Tips to Help Avoid Problems Associated With a Wet Bathroom

Construction & Contractors Blog

When you are thinking about waterproofing your house, one of the rooms that you will need to give specific attention to is the bathroom. One of the most effective ways to waterproof your bathroom is by installing tiles on its floors and walls. But if let to prevail, wet conditions can be a source of safety and health issues in addition to causing structural damage to your house. Here's what you can do to avoid such problems.

Clean off dirt from your floors.

No specific type of floor tile is fully slip-proof: any wet floor tile can become slippery. That said, it is not unusual to hear of cases whereby someone lost his or her footing to a slippery tile flooring and ended up sustaining severe injuries. Bathrooms flooring tiles are particularly notorious for this kind of accidents because besides being wet, bathing soap scum usually makes the flooring even slipperier, thus increasing the risk of falling.

Making sure that you scrub off soap scum and any other types of dirt from your bathroom floors will minimise the risk of slipping. Use manufacturer-recommended brushes, cleaning detergents and disinfectants to clean the tiles in your bathroom. Dry up the surface of your tiles after cleaning using a heater.

Avoid storing damp items in your bathroom.

Spilled water is not the only source of moisture in bathrooms. Wet towels and clothing can also cause moisture buildup, which can, in turn, encourage mould growth. Moulds usually contain disease-causing airborne fibers that can compromise your health and that of your loved ones if inhaled. So, how can you curb this problem? Take all moist items outside to dry in the hot sun.

Re-grout tiles in a timely manner.

The edges of adjoining tiles are normally grouted to prevent water from permeating into the base of your bathroom floors and walls. The grouting acts as a protective seal-coating that helps keep the tiles waterproof. But the grouting usually erodes over time and requires reapplication. If the re-application period is long overdue, your bathroom tiles will let water seep inside, causing structural damage in the process.

Make sure to reseal your tiles with grout as soon as they begin showing signs of erosion and you will avoid the need to incur the high cost of repairing or replacing deteriorated tiles.

By heeding the above-explained advice, you can make your bathroom safe, healthy and in good structural condition. For more information, contact companies like Westside Sealants Pty Ltd. 

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12 July 2016