On Saturday, July 25, 2020 at 4:11:48 PM UTC-4, dpb wrote:
On 7/25/2020 2:57 PM, trader_4 wrote:
On Saturday, July 25, 2020 at 3:30:45 PM UTC-4, dpb wrote:
On 7/25/2020 1:35 PM, trader_4 wrote:
On Saturday, July 25, 2020 at 1:40:17 PM UTC-4, dpb wrote:
...

One _PRESUMES(!!!)_ the ply is simply fastened to the underside of the
porch floor joists and is there simply as the backing for the ceiling
formerly there.

Any idea if there's any insulation there or not?

That's a good point, now that we know that it's under a porch,
which presumably isn't heated. With no insulation if it's a cold
climate condensation from the bathroom shower will be a problem.
And it will be wasted heat going out too. Sounds like that should
be investigated and if there is no insulation, then that's
reason to remove the plywood that's there and put insulation in.
Could possibly do a drop ceiling after that. Me, I'd just do drywall,
but for whatever reason she doesn't want that. It's odd that someone
put plywood up first, then drywall. Usually when you see stuff that
doesn't make sense, there is more that was done that's wrong too.
I wonder what condition this was all in before starting the renovation?

...

None of this will be anything at all approximating "normal" building to
Code; that's pretty apparent in that they put a bath under the porch in
a basement that's barely 7-ft, if that.

Maybe the previous owners were very tall and the shower head is at 8 ft?

You're right, I missed that. Best things I see left a

If the porch above is unheated and cold and there is no insulation above
that plywood, remove the plywood, insulate, then put up new plywood or
whatever it takes to be able to install ceiling tiles.

Or if there is insulation, then put up tiles over the existing plywood.

Plus the other issues, eg if the wall isn't sufficiently below grade or
otherwise protected from freezing, the pipes need to be moved in with
some insulation put in, etc.

Well, since this has been there for _alongtime_(TM) in this condition
and they haven't frozen yet, it seems pretty clear that isn't a real
problem or would have happened before. It would still not hurt just
from an energy loss perspective and an inch of foam on the walls would
also cut down humidity source from other than the shower itself in the
basement.

One would guess all of these are probably beyond what an intended budget
would cover--or worth given the apparent value of the house unless it is
the permanent residence and intended to/will be for some time yet.


If you look at the picture showing the shower head, there's only a
couple inches above it to the ceiling; no way to put in any dropped ceiling.

I agree, I'd use regular ceiling tiles.


Undoubtedly the ply was put in to separate off the outside porch
solidly; there's no telling whether there's a solid rim joist on it or
not, even, for sure. One would hope there is, but when the owner says
the house is of so little value the property when and if sold would be
for land value only; the house would be undoubtedly be razed, who could
even begin to guess just what it consists of?

Concrete board would be ok, but in this location drywall is just not
going to cut it for long, even if do manage to ventilate it some and
stop condensation besides the inside humidity. Those would help prolong
the inevitable, but it's still agonna' happen in such a confined area.

If it's insulated and there is an exhaust fan, preferably on a humidistat,
I think it could work, but it sure won't be code either.

Code left the building before this was started, even...I'd like to be
able to see that electrical box with enough resolution to be able to see
just what that is that's in it...

It looks like it's probably not even in use. The cables run near it, not
in it. I do see something that looks like big conduit at the top left?
Maybe a transformer in the bottom left? Hard to tell from the pics, maybe
Leza knows.