a whole section of drywall. Found a hidden pipe leak that had been going on for who knows how long. Now I'm looking at a $400 plumbing fix before I can even think about tile again. Anyone have a good way to check for hidden water damage before starting a simple project?

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3 Comments

raymartin7mo ago

My contractor friend swears by a cheap moisture meter from the hardware store, like under thirty bucks. You just poke it into the wall in a few spots to check for trouble before you even pick up a hammer.

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skylerp206mo ago

Seriously, that cheap meter is a total waste of money. It gives you a false sense of security because it only reads surface dampness, not the real mess deeper in. You'll still end up opening the wall and finding a surprise.

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evan567mo ago

Moisture meters only find what's right at the probe point. You can miss a whole wet patch just an inch over. I'd rather cut a small inspection hole in a hidden spot to actually look inside the wall.

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