A: Unfortunately, it does sound like you have a leak behind the wall.

You will need to hire a general contractor to open the wall, find and repair the leak, replace any damaged or possibly rotten wood and drywall, then replace the tile or whatever material you had surrounding the tub. That contractor could also replace your flooring, including any sub flooring that might have suffered some water damage as well.

I recommend you contact several general contractors who specialize in bathroom remodels, since they are licensed to do projects that include three or more sub trades (plumbing, drywall, tile, flooring, etc.) have the skills, experience and tools needed to make these repairs and put your bathroom back together.

However, it may not be possible for them to give you a firm bid until the wall has been opened to determine the extent of the damage. You might pay just one contractor to open it up, have him give you a detailed estimate what it will cost to repair, then have a couple other contractors come bid on it as well. Or else they can make a "guesstimate" on what they see and charge you an hourly rate and materials if the damage is more extensive than they expect.

To make accurate comparisons, make sure their written bids detail exactly which plumbing fixtures, tile, flooring material, they intend to use, including brand names, model numbers, etc.

To find some reputable bathroom remodeling contractors, please visit Home Advisor and enter a service request to be matched with the ideal service professional in your area.

by Kathy Maynard, reprinted courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com